Latest news with #WorkCover
The Age
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Victorian Liberals accused of sacking staffer in retaliation for bullying claims
She has now made a 36-page statement for a Fair Work application claiming she was set up to fail, excluded, given unachievable key performance indicators, denigrated, and was the target of a more than year-long campaign to 'get rid of Nadine'. Her application refers to discussions within a WhatsApp group, which is understood to have involved Smith and other staff. Jones claims she was stood down in retaliation for making bullying complaints against Smith and Davis, and for Davis' embarrassment over the Rinehart incident. She claims she was then sacked in retaliation for taking her case to WorkCover. The Liberal Party declined to comment on the allegations. The Age has seen the Fair Work application lodged against the party last week, Jones' witness statement, and the stand-down and termination letters issued to Jones. The same documents have been provided to all members of the party's 19-person administrative committee, which includes Opposition Leader Brad Battin. Loading The administrative committee has separately received a request to intervene in the damaging dispute between Deeming and Pesutto by authorising the use of party funds to pay for or loan the money for legal costs owed by the former leader to his party room colleague. Deeming last year successfully sued Pesutto for defamation before the Federal Court after he falsely implied she associated with neo-Nazis. Battin replaced Pesutto as party leader weeks after the judgment. The court this month ordered Pesutto to pay Deeming $2.3 million in legal costs by this Friday. Deeming's lawyers have flagged their intention to pursue third parties for costs — including former premiers Jeff Kennett, Denis Napthine and Ted Baillieu and serving MPs Georgie Crozier and David Southwick — if Pesutto is left bankrupt. This masthead has spoken to a dozen party members and staff who requested anonymity for this story. Four Liberal sources said standing Jones down from the fundraising body on the eve of the federal election hampered campaign fundraising efforts. The complaint against Smith and Davis emerged at a time when the party organisation and its office holders were under intense pressure to account for the party's disastrous result in last month's federal election, at which it lost two more suburban seats to Labor. Both men were contacted for comment. The latest federal election drubbing follows successive Liberal wipe-outs at the previous two state elections. Suggestions by supporters of Smith and Davis that Jones' complaint was part of a bigger factional play for control of the party have been rejected by four sources close to Jones. Battin has privately canvassed a clear-out of senior positions at party headquarters to end infighting and become electorally competitive in Victoria, several sources have confirmed to The Age, although Battin has publicly disputed this. Jones, in her Fair Work application, claims she had almost quadrupled Enterprise Victoria's membership in the two years in her role, and that annual revenue had increased about fivefold. She claims she was the target of a misinformation campaign about her performance to legitimise standing her down. She is seeking compensation for lost income, unpaid commission and damages. The Fair Work claim provides further details about a March 26 fundraising dinner at Zagame's House on Carlton's Lygon Street that Jones secured Rinehart for, in what was seen as a coup for the party. Davis rebranded the Enterprise Victoria event as a Victorian Liberal Party function and insisted on hosting. Jones offered him speaking notes, but according to Jones' claim, Davis replied: 'This is not my first rodeo.' He then introduced Rinehart as a sponsor of Netball Australia, which Jones in her application describes as a 'very public and embarrassing gaffe'. Hancock Prospecting withdrew its $15 million four-year sponsorship with Netball Australia in 2022 amid a flurry of headlines after Diamonds players said they did not want to wear uniforms featuring the mining company's logo. Jones was stood down the next day. She claims the misconduct allegations against her had never previously been raised and that the action was retaliatory. The party, in its stand-down letter to Jones, accused her of improperly giving complimentary or discounted tickets to an earlier $2000-a-head lunch with Western Australian senator Michaelia Cash without approval, sharing confidential and financial information, and using her private email and device to transmit and store sensitive party information. Jones disputes the characterisation of the claims and argues they were contrived.
Sydney Morning Herald
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Victorian Liberals accused of sacking staffer in retaliation for bullying claims
She has now made a 36-page statement for a Fair Work application claiming she was set up to fail, excluded, given unachievable key performance indicators, denigrated, and was the target of a more than year-long campaign to 'get rid of Nadine'. Her application refers to discussions within a WhatsApp group, which is understood to have involved Smith and other staff. Jones claims she was stood down in retaliation for making bullying complaints against Smith and Davis, and for Davis' embarrassment over the Rinehart incident. She claims she was then sacked in retaliation for taking her case to WorkCover. The Liberal Party declined to comment on the allegations. The Age has seen the Fair Work application lodged against the party last week, Jones' witness statement, and the stand-down and termination letters issued to Jones. The same documents have been provided to all members of the party's 19-person administrative committee, which includes Opposition Leader Brad Battin. Loading The administrative committee has separately received a request to intervene in the damaging dispute between Deeming and Pesutto by authorising the use of party funds to pay for or loan the money for legal costs owed by the former leader to his party room colleague. Deeming last year successfully sued Pesutto for defamation before the Federal Court after he falsely implied she associated with neo-Nazis. Battin replaced Pesutto as party leader weeks after the judgment. The court this month ordered Pesutto to pay Deeming $2.3 million in legal costs by this Friday. Deeming's lawyers have flagged their intention to pursue third parties for costs — including former premiers Jeff Kennett, Denis Napthine and Ted Baillieu and serving MPs Georgie Crozier and David Southwick — if Pesutto is left bankrupt. This masthead has spoken to a dozen party members and staff who requested anonymity for this story. Four Liberal sources said standing Jones down from the fundraising body on the eve of the federal election hampered campaign fundraising efforts. The complaint against Smith and Davis emerged at a time when the party organisation and its office holders were under intense pressure to account for the party's disastrous result in last month's federal election, at which it lost two more suburban seats to Labor. Both men were contacted for comment. The latest federal election drubbing follows successive Liberal wipe-outs at the previous two state elections. Suggestions by supporters of Smith and Davis that Jones' complaint was part of a bigger factional play for control of the party have been rejected by four sources close to Jones. Battin has privately canvassed a clear-out of senior positions at party headquarters to end infighting and become electorally competitive in Victoria, several sources have confirmed to The Age, although Battin has publicly disputed this. Jones, in her Fair Work application, claims she had almost quadrupled Enterprise Victoria's membership in the two years in her role, and that annual revenue had increased about fivefold. She claims she was the target of a misinformation campaign about her performance to legitimise standing her down. She is seeking compensation for lost income, unpaid commission and damages. The Fair Work claim provides further details about a March 26 fundraising dinner at Zagame's House on Carlton's Lygon Street that Jones secured Rinehart for, in what was seen as a coup for the party. Davis rebranded the Enterprise Victoria event as a Victorian Liberal Party function and insisted on hosting. Jones offered him speaking notes, but according to Jones' claim, Davis replied: 'This is not my first rodeo.' He then introduced Rinehart as a sponsor of Netball Australia, which Jones in her application describes as a 'very public and embarrassing gaffe'. Hancock Prospecting withdrew its $15 million four-year sponsorship with Netball Australia in 2022 amid a flurry of headlines after Diamonds players said they did not want to wear uniforms featuring the mining company's logo. Jones was stood down the next day. She claims the misconduct allegations against her had never previously been raised and that the action was retaliatory. The party, in its stand-down letter to Jones, accused her of improperly giving complimentary or discounted tickets to an earlier $2000-a-head lunch with Western Australian senator Michaelia Cash without approval, sharing confidential and financial information, and using her private email and device to transmit and store sensitive party information. Jones disputes the characterisation of the claims and argues they were contrived.
Sydney Morning Herald
09-05-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
No-show Setka too sick to deal with lawyers over push to oust AFL umpiring boss
A mystery illness has left former CFMEU boss John Setka too unwell to appear in court or even instruct lawyers over allegations he tried to force the AFL into sacking its umpiring head. Setka, or lawyers on his behalf, have now failed to show up for two preliminary Federal Court hearings to respond to accusations from the Fair Work Ombudsman, instead providing a medical certificate that he is too unwell to attend meetings. The court heard that while the certificate provided few details of the nature of the union hardman's ailment, it also indicated he had a WorkCover claim in progress. The ombudsman alleges the disgraced former CFMEU boss breached workplace laws by trying to pressure the AFL into dumping its umpiring chief, Steve McBurney, due to his previous job at the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). A case management hearing on Friday was unable to proceed after Setka's second no-show in a month, leaving Justice John Snaden and lawyers representing the ombudsman to discuss options to go forward with the matter. Loading Representing the ombudsman, lawyer Marc Felman, KC, said he had received correspondence including a medical certificate that stated that Setka was not currently in a state of mind to attend meetings, make decisions or instruct legal representation, though there was no indication of how long it would take him to recover. Felman said the letter indicated Setka would be receiving treatment for several months and had a WorkCover claim that was being assessed, but the nature of his illness was not disclosed because Setka was concerned about releasing personal and private information to government organisations. He told the court Setka needed to file a defence or a report from a qualified specialist medical practitioner.
The Age
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Age
No-show Setka too sick to deal with lawyers over push to oust AFL umpiring boss
A mystery illness has left former CFMEU boss John Setka too unwell to appear in court or even instruct lawyers over allegations he tried to force the AFL into sacking its umpiring head. Setka, or lawyers on his behalf, have now failed to show up for two preliminary Federal Court hearings to respond to accusations from the Fair Work Ombudsman, instead providing a medical certificate that he is too unwell to attend meetings. The court heard that while the certificate provided few details of the nature of the union hardman's ailment, it also indicated he had a WorkCover claim in progress. The ombudsman alleges the disgraced former CFMEU boss breached workplace laws by trying to pressure the AFL into dumping its umpiring chief, Steve McBurney, due to his previous job at the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). A case management hearing on Friday was unable to proceed after Setka's second no-show in a month, leaving Justice John Snaden and lawyers representing the ombudsman to discuss options to go forward with the matter. Loading Representing the ombudsman, lawyer Marc Felman, KC, said he had received correspondence including a medical certificate that stated that Setka was not currently in a state of mind to attend meetings, make decisions or instruct legal representation, though there was no indication of how long it would take him to recover. Felman said the letter indicated Setka would be receiving treatment for several months and had a WorkCover claim that was being assessed, but the nature of his illness was not disclosed because Setka was concerned about releasing personal and private information to government organisations. He told the court Setka needed to file a defence or a report from a qualified specialist medical practitioner.
The Guardian
10-04-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Dutton ducks question on Liberal party vetting amid concerns over charge against Melbourne candidate
Peter Dutton has ducked questions about the quality of the Liberal party's vetting processes after concerns were raised about a 2024 charge against a Melbourne candidate in the latest saga surrounding the party's candidates. The opposition leader, who visited a metalworks factory in the Labor-held seat of Aston in Melbourne's eastern suburbs on Thursday, would also not divulge details about how his promise to achieve $7bn in savings by cutting 41,000 public service jobs by 2030 could match Labor's plans to dramatically lift bulk-billing rates. Dutton was asked whether the party's vetting process was up to scratch after the Nine newspapers reported that its candidate for the nearby seat of Wills, Jeffrey Kidney, pleaded guilty to obtaining financial advice by deception in 2024 for a 2019 breach. The report said it was not clear what type of financial advantage Kidney obtained from Work Cover. Kidney was ordered to pay fines and $10,640 in compensation to the Victorian Work Cover authority but no conviction was recorded against him. Dutton said the party had selected 'some amazing people' across the board, before claiming Anthony Albanese could be 'convicted' for not being trustworthy. 'If you look at the standard of candidates we have selected across the board, I think we have selected some amazing people,' Dutton told reporters. 'I don't think the prime minister is somebody who can be trusted, now to your point [Albanese] hasn't been convicted by a court but maybe he will, because if he keeps going like this you can't trust this prime minister with anything that he says.' The report about Kidney's conduct followed questions about other Liberal candidates running in some seats around the country. Guardian Australia reported comments made by former Whitlam candidate, Ben Britton, last week, who expressed a string of controversial views on fringe podcasts before his preselection, including the claim that women should not serve in combat positions with the Australian Defence Force. Britton was disendorsed days later and replaced by Nathaniel Smith, a former NSW MP from the party's religious right faction who has claimed school students are being 'brainwashed' by Marxist and woke ideologies. Dutton told 2GB on Thursday morning that Britton was dumped for holding views Dutton said he did not agree with – 'some of them not in the public domain, and … deeply concerning'. The Liberal-National candidate in the must-win far north Queensland seat of Leichhardt, Jeremy Neal, apologised this week after social media posts airing controversial views about China, Covid-19 restrictions and 'feminists' who helped 'kick out' Donald Trump in 2020 resurfaced. A dossier of now-deleted social media posts revealed by the Courier Mail showed Neal, a paramedic, railing against China, lockdown measures and Daniel Andrews' Victorian government during the first two years of the pandemic. With Dutton's Thursday appearance, the Coalition continued to avoid revealing how it plans to downsize the federal bureaucracy by 41,000 jobs in five years – a key part of its plan to deliver savings to the budget. Earlier this week, Dutton said the roles would be removed through 'natural attrition' by 2030 and there would be no forced redundancies – despite analysis suggesting it would be a difficult target to reach without slashing frontline service delivery roles. On Thursday, Dutton reiterated that the costings would be revealed before the election but declined to outline how the savings would be achieved in the budget. 'Australia has, per capita, one of the highest numbers of public servants in the world,' he said. 'We need to make sure we have an efficient public service, which we will do and we will make sure that that is the case.'
