IR Alert

Major Changes to the Fair Work Act become law.

The Fair Work Amendment Bill 2013 (the Bill) was passed by Parliament last night.

These changes are the most significant changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 (the Act) since its introduction and will have an impact on all employers in the national system. Members need to be aware of the new legislation and the implications that the changes will have on their business. The Bill will see the following amendments introduced into the Act:

– Anti-Bullying provisions will be inserted into the Act for the first time.

These provisions will have a significant impact on all employers. The amendments will enable employees to make a claim to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to stop or  intervene in matters where an employeeclaims they are being bullied in the workplace. The FWC will be able to issue orders to stop the bullying. Civil penalties will apply to both the individual accused of bullying and the employer if orders made by the FWC are contravened. This change will take effect from 1 January 2014.

– Right of Entry provisionswill be expanded so that:

• lunchrooms will now become the default meeting place in a workplace when a union does not agree with the nominated room to hold discussions by the  employer; and

• occupiers of remote or isolated workplaces will be required to provide transport to the union official to reach the site and accommodation, on or near the site if they are unable to return the same day. There is no cap on the potential cost incurred to the employer.

 This change will take effect from 1 January 2014. 

How to Combat Internet Fraud

I attended a seminar this week on combating Internet fraud and safeguarding your business against scams, here is some advise that I was able to capture that will help keep your business protected.

1. Spam interception and Internet security software installed on all Internet connected devices

2.Be wary of too good to be true deals and rushed high pressure deadlines

3.Understand how money will be transferred and what recourse to the recipient the business will have. Be especially careful of any transaction where the transferring bank/organisation does not disclose recipient details.

4.Never respond to the scammer, that just tells them you are ‘real’

5.Don’t agree to advance payment requests

6.Frequent updates and audits of IT systems by qualified professionals

7.Check supplied details (such as phone number).

8.Ask for secondary ID

9.Assign the task of vetting suspect emails /approaches to someone who has the right level of industry experience and knowledge. It’s not just about being tech savvy, wisdom and prior experience counts.

10.Require purchase orders for every expense (set minimum $ limit)

11.Never provide bank account details to unknown entities

12.Use a separate debit card with a small available balance for online purchases, thus limiting the maximum loss.

13.Be suspicious of any contact from any supposedly well-known organisation that wants to give you something.

14.Google the offer including the word scam in your search

15.Develop a shared list of known problems/risks.

16.Requests that don’t fit normal patterns of business (large orders, strange timing, vague language, no industry jargon used)

17.Employee retention, keep staff with experience rather than turnover to less experienced. Wisdom in employees

18.Check Scamwatch

19.Use Google maps (streetview) to see what is at the address claimed.

20.Hang up on calls where auto dialer delays are evident

21.Pay by credit card where some bank and credit card protection exists. Even have a card with a separate bank or create a separate legal entity to further protect main assets.

22.Develop a list of websites that list scams

23.Speak to a colleague in the industry

24.Consider only taking international orders by advance payment using cleared funds (such as telegraphic transfer)

25.Have a single approver of new expenditures and a single person who responds to any email/sms/phone contact that is suspicious and ensure that person remains well informed of current threats.

26.Beware of faulty grammar or poor context

27.Use Skype to see overseas contacts in person

28.Ask for ABN and/or ACN and verify it

29.Ask for references and check them

 

Hope this helps

Tim Milsom

CEO

Fremantle Chamber of Commerce 

No matter what side of the political fence

No matter what side of the political fence you’re on, THIS is FUNNY and VERY telling! It just all depends on how you look at the same things. 

Judy Rudd an amateur genealogy researcher in south east Queensland, was doing some personal work on her own family tree. She discovered that ex-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s great-great uncle, Remus Rudd, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Melbourne in 1889. Both Judy and Kevin Rudd share this common ancestor. 

The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows at the Melbourne Jail.

On the back of the picture Judy obtained during her research is this inscription: 

‘Remus Rudd horse thief, sent to Melbourne Jail 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Melbourne-Geelong train six times. 

Caught by Victoria Police Force, convicted and hanged in 1889.’ 

So Judy recently e-mailed ex-Prime Minister Rudd for information about their great-great uncle, Remus Rudd.

Believe it or not, Kevin Rudd’s staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research: 

“Remus Rudd was famous in Victoria during the mid to late 1800s. His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Melbourne-Geelong Railroad.. 

Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. 

In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the Victoria Police Force. In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honour when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.” 
 
NOW That’s how it’s done, Folks!
That’s real POLITICAL SPIN.

Fremantle Business Beat – A Personal Note from District Superintendent – Brad Sorrell

I would like to personally thank you for attending the launch of the Fremantle Business Beat and I look forward to an excellent working relationship with you and your personnel.  As promised, my private work email is provided, so please feel to contact me should the need arise.  For general enquiries, please useFremantle.Business.Beat@police.wa.gov.au as this will be checked daily by a member of the South Metropolitan District Office. You are also encouraged to forward this email to any other business in Fremantle that may be interested in registering for Business Beat.

Since launching Fremantle Business Beat our officers have been busy engaging local business on the issues currently impacting the Central Business District (CBD).  Early indications on our new police station are encouraging with many business owners commenting on improved visual presence.  To correspond with the launch of Business Beat our district commenced the implementation of the Fremantle CBD Team, conceptualised to compliment the current work being performed under Operation Peyton.  The CBD Team consists of senior police officers mentoring inexperienced officers in the basics of policing.  Operation Peyton is an ongoing policing operation targeting volume crime, anti social behaviour within the Fremantle CBD, conducting business premises checks including licensed premises.

To add to this we have applied for and been granted prohibited behaviour orders on some known anti-social offenders.  This will prohibit them from entering the Fremantle town centre and from being noticeably impaired by alcohol or solvents, for a period of 18 months.

Operation Elver is an ongoing policing operation that targets volume crime and anti-social behaviour during the busy evening hours.  This operation is also working very well and there is a noticeable decrease in assaults.    – 9.1% down on last year.

 I am also pleased to advise that Constable Winter of the Fremantle Inquiry Team has been working on a series of graffiti offences that occurred over March and April 2013.  Constable Winter and officers from the Fremantle Inquiry Team engaged local business and their workers which resulted in the offender being charged today with 29 counts of Criminal Damage by Graffiti.  I would say that is an excellent result and a very good start that demonstrates how effective the Business Beat strategy can be.  Senior Sergeant Wynne is providing some excellent frontline leadership to his troops and could be seen pounding the pavement of Fremantle in company with Acting Inspector Thompson during the early hours of last weekend.

In closing, I would like to express my appreciation to Mayor of Fremantle, Dr Brad Pettitt and CEO of Chamber of Commerce, Mr Tim Milsom for the excellent support WA Police have received in the rollout of our recent strategies.  Together we are all making a difference and we will continue to work as hard as we can for the community.

Liberal Party chooses candidate for Fremantle

The Liberal Party has chosen its candidate to contest the federal seat of Fremantle in the September election.

Matthew Hanssen contested the seat at the state election in March but lost to Labor’s Simone McGurk.

He will now attempt to take the seat from Melissa Parke who has held it since 2007.

The Big 4 You Can’t Ignore!

Small businesses are suffocating under too much government regulation, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) says.

The chamber has launched a new campaign, `The Big 4 You Can’t Ignore’, focusing on the main issues small businesses want addressed at the federal election.

They include cutting red tape, simplifying the tax system, making it easier to employ people and building better public infrastructure.

ACCI chief Peter Anderson will tell the National Press Club on Wednesday small business is suffocating “at every level” of government regulation and the tax system is impossible for the average small business person to understand and comply with.

“Australia has become a very costly place for small business to hire, keep and dismiss staff,” Mr Anderson will say in his speech in Canberra around 1pm AEST.

“And when times are tough, that means jobs and hours get cut.”

The “Big 4” campaign is the next phase of the ACC’s “Small Business Too Big To Ignore” pre-election push to get recognition for small business issues.

“Small businesses may be small voices on their own, but together they are too big to be ignored by our country or its politics,” Mr Anderson says.

“The political class ignores this movement at its peril.”