The Administrative Appeals Tribunal has decided that public servants should be free to criticise government policy under fake names on social media, on the basis that such comments cannot possibly reflect badly on their employers. Read More
Is it acceptable to raise mental health issues in the workplace, or is it still largely seen as a career-limiting move? How much can or should organisations do to promote mental health and wellbeing at work? Read More
Workplace health and safety was a big theme of the latest Senate inquiry into offshore detention. The committee criticised the complex administrative arrangements that have left Comcare out in the cold, and called for a WHS Act review to make it clear where the regulator stands. Read More
Comcare's CEO says she's appalled by the latest salvo from its vocal critics over safety in immigration detention centres, based on an FOI release. Soon a senate committee will make its own judgement. Read More
The Senate's clerk Rosemary Laing is too modest. A 40% drop in her department's workers' compensation premium is down to an "excellent performance" and not crazy bargains from Comcare. Read More
The Commonwealth work health and safety regulator has strongly defended itself against the latest attacks on its ability to uphold high standards of workplace safety — especially in complex, higher-risk work environments. Read More
Questions continue to be raised by lawyers over Comcare's limited role in preventing abuse at offshore immigration detention centres. Psychiatrists and social workers have alleged that reports of child sexual abuse were ignored by Australian officials, and that secrecy only adds to the health and safety risk. Read More
It's the reset agency heads have been demanding, as Comcare premiums continued to rise, now Employment Minister Eric Abetz says his Comcare reforms will bring the scheme up to date and into line with other jurisdictions, cut costs and improve outcomes for injured workers. Read More
The Commonwealth might be liable under both civil and criminal law for consistently dangerous conditions in offshore detention centres, and lawyers say it is breaking its own workplace safety laws. The watchdog, Comcare, says it's not that simple. Read More
The ACT government is leaning towards creating new workers' compensation regulations just for its public servants outside of Comcare. But the legal community doesn't think it's even worth the effort. Read More
The ACT government wants out of Comcare, believing it can create a better, faster, cheaper system for its own public servants. Eric Abetz doesn't blame them, but what will he do to fix the federal workplace insurer? Read More
Current Comcare head Paul O'Connor will move to lead the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority. He'll be replaced by Employment deputy secretary Jennifer Taylor. Read More
