Employment

A trial in a class action against Western Australia on behalf of First Nations workers seeking to recover stolen wages has been pushed off, suggesting the parties are close to a settlement.

Monash Health has won its challenge to a decision finding it wrongfully dismissed a librarian in a ‘sham’ redundancy.

A judge has declined a union’s bid to throw out an employee class action against McDonald’s after the Full Federal Court confirmed that employee class actions are not precluded by the Fair Work Act. 

Wealth manager Escala Partners has failed in its bid to restrain two senior financial advisors who defected to rival Crestone from working in wealth management and soliciting its clients.

With bated breath class action litigators and funders have waited for this day, when the Full Federal Court decides the question of power to make common fund orders at settlement. They aren’t the final arbiters, but the judges’ ruling may be no less important for that.

A former flight attendant trainee has filed a lawsuit against fly-in fly-out operator Alliance Airlines, which was the subject of a takeover bid by Qantas earlier this year, claiming he was dismissed for complaining of harassment.

A talent scout whose company was acquired by Teneo is suing the Australian arm of the global CEO advisory firm, alleging she endured 16-hour workdays and was exposed to a toxic, male-dominated work culture.

The Commonwealth of Australia has asked the court to throw out an adverse action suit brought by a former political staffer who says she was subjected to “a course of bullying behaviour” by South Australian MP Rebekha Sharkie.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced an overhaul of the Productivity Commission following a review which found a “culture of sexism, sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination”.

A former Greenwoods & Herbert Smith Freehills partner who claims he was sacked for complaining about Lendlease’s attempts to avoid tax liability has asked the High Court to overrule a judgment finding recent changes to whistleblower protections do not apply retrospectively to cover his claims.