Federal Labor Strikes Deal With Greens, Crossbench to Pass Industrial Relations Bill

In a surprise move, Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke has struck a deal with crossbenchers David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie to pass measures in its industrial relations bill. The key measures, which came after the government split the Closing Loopholes Bill in two, were approved by the Senate on Dec. 7—the last parliamentary sitting day of the year. The measures include providing “Same job, same pay” for labour hire workers, and criminalising intentional wage theft. Additional measures include the new criminal offence of industrial manslaughter, better support for first responders’ post-traumatic stress disorder, and protections for workers subjected to family and domestic violence from discrimination at work....