The AFPA has been at the forefront of the drive to include a Right to Disconnect into any Enterprise Agreement covering our members. It now appears that the Government are taking this crucial right seriously, with Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke making a deal with crossbench senators and including the Right to Disconnect in [...]

The changes outlined in the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023 (Part 1) have come into effect! Presumptive Legislation - posttraumatic stress disorder Prior to Christmas, the Fair Work Amendment (Closing the Loopholes) Bill 2023 was amended by the Senate, which opted to split the legislation into two bills, separating less controversial [...]

Christmas/New Year Period With the upcoming Christmas and New Year break, we wish to provide reminders to members so they can enter the holiday season with confirmation of entitlements, awareness of policy/ procedures, and contacts for support should they need it. I implore members to utilise their designated days off and holidays for the [...]

On 31 October, the AFPA received the new Non-APS Bargaining - Government Parameters, which have direct implications on bargaining for the new Enterprise Agreement. The AFPA is extremely disappointed and frustrated that the Australian Public Service Commission is dictating the conditions under which the AFPA can bargain for its members, in direct contradiction to [...]

The Enterprise Agreement and Good Faith Bargaining.  Bargaining for the new Enterprise Agreement commenced on 26 September 2023, and weekly meetings have been scheduled for bargaining. This process is governed by the principle of good faith bargaining, which is a crucial aspect of the industrial relations system. The Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the [...]

The Fair Work Amendment (Closing the Loopholes) Bill 2023 has been introduced into parliament and contains a raft of proposed changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 to tackle loopholes within the current industrial relations framework. Of particular interest is the proposed amendments to the Commonwealth workers’ compensation legislation, which, if passed, would streamline workers' [...]

On 6 June 2023, the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022, which amends the Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act), came into effect. These amendments strengthen the right to request an extension of unpaid parental leave and flexible working arrangements. These requests are currently covered by the National Employment Standards [...]

In the workplace, consultation is a form of conversation. It is a conversation that has a particular focus. It can arise from the mutual recognition of a problem that requires resolution. However, more commonly, it arises from the employer identifying a need for change, developing a solution, and then discussing the change proposal with [...]

Scheme for Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration (‘the CDDA Scheme’) The CDDA was established to allow Australian Government agencies, including the Australian Federal Police (AFP), to provide compensation where there is a moral rather than legal obligation to do so. For example, in circumstances where a member of the AFP suffers loss [...]

Christmas/New Year Period With the upcoming Christmas and New Year break, we wish to provide reminders to members so they can enter the holiday season with confirmation of entitlements, awareness of policy/ procedures, and contacts for support should they need. Pay Matters We remind members that there will be no change to scheduled paydays over [...]