STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

By BAJN.au Australia’s Workforce Has Changed Forever Not long ago, work in Australia followed a familiar pattern. People were employees, independent contractors, or business owners. Today, that distinction has become increasingly blurred. Hundreds of thousands of Australians now earn their income through digital labour platforms such as Uber, Uber Eats, DoorDash, Menulog, Amazon Flex, Airtasker and other app-based services. These workers—commonly known as gig workers—have bec

By Brian AJ NewmanEmployment & Human Rights Advocate Every now and then, amid the legislation, submissions, hearings and deadlines, something arrives that reminds me exactly why I chose this path. It isn't a judgment in my favour. It isn't a settlement agreement. It isn't recognition from a tribunal. It's a simple message from a client. Recently, after completing detailed submissions for an upcoming employment matter, I received the following email. The client has kindly perm

By Brian AJ NewmanEmployment & Human Rights Advocate A Piece of History—And a Piece of My Own Every now and then, I come across something tucked away that reminds me not only of Australia's political history, but of my own journey. This is one of those items. It is an Open Letter to Australians, dated 31 August 1998, signed by four former Prime Ministers—Malcolm Fraser, Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating. It was published during one of the most politically charged peri

By Brian AJ Newman LLB Principal Employment & Human Rights Advocate Workplace bullying is more than just "part of the job" Every year, thousands of Australian workers experience behaviour that leaves them anxious about going to work. Some are humiliated in front of colleagues. Others are isolated, undermined, subjected to malicious rumours or targeted by repeated intimidation. Many employees assume that once workplace bullying occurs, the Fair Work Commission can order compen

Whether your matter involves unfair dismissal, workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, victimisation, general protections, workers' compensation or a human rights complaint, your credibility may become your most valuable asset—or your greatest liability. The Truth Doesn't End When the Hearing Does Many people mistakenly believe that once a tribunal or commission hearing concludes, their evidence disappears with it. It does not. In reality, every answer given un

The Courts Have Spoken. The Value of Human Dignity Is No Longer Measured by Yesterday's Standards. For many years, victims of workplace discrimination and sexual harassment faced an uncomfortable reality. Even when they proved their case, compensation for the humiliation, distress and psychological harm they suffered was often modest. Awards between $12,000 and $20,000 became the accepted norm despite the devastating consequences discrimination can have on a person's career,

If Someone Tells You "Discrimination Cases Only Pay $20,000" – They're Living in the Past One of the most persistent myths in Australian employment and discrimination law is that successful discrimination complaints only attract modest compensation. For years, employers, insurers and even some advisers routinely pointed to historical decisions where compensation for hurt, humiliation and distress fell between $12,000 and $20,000. That argument is now fundamentally outdated. I

For many workers, lodging an application with the Fair Work Commission can feel like a major milestone. After days or weeks of stress, gathering evidence, preparing forms, and deciding whether to pursue an Unfair Dismissal or General Protections claim, pressing the "submit" button often brings a sense of relief. However, lodging your application is not the end of the process. In reality, it is only the beginning. One of the most common questions workers ask is: "What happens

Australia's Strength Lies in Its Diversity Recent public commentary has once again revived the notion that Australia should embrace a singular cultural identity, often described as a return to a "traditional" or "monocultural" Australia. Such arguments are neither new nor particularly constructive. They overlook a fundamental truth about our nation: Australia has never been a monoculture. Long before European settlement, this continent was home to hundreds of Aboriginal and T

A recent Full Bench decision of the Fair Work Commission provides critical clarity for workers navigating secondary employment, side businesses, and contractor arrangements. The case of Adidem Pty Ltd v Suckling [2014] FWCFB 3611 reinforces an important principle: not all secondary work is a conflict of interest, and employers cannot simply assume it is. The Facts: Side Hustle Leads to Dismissal The worker in this matter was employed as a retail manager with The Body Shop. Ou

In our previous article, we discussed the importance of selecting the correct Fair Work Commission application following a dismissal. We examined the difference between an Unfair Dismissal application and a General Protections application involving dismissal and explained why understanding that distinction is critical. Once you have decided which pathway is appropriate, the next challenge is completing the application itself. Many people assume that filling out a Fair Work Co

What's the Difference Between Unfair Dismissal or General Protection Application? In our previous article, we discussed what you should do immediately after being terminated from your employment. We emphasised the importance of staying off social media, preserving evidence, gathering documents, and seeking assistance early. The next step is often one of the most important decisions you will make: Which application should you file with the Fair Work Commission? Many employees

Losing your job can be one of the most stressful and emotional experiences a worker faces. Whether the dismissal comes completely out of the blue or follows a workplace dispute, the actions you take in the hours and days immediately after termination can significantly affect your ability to pursue a remedy. Many employees make mistakes immediately after being dismissed. They vent on social media, delete important evidence, or engage in heated exchanges with their former emplo

Every so often, history shifts from something distant into something deeply personal. I recently uncovered a genealogical connection to Roger Sherman, one of the principal architects of the United States. He is identified as my half 4th cousin, 10 times removed. While separated by centuries, the connection is both real and meaningful—linking my lineage to a figure who helped shape modern democratic governance. Who Was Roger Sherman? Roger Sherman (1721–1793) occupies a unique

By Brian AJ Newman The Eternal City Beckons In 2019, I fulfilled a lifelong ambition. For many people, Rome is simply another European destination. For me, it was something entirely different. Rome was the birthplace of ideas, institutions and systems that continue to influence our world today. It was a city I had studied through books, documentaries, historical accounts and legal scholarship, yet nothing prepared me for the experience of standing within its ancient streets.

Pauline Hanson’s recent address to the National Press Club was presented as a vision for Australia’s future. Yet for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, migrants, workers, people with disabilities, and Australians who value diversity, it was a speech that looked firmly backwards rather than forwards. Throughout her address Senator Hanson repeatedly invoked concepts of national unity, sovereignty, and equality. However, beneath those slogans lies a political ph

Exposing Corrupt Narratives. Defending Humanity. What Is GERMALISM? Most people understand propaganda. Most people understand fake news. But far fewer people recognise something far more subtle and often far more dangerous: the deliberate manipulation of public opinion through selective reporting, emotional engineering, narrative construction, omission of facts, and agenda-driven journalism. That is what GERMALISM seeks to expose. GERMALISM is not an attack on journalism. It

By Brian AJ Newman, LLB Introduction Political debate is often framed as a contest between the left and the right. For generations, political ideologies have been placed along a straight line, with socialism and communism occupying the far left, conservatism and fascism occupying the far right, and liberal democracy positioned somewhere in the middle. However, a growing body of political thought challenges this traditional understanding. Known as Fishhook Theory—more commonly

The Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP), or National Socialist German Workers’ Party, is often remembered solely through the image of Adolf Hitler standing before enormous crowds beneath swastika banners. Yet Hitler, despite becoming the central figure of the movement, did not construct the party alone. The NSDAP emerged through an interconnected network of nationalist organisers, propagandists, industrial financiers, paramilitary leaders, military figures,

In my profession, information is not simply data. It is evidence.It is chronology.It is procedural fairness.It is accountability.And often, it is the difference between success and failure in a matter. Over many years representing workers and individuals in employment, industrial relations, discrimination, and human rights matters, I have developed a strong belief that efficient information management is one of the most overlooked foundations of professional practice. Most op