Latest news with #Willox
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Union fears rights threatened in work-from-home review
A national employer group is attempting to use working from home negotiations as an excuse to strip away basic workplace entitlements, a union claims. The Australian Industry Group, which represents businesses in multiple sectors, has been taking part in confidential proceedings initiated by the Fair Work Commission to introduce work-from-home rules to the national award for clerks. The changes aim to remove any existing award-related barriers to flexible working, the group said. But Australian Services Union national secretary Emeline Gaske slammed what it said had been an attempt by employers to "axe basic workplace rights" in return for work-from-home entitlements. The union said the proposed changes would allow employers to slash provisions such as overtime, penalty rates, rest breaks and minimum shift requirements. "Even discussing the idea of employers refusing to pay overtime, remove penalty rates, eliminate breaks, and roster staff for as little as 30 minutes a day, all because someone works from home, is an outrage," Ms Gaske said on Tuesday. "Workers are feeling totally blindsided by this proposal to cut their overtime penalty rate hours just because they work from home." A Fair Work Commission study from earlier in 2025 found two-thirds of surveyed employees surveyed indicated being able to work from home to some extent, with more than half doing so. "Employers and employees have been able to manage working from home arrangements for five years and they have been really effective and productive," Ms Gaske said. But the Ai Group accused the union of presenting a "flagrantly misleading picture" of its intentions in the commission's proceedings. Chief executive Innes Willox said the employer organisation had been taking part in the proceedings, but it would be "highly inappropriate" to disclose its contents. The group would put forward a proposal that aimed to make it easier for employers and employees to adopt working-from-home arrangements, he said. Mr Willox criticised the union's claims, calling it a ridiculous attempt to demonise the business organisation. The group and its partner organisations represent the interests of 60,000 firms, employing more than one million workers. Its membership spans companies of all sizes, from large international corporations to smaller, Australian-owned brands. The election had shown the importance people placed on working from home, Mr Willox said in reference to the coalition's widely criticised and swiftly abandoned plan to force public servants back into the office. "We know that accommodating this, when they can, is also important to many employers," he said.
Sky News AU
04-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Labor faces ‘immense challenges' ahead following historic win in the 2025 federal election
Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox claims the Albanese government has 'immense challenges' ahead following Labor's major win in the federal election. 'This election result hasn't magicked away the problems and challenges and issues that Australia faces as we try and struggle to become more prosperous,' Mr Willox told Sky News Business Editor Ross Greenwood. 'The government has immense challenges ahead; they were elected very clearly, and they deserve congratulations for that election but now the hard work begins.'
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Proof that taxes have been SURGING under Anthony Albanese - here's the warning Labor won't like
Tax collection under Anthony Albanese has surged to the highest level in almost two decades. Australians are paying the highest level of tax in a generation, despite Labor's pledge to provide more income tax relief to lower-paid workers. Tax revenue at the federal, state and local government level made up 30 per cent of gross domestic product in the 2023-24 financial year, new Australian Bureau of Statistics data released this week showed. This was the highest level since 2006-07 before the Global Financial Crisis, when the mining boom boosted federal government company tax revenue and state government royalties. Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said Australians were suffering as the federal government increasingly relied on income and company tax revenue. 'It's bad enough that the tax burden is mounting at a time our economy desperately needs more investment, job creation and growth,' he said. 'That it's being driven by the types of taxes that work against growth and productivity rubs salt into the wound.' An average Australian worker is typically paying 24.9 per cent of their income in tax while the 28.5 per cent average company tax rate is the second highest in the OECD, an Australian Industry Group analysis showed. Mr Willox said land tax or raising the 10 per cent GST would lessen the federal government's reliance on income and company taxes. 'We also need to look to a broadened tax base to remove disincentives to investment and employment,' he said. 'Broad-based taxes like land tax and the GST can have much lower rates for the same revenue effect. 'If we don't broaden the tax base we will have no choice but to watch the burden of personal and company taxes inexorably rise to meet fiscal requirements.' The federal government - which collects income tax, the GST and petrol excise - raised $649.363billion or 81 per cent of the $801.716billion collected at all levels of government in 2023-24. Labor's pre-election Budget in March included a $17.1billion plan to reduce marginal income tax rates for part-time workers, flowing through to higher-income workers. From 1 July 2026, the 16 per cent tax rate for workers earning $18,201 to $45,000 will be reduced to 15 per cent – leading to annual tax relief of $268. And from 1 July 2027, the tax rate will be reduced to 14 per cent – bringing relief of $536 over two years. But Mr Willox said this didn't go far enough, with the Coalition opposing Labor's income tax relief. 'Piecemeal changes that tinker at the margins won't fix a broken tax system. Taking on these challenges is crucial to enhancing prosperity,' he said. 'Not addressing it is a major blind spot in our national debate.' Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has promised to tackle bracket creep where workers end up in higher tax brackets, by virtue of annual pay rises to keep up with inflation. Mr Willox said tax reform could no longer be ignored. 'Australia needs to urgently reform our tax system to stop the mounting burden of company and personal taxes that increasingly drags on productive activities in our economy,' he said. 'Policy leaders can't afford to avoid tax reform after the election.'
