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Despite significant pushback against a specific provision, the Senate has now passed changes to the Fair Work Act, following an amendment moved by the Greens.

Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth introduced the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill earlier this month, to enable the Fair Work Commission to more effectively perform its functions.

As previously reported, its key provisions empower the Commission to: deal with general protections dismissal and unlawful termination disputes via conciliation or mediation without first having to make an arbitrated decision about whether an applicant was in fact dismissed or terminated; where appropriate, determine matters on the papers without the need to proceed to a formal hearing...