Comcare charges Defence over serious workplace injuries; still faces calls to go after Home Affairs Wednesday August 28, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal The Department of Defence faces three new charges over workplace health and safety breaches after an investigation by Comcare, but some lawyers continue to wonder… Read more
Nope, freedom of political communication does not override the public service rules Wednesday August 7, 2019 By Stephen Easton Federal The High Court has ruled that federal public servants have no right to political expression that overrides their legal obligations to be impartial and uphold… Read more
Department of Defence charged with WHS breaches, faces up to $4.5m in fines Friday May 10, 2019 By Stephen Easton Defence The Department of Defence faces three charges of breaching the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act over the death of soldier Jason Challis during a… Read more
Industry dept veteran takes the reins at Comcare Tuesday April 9, 2019 By Stephen Easton Australian Capital Territory Career public servant Sue Weston has been appointed chief executive of Comcare, just as an interesting case highlights the divergence between the major parties on… Read more
Comcare is seeking a new CEO Thursday January 24, 2019 By The Mandarin People & Capability To be a strong contender for the role you must have a high level of judgement, leadership, professional and personal integrity. Read more
Public servants should be free to comment on social media under fake names: AAT Wednesday April 18, 2018 By Stephen Easton News 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… Read more
Mental health matters: where's our head at with workplace wellbeing? Tuesday October 3, 2017 By The Mandarin People & Capability 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… Read more
Comcare befuddled by 'structural complexity' of offshore detention centres Friday May 19, 2017 By Stephen Easton Features 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… Read more
Dangers of detention centres under control, says safety watchdog Thursday July 2, 2015 By Stephen Easton Features 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… Read more
How the Senate cut 40% off its workers' comp premium Wednesday May 27, 2015 By Stephen Easton News 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… Read more
Comcare responds to attacks: 'we investigated, took action, saw results' Tuesday May 26, 2015 By Stephen Easton Features 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… Read more
More pressure on Comcare, DIBP over detention centre safety Thursday April 9, 2015 By Stephen Easton News 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… Read more
Will Comcare overhaul help ease premium costs for agencies? Thursday March 26, 2015 By Stephen Easton News 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… Read more
Moss review: lawyers say Comcare should have intervened Tuesday March 24, 2015 By Stephen Easton News 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… Read more
Can the ACT create a better value workers' compo scheme? Friday March 6, 2015 By Stephen Easton Features 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… Read more
