Australian Services Union Central & Southern Queensland Clerical & Administrative Branch

• Delegates’ Conference 2014• ASU Delegates Lobby for Jobs in Canberra

• Our Branch - Gearing Up for 100 Years

2 Delegate Focus • March-April 2014

March-April 2014

Authorised and printed/published by Julie Bignell, Branch Secretary - Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union, Central and Southern Queensland Clerical and Administrative Branch, Union of Employees and the Australian Services Union Central and Southern Queensland Branch - Level 3 - 27 Peel Street, South Brisbane Q. 4101 Australia PO Box 3272 South Brisbane BC QLD 4101 Australia. Tel: 1800 177 244. Fax: 07 3017 6275. - Website: www.qld.asu.net.au - Email: info@qld.asu.net.au

The ASU Delegate Focus is kindly supported by the following organisations:

DelegateFocus

From Your Branch Secretary

It was great to see such a turn-out for our annual Delegates’ Conference and to read the feedback from attendees. I think this year’s conference will be remembered as one of our best.

It’s been a hectic few months in the ASU with a huge amount of activity around Qantas Group members whose jobs are now threatened due to the failure of management to properly manage the airline.

We’ve been lobbying in Parliament House in Canberra, and I want to say a special thank you to Catherine Moller, our Delegate at Qantas Telesales for the exceptional performance she delivered in meeting top politicians including the PM himself.

The ASU is of course committed to fighting for every job in the Qantas Group.

At the conference we also announced the formation of a sub-group to manage a project around the 100th year of our Branch, which falls in 2015.

We would love to hear from Delegates and members who would like to be involved, or who can contribute any historical material, reminiscences, or perspectives of how the Branch has evolved over the years. Get in touch with us at the office if you can help!

The battle continues with various governments over our capacity to

ContentsFrom Your Branch Secretary 2

Qantas Update – ASU Delegates Lobby for Jobs in Canberra 3

2014 Delegates’ Conference 6

Bernie Banton AM – 2013 Delegate of the Year Award Winner 7

LNP WorkCover Laws Provide Scope for Discrimination 8

Employers Push to Force Bullying Victims to Suffer Longer 9

Mater Public Hospital Nurses and Midwives Need Your Support 10

2014 Delegate Training Calendar 10

Our Branch History Project - Gearing Up for 100 Years 10

Delegate Training Course Descriptions 11

Ripped Off: Workers Will be Hit by Financial Advice Deregulation 12

continued over page >>>

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Qantas UpdateThe recent announcement by the Qantas Group of the cutting of 5000 jobs and the massive restructuring across the Group cannot go unchallenged by all those who have worked hard to make the company an Australian icon with an unbeatable safety record and reputation for customer service.

As part of the 5000 job cuts, Qantas has foreshadowed the loss of 1,500 so called “non-operational” jobs. It is not acceptable to call these jobs “back office” jobs as if to imply they are somehow less important to the airline’s operations – we know this is wrong and we must call it out as such.

Your union is very concerned at the level of cuts that are proposed and how that will impact on those left behind to pick up the pieces and keep the airline running. ASU Delegates and members have already leapt into action to save every job possible by utilizing both our strength on the ground and the provisions of our comprehensive agreements for consultation and mitigation of job losses that we have negotiated across the Qantas Group.

Everyone has become an expert on Qantas in recent weeks – politicians, media commentators and the man/woman in the street – some will seek to blame us for our wages and conditions

and seek to downgrade the importance of the jobs we perform to justify the cuts.

We cannot and should not accept this as no one has been through more restructures, changes, adaptation to technological change and job losses over the years than ASU members.

Saving jobs is the name of our game at Qantas ASU Officials and Delegates have met with Qantas management about the impact of the 5000 job cuts in ASU areas.

Voluntary Redundancies (VR) and other alternatives (specific to each area) have now been offered to employees in Support Services, QCatering, Customer Care, Freight, and Airports. This process is now drawing to a close following lengthy consultation with the ASU and the company being required to retract, change or alter their processes to meet the standards of our Agreements.

On at least two occasions Qantas senior management apologised to ASU Delegates for the process that had been rolled out.

continued over page >>>

Airlines Union Delegation to Canberra on 22 March, 2014.

continued from previous page >>>

represent our members, and we note the opening of the Royal Commission which will cost many millions of dollars to run.

I am confident that the national ASU has processes in place to deal with any issues that could arise and we have complied with all of the necessary actions arising out of federal legislative change.

There is no tolerance in our organis-ation for inappropriate or illegal activity and I am committed to ensuring we have a robust governance structure that our Executive is involved in.

For this reason, we are currently in discussions with our state counterpart, Together, to ensure service standards are appropriate and allow us to comply with all of our legal requirements. If you have any concerns at any time, please contact me directly at the union office.

Finally, it is with great sadness that we note the passing of Branch Secretary of our counterpart Services Branch (The Services Union) in Queensland, Kath Nelson. Kath will be remembered for her earnest advocacy on behalf of her members and the great energy she brought to the job.

In Unity,

Julie BignellBranch Secretary

Delegate Focus • March-April 20144

continued from previous page >>>

What Qantas saidQantas advised that the Australian based call centres - Brisbane, Melbourne and Hobart, and the Auckland call centre are ‘under review’. When we pressed them on what ‘under review’ meant they stated that ‘everything is on the table’ and ‘in scope’.

Clearly Qantas intends to look into the number of call centres operating and whether the current locations will continue. They did not rule out any option including off-shoring to other locations.

The ASU will fight for Australian based call centre staff in each of the existing centres. ASU Delegates recently lobbied Federal parliamentarians to bring their attention to what was occurring at Qantas and the potential for many jobs to be offshore. See ACTU article: http://workinglife.org.au/2014/03/24/qantas/

Qantas have proposed changes to the staffing levels in certain airport roster groups including Service Desk, Sales Desk and Baggage Services and in several ports including Brisbane Qantas are looking to restructure at a number of levels and job types.

This has an effect on the rosters, the timing of consultation for rosters .

Qantas unions lobby ParliamentOn 22 March Qantas workplace Delegates went to Canberra to ask Prime Minister Tony Abbott if he would stand up for your jobs.

Mr Abbott said no.

Robyn Boucher from Hobart telesales asked why the Prime Minister gave Cadbury in Tasmania over $16million during the election campaign to protect jobs but wouldn’t help Qantas workers.

Mr Abbott couldn’t answer.

Sam Corrie, a maintenance engineer told the Prime Minister that Qantas’ outstanding safety record is the result of having the best, most experienced local workforce in the world.

Mr Abbott couldn’t guarantee maintenance jobs would stay onshore either.

Workplace Delegates and Union representatives also met with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Greens Leader Christine Milne and various other MPs and Senators demanding they fight for Qantas jobs and insisting they do whatever they can to stop changes to the Qantas Sale Act that will send local jobs offshore.

While other governments around the world invest in and support their national airlines, we stand to lose our national carrier and have thousands more jobs go offshore. This simply isn’t good enough.

Australian Unions want a sustainable future for our highly skilled Qantas workers with well paid, secure local jobs and we call on our Prime Minister to support our national carrier to do this.

What next? The ASU is committed to fighting to save every job we can.

We will continue to push for more information about each of the impacted areas and are considering legal options to force Qantas to come clean about what is really going on.

Locally the ASU will be holding meetings at various workplaces so keep an eye and ear out for meetings in your workplace.

ASU Delegates will continue to support members, keep an eye on management behavior, lobby politicians and attend meetings nationally with Senior Qantas management.

It is an enormous task and ASU members have been vocal in expressing their thanks to Delegates for all of their hard work and diligence during these very difficult times.

ABOVE CENTRE: Local ASU Delegate, Catherine Moller addresses the media after attending the Union Delegation to Canberra on 22 March, 2014. BELOW CENTRE: With Shadow Minister for Transport & Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese (Left) and Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten (Right).

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Delegate Focus • March-April 20146

2014 Delegates’ Conference

The 2014 Australian Services Union Central & Southern Queensland Branch Annual Delegates’ Conference was held on 7 March at the Greek Club in Brisbane.

With over 70 Delegates attending on the day, the event was a great success!

This year’s conference theme ‘Local Heroes – Local Campaigning’ was reflected in the speaker line-up, with prominent local campaigners sharing their stories with Delegates.

In the first order of business, Branch President, Ruth McFarlane officially opened the conference and welcomed Delegates, acknowledging the traditional owners of the land, the Turrbal and Jagera people.

Branch Secretary, Julie Bignell then gave her opening address to Delegates, giving a round-up of important issues presently affecting members, such as government cut-backs, attacks on pay and conditions by various governments, and current battles members were being faced with. The Conference gave a big round of applause to Delegates from Qantas, Sunstate and Jetstar who

are having a very public fight to keep jobs in Australia.

Delegates then networked amongst themselves and caught up on industry news via informal table discussions.

Assistant Branch Secretary, Kevin Place then introduced Delegates to the ASU History Project. This project is a prelude to next year’s 100th Anniversary of the formation of the Federated Clerks Union in Queensland and will form the centrepiece of our centenary celebrations.

Our first guest speaker for the day was Disabilities Advocate, Friday Wright who spoke about living with Parkinson’s disease and her campaign to raise community awareness of the need to respect access to disabled parking for those with disabilities. In an often hilarious address, Friday gave a real insight to the daily challenges faced by people with mobility issues.

After morning tea the conference was addressed by David Peetz, Professor of Employment Relations at Griffith University. Professor Peetz shared with Delegates the initial findings of

his ACTU/Griffith University Research Project into Delegate Networking. Delegates were keenly interested in this networking project with many requesting the powerpoint for future reference.

Our next guest speaker was Robert Hoge – Local Author and Disabilities/Social Engagement Campaigner who spoke of his life experience being born with severe facial and body disfigurements. Robert really touched our Delegates with his reminiscing of his childhood and development into an adult, the subject matter of his book ‘Ugly’. Many Delegates talked about how Robert had inspired them to get more involved in local community issues and to have a better understanding of the battles that many people face to lead a normal life, let alone an extraordinary life.

Prior to lunch Delegates voted for their choice of Delegate of the Year and after the lunchtime conference photo, votes were tallied to give us the winner for this year.

Newly elected Griffith Federal MP and former ASU Branch Communications

The Australian Services Union 2014 Annual Delegates’ Conference was sponsored by:

7

ASU Bernie Banton AM 2013 Delegate of the Year Award WinnerCongratulations to ASU Jetstar Delegate, Adam MacDonald on winning the 2013 Bernie Banton AM Delegate of the Year Award.

Adam has been our loyal Jetstar Coolangatta workplace Delegate since 2011 and throughout that time has been heavily involved in dealing with members’ workplace issues and inducting new members into the union.

Adam says; “ Receiving the Bernie Banton Delegate of the Year Award for 2013 was an amazing feeling, such a great honour.”

“It made me feel that all the hard work that I had contributed had been recognised and appreciated. It also made me realise that what we do as Delegates really can make a difference. It’s such an Inspiring, challenging, rewarding and important role.”

From all your comrades – Well done Adam!

Officer, Terri Butler presented our Delegate of the Year nominees with certificates of commendation and special Delegate badges. Our 2013 Delegate of the Year nominees are: Adam MacDonald – Jetstar, Kelly Gatehouse – Slater & Gordon, Mandy Fisher – UQ, Ross Hall – QUT, Mark Starkey – UQ, Jon Morris – Energex andTahnee Christensen – Maurice Blackburn. Congratulations to our nominees for all their hard work in 2013.

Terri then announced and presented the Delegate of the Year Award to an ecstatic Adam MacDonald from Jetstar.

After the Delegate of the Year Award presentation Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten via video introduced his newest MP, Terri Butler for her session on the successful Griffith federal election campaign. Terri proceeded to give us a breakdown of the campaign plan and how it unfolded.

Facing an experienced and battle-hardened LNP candidate with a very high community profile who was tipped to win over a relatively unknown candidate, Terri highlighted the importance of the team effort at the heart of her campaign success.

Next on the agenda was the ASU Campaigning Panel comprising Victoria

ASU Private Sector Branch Secretary, Ingrid Stitt, NSW and ACT Services Branch Secretary, Sally McManus and ASU Assistant National Secretary, Linda White.

Each of the panel members outlined successful campaign outcomes and gave Delegates practical tips and an insight into what it takes to achieve success against powerful and well-resourced organisations and individuals. Key themes included the effective use of social media, developing clear strategies and ensuring effective actions.

When Delegates returned from afternoon tea our renowned World Cafe was introduced by MLA for South Brisbane, Jackie Trad. This session allowed Delegates to consider how the guest speakers’ presentations could be drawn upon to inspire and challenge them in their own workplace organising efforts.

In all, this was an extremely successful conference and we look forward to hosting our centenary conference next year. A big thank you goes to our sponsors and Delegates who helped make the day such a success!

ABOVE: from left - 2013 Delegate of the Year nominees present on the day - Mark Starkey – UQ, Ross Hall – QUT, Adam MacDonald - Jetstar and Tahnee Christensen - Maurice Blackburn.

ABOVE: left - MP for Griffith - Terri Butler, centre - 2013 Delegate of the Year – Adam MacDonald and ASU Branch Secretary – Julie Bignell.

Queenslanders are rightly outraged by the LNP Newman government’s cuts to WorkCover.

Exclusion of injuries based on a percentage of impairment means more than 50 per cent of injured workers can no longer sue for injuries caused by an employer’s negligence.

The Newman LNP government has continued its arrogant attitude, introducing legislation after continually misleading the public, the Parliament and media about its real intention to take away basic working rights.

Premier Campbell Newman has been exposed as preferring to listen to Brisbane business lobbyists rather than to the Parliamentary committee that recommended no changes to WorkCover. The LNP chose to overlook

the financial health of the scheme, which recorded a $500 million profit in 2012-13.

The LNP then rushed laws through Parliament even after polling was released showing that 83 per cent of Queenslanders agreed that an injured employee should be able to take legal action for workplace injuries caused by their employer’s negligence.

Changes to workers’ rights regarding compensation

The new WorkCover laws commenced on 15 October 2013. Significant changes include:

• workersarerequiredtonotifyemployers of any previous workplace injury or illness at pre-employment - effectively providing scope for some employers to discriminate against you;

• inordertobeabletomakeaclaim for damages, a worker must have greater than 5% permanent impairment;

• thedefinitionofinjuryhasbeen

changed to make it harder to prove psychological and psychiatric injuries; and

• thegovernmentalsoshutdown

the independent workers’ comp regulator and instead will regulate itself.

The Labor Opposition has pledged to repeal the WorkCover changes if it wins government at the next state election in 2015.

Find out more at: http://standforqld.com.au/q-watch/workers-comp/

8

LNP WorkCover Laws Provide Scope for Discrimination

Delegate Focus • March-April 2014

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9

An employer push to stop the Fair Work Commission (FWC) from considering bullying claims that occurred before the new laws came into effect demonstrates heartless disregard for workers and lets employers off the hook.

ACTU Assistant Secretary Michael Borowick said the new laws – which came into effect on January 1, 2014 – meant a worker could now lodge an application with the FWC seeking an order that bullying stop. Fair Work has to start to deal with an application within two weeks of an application being lodged. “It’s in everyone’s interest to stop stressful, damaging and sometimes deadly workplace bullying as soon as possible,” he said.

“However what employers are now pushing for would mean that bullying victims would need to endure months more abuse.”

“A worker would need to continue to be bullied for some time into the new year before they could try and prove the

behaviour is repeated and ongoing and seek the assistance of the FWC to have it stopped. “Bullying creates a risk to health and safety and should not be tolerated.”

“Employers want to white wash any incident which occurred prior to the new laws so that even if the incidents have been going on for months, they would not be admissible as proof that urgent action is needed.”

“What unions will be pushing for is that if a worker has experienced bullying at least once since the new laws came into play and there is a risk that it will continue, then previous incidents should be admissible simply to demonstrate that this is ongoing, damaging behaviour and the FWC needs to order it to stop.”

Mr Borowick said the only benefit of whitewashing illegal previous incidents of bullying was to let employers off the hook.

“Any employer who oversees a workplace where bullying is occurring already has a responsibility to do all they can to make that workplace safe. They have had this responsibility under existing Work Health and Safety laws,

independent of the Fair work Act,” he said.

“This would have the opposite affect by prolonging the issue and ignoring all the previous incidents.”

“Employers claim that the bullying laws would have retrospective operation if bullying that occurred last year were able to be taken into account by the FWC,” Mr Borowick said.

“That’s simply not true. The laws do not have retrospective operation and are intended to make bullying behaviour stop as soon as possible. Anything that gets in the way of this outcome is unacceptable.”

“The new bullying laws contain appropriate checks and balances that empower the FWC to dismiss vexatious claims.”

Source: ACTU

Employers Push to Force Bullying Victims to Suffer Longer

International Labour Organisation (ILO) Definition of Decent WorkDecent work has been defined by the ILO and endorsed by the international community as being productive work for women and men in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity.

• Decentworkinvolvesopportunities for work that are productive and deliver a fair income;

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• Givespeoplethefreedomtoexpress their concerns, to organise and to participate in decisions that affect their lives;

• Guaranteesequalopportunityandequal treatment for all.

Delegate Focus • March-April 201410

2014 Delegate Training CalendarRegister Today!

Date – Course

• April29(TUES)–Delegates101

• April30(WED) – Workplace Meetings/Negotiations

• May21(WED)–MemberEducationSession

• June4(WED)–Delegates101

• June25(WED) – Workplace Meetings/Negotiations

• July23(WED)–MemberEducationSession

• August6(WED)–Delegates101

• August27(WED) – Workplace Meetings/Negotiations

• September17(WED) – Member Education Session

• October8(WED)–Delegates101

• October29(WED) – Workplace Meetings/Negotiations

• November12(WED) – Member Education Session

• December10(WED)–Delegates101 Course descriptions on rnext page.

To register for a course, please email your membership number, name, workplace and date of course you wish to attend to: edu@together.org.au

Mater public hospital nurses and midwives need your support now.

Nurses and midwives at the Mater Public Hospital have been waiting for a wage increase for over three years. They are now 9% behind Queensland Health nurses and midwives, even though they do the same work.

The worst part is Mater doesn’t even have to pay for the wage increase – they’ve already been given taxpayer funding by the state government.

So why isn’t Mater passing on the money? Because Mater management want nurses and midwives to give up a whole raft of existing working conditions. Despite repeated requests from the QNU, Mater won’t give us any details about their current financial situation.So much for transparency and accountability with public money.

Mater nurses and midwives have already voted down two substandard offers from Mater management. Recently, they voted to take protected industrial action. Mater’s response? Fork out the big bucks for two top-level lawyers from Ashurst – the same law firm Qantas boss Alan Joyce used in 2011 to attack workers during the Qantas lockout – and fly them in to stymie the action. Not once, but TWICE.

The Fair Work Commission affirmed nurses’ and midwives’ right to take some protected industrial action, subject to properly meeting the requirements of the Industrial Relations Act.

Now, Mater have put out a THIRD substandard agreement. The QNU Branch at Mater has now passed a vote of no confidence in Mater CEO John O’Donnell.As Queensland taxpayers have provided the funding for the wage increases, we are asking Health Minister Lawrence Springborg to intervene and resolve the situation.

Throughout the negotiations, nurses and midwives have stood firm. The working environment at Mater has become exceptionally difficult – but every day the nurses and midwives show up to deliver exceptional care. That’s why they need your support now. The third substandard agreement is currently out for ballot, and voting closes on Thursday 3 April. We are asking them to just vote NO.

Please help us show Mater nurses and midwives they are not alone. They need to hear from your members now – please distribute this information to your members and ask them to sign the petition and send messages of support today.

https://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/health-minister-lawrence-springborg-intervene-to-deliver-a-fair-pay-deal-for-mater-public-hospital-nurses-and-midwives

Thank you in anticipation of your support for Mater nurses and midwives.

Gearing Up to Celebrate 100 Years!

Are you interested in our History Project?

Do you have old photos, bulletins, or reminiscences you can share? Do you have friends or family members who have been involved in the ASU or our predecessor the Federated Clerks Union over the years?

We want to hear from you to make sure this valuable information is not lost – get in touch with Irene Monro via email at: irene.monro@together.org.au

11

Member Education SessionThis is a one day course designed for new Delegates or those members interested in finding out more about the role of a Delegate.

The aim of this session is to examine how workplace relations works at the workplace and the role unions/workers play in building capacity to influence and achieve important outcomes for members, their profession and the wider community.

Delegate 101Is a one day course designed for new Delegates who have recently taken up the role or for existing Delegates who haven’t completed training for some time.

This course covers the role of the Delegate and develops communication and problem solving skills for the workplace.

Workplace MeetingsAssisting Members and Consultative Committees is a one day course for representatives on workplace consultative forums or Delegates who would like to improve their skills in assisting individual members in the workplace.

Topics covered in this course include, meeting skills, negotiation skills, where workplace rights come from and basic representation skills.

Training Leave EntitlementsIf you are uncertain as to what your leave entitlements for training are, you should contact the Together office on 1800 177 244 or email union training at: edu@together.org.au

If you do have access to leave it is important to note that this leave only applies if you attend the training.

Training Course Descriptions

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CommBankVariable Rate Home Loan customers paid up to an additional

$22,814 (Available to eligible super fund and union members)

Super Members Home Loan (SMHL) Standard Variable Home Loan is available to eligible super fund and union members. A list of eligible super funds and unions can be found at mebank.com.au *Data: InfoChoice. Savings calculated on a 30 year, $300,000 principal and interest home loan after 10 years (01/02/03-01/02/13) on the ME Bank SMHL Standard Variable Rate versus the standard variable home loan rates of ANZ, CBA, NAB and Westpac. Assumes the same monthly repayment is made to each loan, based on the minimum repayment of the loan with the higher interest rate. Interest calculated daily and applied monthly. Graph and calculations do not include applicable fees, charges or discounts and do not consider other home loan products from these lenders that may carry different interest rates. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply. Applications are subject to credit approval. Members Equity Bank Pty Ltd ABN 56 070 887 679 Australian Credit Licence 229500. 212286/May13

Your company will always demand up-front loyalty from you, but loyalty to their workforce is often the first casualty when a company wants change or is in trouble.

Be wary of this double standard.

Don’t be a victim ....Make sure everyone is in the union!Ph: 1800 177 244 or go to: www.asu.qld.net.au

THE TRUTH

Delegate Focus • March-April 201412

Latest Employment Trends And Economic IndicatorsConsumer Price Index (CPI) December 2013 Quarter

Unemployment Rate % February 2014

Source: OESR

3.2% 3.6% 3.8% 4.0% 4.2% 4.4% 4.6% 4.8% 5.0% 5.2% 5.4% 5.6% 5.8% 6.0% 6.2% 6.4%

QLD February 2014 6.1%

QLD February 2013 5.8%

National February 2014 6.0%

National February 2013 5.5%

0.0% 1.0%-1.0% 2.0% 3.0% 4.0%

QLD Dec 2013 Annual 2.6%

National Dec 2013 Annual 2.7%

QLD Dec 2013 Quarter 0.8%

National Dec 2013 Quarter 0.8%

EMPLOYER SUPERANNUATION PAYMENT DATES 2014-2015QUARTER

CONTRIBUTION DUE DATE

1 Jan - 31 March 2014 1 April - 30 June 2014 1 July - 30 Sept 2014 1 Oct - 31 Dec 2014

28 April 2014 28 July 2014 28 October 2014 28 January 2015

Ripped Off: Workers Will Be Hit by Financial Advice DeregulationLaws to remove consumer protections in financial services being introduced to parliament by the Federal Government would see working people get ripped off by big banks, say unions.

ACTU President Ged Kearney said the Abbott Government’s move to water down the Future of Financial Advice Act (FoFA) would lead to working Australians losing hard-earned savings to greedy and unethical financial institutions.

The attempt to remove the requirement for financial advice to be given in the client’s best interests is deeply concerning, said Ms Kearney.

“If not the interests of the consumer, then whose interests will financial institutions act in?

“This isn’t about red tape, this is a free kick to business that will put profits ahead of the interests of ordinary Australians.

“There are many examples of families losing their life savings because of financial products they didn’t understand or that they were pressured into.

“The FoFA laws are sensible, well thought out protections for consumers – usually hard-working people who have spent a lifetime accumulating their nest eggs.

“This attempt to water them down is a clear reward for the big banks who have lobbied hard for the removal of consumer protections and transparency around fees and commissions.

“We all know big business is there to make profits and the banks are very good at that.

“But Australians rely on government to protect them against the worst predatory behavior of business – not give them open slather.

“By removing consumer protections in the financial advice industry, Tony Abbott is paving the way for ordinary Australians to get ripped off,” Ms Kearney said.

Source: Modified ACTU

“By removing consumer protections in the financial advice industry, Tony Abbott is paving the way for

ordinary Australians to get ripped off.”

STOP PRESSDue pressure from unions and representative community groups the government has put FoFA amendments on hold as Senator Sinodinos has been forced to stand down during a corruption probe.

The major players in this area have since been working to establish common ground for an agreement to take to the Minister for Finance, Senator Mathias Cormann, who has taken over FoFA amendments from Mr Sinodinos. Watch this space!