TRANSPORT Matters Pary leader and Victorian Member for Easter Metropolitan, Rod Barton is celebrating the outcome of an unfair dismissal case against Deliveroo calling it "just the beginning".

The tribunal ruled that Deliveroo’s contracted couriers are in fact employees with rights to a minimum wage. Deliveroo had kicked rider Diego Franco off the platform last year for alleged lateness. D

Mr Franco had been provided only seven days notice and was informed of his termination via email.

This ruling could mean Deliveroo may have to provide backpay for lost wages, Mr Barton said.

Mr Barton believes this ruling sets a powerful precedent for the future of the gig economy.

“For too long these huge rideshare multinationals have been able to enter the Victorian market, exploit our communities and line their pockets with our hard-earned cash," Mr Barton said. "This ruling will show that there are consequences to treating our most vulnerable as a means to end and failing to provide employees with basic workers' rights.

“The gig economy continues to be under-regulated, with vulnerable workers allowed to fall through the cracks. The fact that rideshare drivers are not paid an industry minimum wage, do not receive superannuation, sick days or insurance makes absolutely clear the need for more government regulation in this sector.

“The fight for basic workers' rights is not over, this is just the beginning.”

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson said small business tradespeople will be able to meet the demand for their skills wherever they are in Australia under new laws passed by the Senate.

The Australian Government’s Mutual Recognition Amendment Bill 2021, will make it easier for skilled workers to take up jobs across states and territories, without having to obtain a new licence for the same type of work in another jurisdiction.

Mr Billson said the reform will give thousands of small business tradespeople the flexibility to work in different areas of the country.

“This is a red tape buster that will help small business tradespeople who want to meet the demand for their skills across Australia,” Ms Billson said.

“This reform offers small business employers the opportunity to secure skilled workers from interstate.

“It also means small business professionals such as architects and engineers to work more seamlessly across state borders.

“My office has worked closely with the Australian Government’s Deregulation Taskforce to achieve this important reform. It is an excellent outcome for the small business tradespeople that will directly benefit from these changes.

“Importantly, while allowing freedom of movement across states and territories, the scheme also includes safeguards to maintain standards and protect consumers and workers," Mr Billson said.

“We welcome the Australian Government’s $11 million Budget commitment to implementing the scheme, which will be used in part to improve information exchanged between jurisdictions.”

Further supporting legislation by the states and territories is expected to enable commencement of this scheme from July 1, 2021.

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THE inquiry into the destruction of Indigenous heritage sites at Juukan Gorge will be examining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage legislation in Queensland, on Tuesday May 18, with a public hearing by videoconference.

The committee will be hearing from representatives of the Australian Heritage Specialists and the Cape York Land Council.

In their submission to the DATSIP review of Queensland Cultural Heritage Acts the Australian Heritage Specialists comment that the States Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act should strike a balance between protecting cultural heritage and providing government and businesses achievable, clear-cut, and practical processes.

A key concern of the Cape York Land Councils is that Indigenous cultural heritage protection and management decisions associated with development or resource use proposals must no longer be made by politicians or bureaucrats.

Northern Australia Committee Chair Warren Entsch is intent on understanding the issues stakeholders are having in their respective states so that the committee will be able to produce solutions that will relate to the issues States and Territories are having with their Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Legislation.

Mr Entsch said, "The committee is determined to listen to stakeholders from Queensland to comprehend the specific issues they have with the States Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Legislation, the committee will endeavor to address these concerns in our report."

A program for the public hearing is available on the committee’s website.

Public hearing details

Date: Tuesday, 18 May 2021
Time: 10am to 12pm AEST
Location: by video/teleconference

The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

Further details of the inquiry, including terms of reference, can be found on the committee’s website.

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NEW HESTA aged care workforce research reveals Australia is at risk of missing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build the skilled workforce needed to meet future demand -- if there is not an adequate national effort to improve wages and conditions in the sector.

Released today, the State of the Sector Aged Care Workforce Insights: COVID and Beyond report found poor pay and a lack of career opportunities were causing people to want to leave the industry.

“Our research shows we must act now to improve wages and working conditions if we’re to attract the skilled and talented people needed to provide high-quality care for older Australians,” HESTA CEO Debby Blakey said.

“We have more than 200,000 members who work or have worked in aged care. Transforming the aged care system must start with the people central to delivering these critical services and improving outcomes for older Australians.

“Improving the quality and sustainability of aged care jobs will improve the financial future of our members working in the sector. A stronger aged care system is also vital for our members and all working Australians who will directly rely on these services as they age.”

The research found significant improvement in aged care workforce sentiment across a range of measures in a challenging year, pointing to a potential opportunity for the sector and government.

“Our research shows aged care professionals are feeling prouder to work in the sector and more connected to their employers and leaders. Workforce strategies implemented now could be particularly effective at attracting and retaining aged care professionals,” Ms Blakey said.

“We can’t afford to waste this opportunity.”

Ms Blakey welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement in the Federal Budget of a $17.7 billion funding package but said there remained widespread industry concern that this may be inadequate to urgently address issues identified by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

“The Royal Commission warned of an understaffed, underpaid and poorly trained workforce. The research is clear – our members are telling us these are key concerns and would cause them to leave the industry or not recommend others work in the sector,” Ms Blakey said.

“Without strong advocates from employees in aged care, we’ll struggle to attract the people needed to lift standards and meet the expected increase in demand from our ageing population.”

Ms Blakey welcomed the announcement of aged care funding in the Budget, including $216.7 million over three years to grow and upskill the workforce. The sector would also benefit from government-supported education and skills training, with an additional 33,800 Vocational Education and Training courses for the sector and a $91.8 million commitment to train an additional 13,000 home care workers over the next two years.

Ms Blakey said, while there was a raft of measures designed to improve quality and safety – including mandating additional hours of care – it would be difficult to attract the necessary professionals needed to deliver better client outcomes without addressing low rates of pay.

“Despite the critical care our members provide in aged care too many are in poorly paid and insecure employment that leaves them in a precarious financial position that was all too apparent during COVID,” Ms Blakey said.

About a quarter of HESTA aged care members (45,000-plus) made a claim to access their super early under the Federal Government’s scheme.

The research found aged care professionals’ top three reasons for leaving their employers were a lack of skill development opportunities, wanting to try something different and low pay.

More than 4600 of HESTA’s members working in health and community services (HACS), including more than 1500 aged care professionals, were asked about their work experiences, job intentions and if they’d recommend a career in the sector. As part of the research, HESTA also spoke to employers, peak bodies and unions in the sector, who agreed unanimously that improving wages, working conditions and providing more skills and career development opportunities was essential to creating high-quality jobs in aged care.

The research provides a unique insight into the workforce with surveys taking a pre-COVID snapshot in May 2019 and during the pandemic in July 2020.

When asked if they felt appreciated and valued by their employer and the community, the answers revealed a highly polarised workforce. Between 32-38 percent of aged care employees said they were unlikely to recommend their employers, leaders, or career in the sector.

“This significant number of detractors of the sector could create real difficulties in attracting the next generation of the aged care workforce, which the Royal Commission said needed to grow by 70 percent by 2050 to maintain current staffing levels in the face of rising demand,” Ms Blakey said.

The research into the aged care workforce expanded on HESTA’s 2018 Transforming Aged Care report. HESTA plans to release further in-depth research into other industries across health and community services.

“We’re committed to helping our partners meet one of the biggest challenges facing the caring economy, addressing potential workforce shortages,” Ms Blakey said.

The report is available at hesta.com.au/agedcarereport21

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