Australian, General News-January 4-Reuters

It is expected that the Australian financial REVIEW (www.afr.com) unions representing workers in the Australian resources sector argue for higher wages, when about half of existing collective agreements will expire this year. Union leaders indicated yesterday that they will not accept contributions from higher pension in lieu of wage increases. Court of workplace relations that fair work Australia will examine revision of wages based on a percentage of restructuring, an amendment should be opposed by employer groups. Page 1. -Federal opposition leader Tony Abbott yesterday questioned the criteria for the Government's emergency assistance payments of $ 1000, saying that it is much harder for people to claim the money now than it was in March last year. 200000 people in an area the size of France and Germany have been affected by the floods. Page 1. -West Australia (WA) Treasurer Christian Porter, said yesterday that does not allow the Member States to increase the mining royalties would penalize them and restrict their ability to improve productivity. Review Group of the Federal Government taxes recommended that royalties limited to avoid mining companies being double taxed once mineral resource proposed income tax is introduced. Increased productivity and good governance in Washington is being used to help other States [], said Mr Fletcher. Page 3. -Major retailers David Jones, Myer, target, Harvey Norman, along with Just jeans and Dotti joined forces to lobby against tax exemption for goods and services in online shopping from the outside. The printed media campaign $ 200000 will start today as indicators point to a disappointing Christmas season for retailers. Deputy Treasurer Bill Shorten was not moved, saying that there is no denying that retailers are doing it tough, but other factors are having a greater impact. Page 5. --

Grants the clean-up THE AUSTRALIAN (www.theaustralian.news.com.au) $ 25000 and subsidized loans are offered to Queensland in addition to standard catastrophe of Commonwealth, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced yesterday. Practically ceased production of coal in the State and the agricultural industry estimates the cost to be around a billion dollars to date, while the authorities warn that the full extent of the damage can't be known until the waters receded. This is a very, very serious floods and the Government of the Commonwealth will be there, said Ms Gillard. Page 1. -Former West Australian Housing Minister Tom Stephens yesterday called his party dump shaken labor leader Eric Ripper Eric Wyatt, pushing a motion of bloodshed leadership at its meeting on 10 February of the party. Partys right faction members were dissatisfied with the leadership of Mr Rippers in opposition, which has seen the Premier Colin Barnett quadruple your approval rating as preferred leader according to Newspoll. Page 1. --The Board of airline representatives of Australia (BARA) yesterday asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to help resolve a dispute concerning contributions to the regional airport of services. BARA Airservices Australia wants claimed charge of fire and rescue services, which they never uses, accusing the Corporation air traffic management state be an instrument of national defense industry and regional development of international airlines for aviation. Page 2. -Qantas Airways Airline announced yesterday that it will work with the supplier of fuel to create a United States Solena biofuels aviation factory $ 300 million in Sydney. If successful, the plant could burn through 500000 tonnes of waste per year and provide 1200 jobs. Page 2. --

The Sydney Morning HERALD (www.smh.com.au) President of New South Wales (NSW) Legislative Council Amanda Fazio said yesterday it would allow an investigation concerning the sale of $ 5.3 billion of The State electricity assets to proceed. NSW Premier Kristina Keneally, that had Parliament prorogued in December, launched legal advice that the investigation would be illegal, while Parliament has been disconnected and witnesses wouldn't benefit of parliamentary privilege. ID be prepared to allow him to continue while witnesses are appearing in the quality of voluntary, said Ms Fazio. Page 1. --The Federal Government was under pressure yesterday coalition and the Greens to send a patrol vessel Ocean Protector for the Antarctic to monitor Japanese whalers clashes between ships and against activists. This could be an ideal platform for surveillance of Southern Ocean Coalition, said a spokesperson. Greens leader Bob Brown said that the presence of boat Australian Customs may prevent human lives are lost during the whale season-killing. Page 3. -Heavy rain and bad weather is planned for the regions affected by floods in Northern New South Wales and Queensland, where flood levels continue to rise in some places. Queensland emergency management would not further cyclonic activity along the States already soaked Costa. We are in La Nina, moment, and that is consistent with us getting more rain than usual, a Meteorologist Bureau of Meteorology said. Page 5. --

The Australian Government the AGE (www.theage.com.au) was prepared to deal with Japan in whaling, according to u.s. diplomatic cables released by whistleblower site WikiLeaks. The compromise secret would have seen Japanese whalers kill creatures least 5000 more than 10 years and close gaps in scientific research whaling. Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said at the time that Australia was demanding stop Japan its operations entirely. Page 1. -A number of members working Victorian, nicknamed class 99, prepare to be reserved pave the way for fresh faces. Former Minister Rob Hulls, who was elected in 1996, is expected to lead the way. Salaries of parliamentarians and Inbox rules state pension that members are entitled to a full pension if they have served 12 years and his departure does not result in an election. They will all go, said a senior source of labor law. Page 1. --The body of a man whose car was dragged by the floods was recovered near Rockhampton yesterday, taking the number of deaths since the Queensland floods to nine since November. The body of a fisherman who were missing since Saturday was found earlier in the day. Australian military rushed to offer help yesterday before access road to Rockhampton was cut completely yesterday evening. Page 2. -Workplace Relations Court fair work Australia ordered that Viktor Sulemanovski be reinstated in his job with the packaging company Aperio Group. The Commissioner met the representative of the safety of 23 years had a zealotry for safety and health at work, but found that the operator slitting must not be paid for their time outside of work, as some of their behavior was deserving of criticism. Page 3. --

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New labor laws of CA DIR Highlights In The new year

As the new year begins, the Department of industrial relations (DIR) reminds employers of new labor laws, becoming effective in 2011. The intention of the new legislation varies to provide more flexibility for employers, the expansion of paid leave for employees. The following new laws come into force on 1 January 2011:

New exemptions meal break off duty
569 AB provides greater legal clarity to 512 (a) of the labour code section that requires that employers provide their employees, who work more than six hours in a day, breaking a meal off-duty 30 minutes after five hours of work.   The new law adds the section 512.7 of the labour code and will waive the meal off-duty break requirement workers in specific industries that are covered by a collective agreement containing provisions of meal period.   The employee groups include: construction workers, professional drivers, security officers and employees of electric and gas corporations or local public electricity.   These are the positions where it was considered that a break off-duty meal may be impractical or industries.  The review was made to better meet the requirements of specific positions.   The Bill was introduced by House Bill Emmerson (R-Hemet).

Workers compensation extended the qualification of employees of the public service
AB 2253 expands the eligibility of workers compensation for firefighters and policemen who developed certain types of cancer that reasonably are linked to their jobs.  Existing law provides that such presumption is extended for a period of three months for each completed year of service, the employee worked, should not to exceed 60 months beyond its last day of service.  Pending legislation will extend this time period for up to 120 months and will change the section of the labour code 3212.  The Bill was introduced by House Joe Coto (D-San Jose).

Body/leave bone marrow donors and benefits to employees of private employers
SB 1304 private requires employers to allow employees to have paid leaves of absence to donate organs and bone marrow, similar to existing provisions for employees of the State of California. Under the new law, private employers are prohibited from interfering with employees taking leave of organ donation or marrow and upon completion of the license must allow them to return to the same job or an equivalent. The Bill, introduced by Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord), further prohibits retaliation of the employee to take the license and provides employees to seek redress if these rights are violated.

Foundation of new procedures and definition clarified for CAL/OSHA Serious Citations
California employers are legally required to provide employees with a safe working environment. California law authorised DIR's Division of safety and health, better known as cal/OSHA, impose regulations applicable health and safety and issue citations where investigations reveal that an employer has committed violations of standards, including violations causing an employee suffering or potentially suffer, among other things, "serious injury or illness" or "serious bodily harm". 2774 AB, introduced by a member of the Assembly Sandré Swanson r. (D-Alameda), amends section of the labour code 6432 define serious physical injury and establishes a rebuttable presumption for when an employer commits a serious breach of these provisions.  The Bill establishes new procedures and standards for a serious investigation by issuing citations.  (See GO # 2010-28, "application of CAL/OSHA strengthened with the signing of the new law"

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