?  Health News

• Perth and the Peel region of Western Australia entered a snap lockdown on Saturday, after a Victorian man who likely became infected whilst in hotel quarantine in Perth, travelled extensively through the area between leaving quarantine and returning home to Victoria where he tested positive. So far two positive cases have been traced. The WA Premier will decide this morning whether to extend the lockdown.
• Traces of the virus have been detected in Newcastle, Merimbula and Allambie Heights sewage plants over the weekend, and health authorities have advised residents of those areas are to be on alert for cold-like symptoms, and isolate and get tested immediately if any such symptoms occur.

• The federal government has announced changes to the Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job (RATTUAJ) program, reducing the eligibility requirement for the new job to be 20 hours per week rather than 30, and jobseekers are now eligible to receive upfront up to $2,000 of the up to $9,000 assistance available. For more information about this program visit https://www.dese.gov.au/rattuaj 
• A $900 million solar, wind and battery power project will be built outside of Bendemeer.
• The ABS is looking for census workers across the country – apply here: https://www.censusjobs.adecco.com.au/

?  Business & Employment News

• The Fair Work Commission has signalled that it may defer minimum wage rises again. The 2020 wage rises were staggered over 9 months, with industries most affected by the pandemic only receiving their payrise in February 2021.
• Big employers are saying that business travel is likely to be greatly reduced after the experience of COVID-19, with more interstate and overseas travel to be replaced by video conferencing. Corporate travel rates are back up to 65% of pre-pandemic levels at the moment.
• The federal government has launched their Employer Reporting Hotline, for prospective employers to dob in jobseekers for conduct indicating that they are unwilling to work. The purpose is to cut down on frivolous job applications and encourage jobseekers to enter employment and not leave without good reason; it remains to be seen how this strategy will work in with job application obligations for unemployment payments.
• Does your workplace have a dress policy or dress expectations? The Home Affairs department wants to ban their employees from wearing sleeveless tops, even when working from home. Do you think this is fair and reasonable?