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Australia’s biggest supermarket chain says it has lost approximately $50m in grocery sales since Woolworths staff began industrial action that has disrupted the flow of goods into some of its stores.
The strike has affected up to five distribution centres, with more than 1,500 warehouse workers walking off the job since 21 November as they seek better pay and safer working conditions. Some stories in Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT have empty shelves reminiscent of the early Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.
Woolworths has filed an urgent application with the Fair Work Commission for a circuit-breaker to ban warehouse workers from blocking their distribution centres. The application to Fair Work alleges a breach of the good faith bargaining requirements in the Fair Work Act.
The United Workers Union national secretary, Tim Kennedy, said warehouse workers had engaged in good faith negotiations for almost seven months and raised concerns about a “punitive” productivity framework imposed on workers.
Top news
South Australia declared best state to do business | With the lowest payroll tax rate for large employers and fewer licensing and permit hoops to jump through, SA has taken pole position. Victoria is in last place, in part due to the high payroll tax rate and the “pretty significant” business licensing requirements, the Business Council of Australia found.
Suspect in 1977 Easey Street murders extradited from Italy | For the first time in seven years, Perry Kouroumblis is expected to set foot on Australian soil on Tuesday night in what Melbourne detectives hope will be a major milestone in a notorious murder case that has plagued them for nearly five decades.
Australia’s Jack Doohan to make Formula One debut | The 21-year-old son of motorcycle great Mick Doohan, will make his Formula One debut for Alpine in Sunday’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Doohan will debut with his reserve driver number 61 and will also take part in the end-of-season test.
No jail for couple convicted of ‘abhorrent’ neo-Nazi vandalism | Christopher Carrig, 20, and Taylor Bayly, 20, have been ordered to reimburse Macquarie University after a hateful neo-Nazi graffiti spree in the early hours of 25 January.
Australia accused of undermining landmark climate change case | A delegate of several Pacific nations and developing states, led by Vanuatu, has accused Australia of undermining its argument before the UN’s international court of justice that developed nations have a legal responsibility to act on the climate crisis beyond non-binding promises.
Elon Musk’s $56bn Tesla pay package rejected | A judge ruled the Tesla chief executive is still not entitled to receive a US$56bn (A$86.5bn) compensation package even though shareholders of the electric vehicle company had voted to reinstate it six months ago.
Paw and order | A retired police dog named Bear has rescued a vulnerable missing person from dense undergrowth in East Sussex on the German shepherd’s first walk since his major surgery.
Thieves steal $48,000 worth of pies | Tommy Banks, a Michelin-starred chef and veteran judge on BBC show Great British Menu, has appealed to thieves who stole his van which had 2,500 pies inside to “do the right thing” and give them to people in need.
Replica Harry Potter sword breaks Japan’s weapons law | Full-size replica swords sold as souvenirs at a Harry Potter exhibition in Tokyo have fallen foul of Japan’s strict weapons control law, with the 86cm stainless steel recreation of Godric Gryffindor’s sword being recalled.
In pictures
Jaguar unveils much-hyped electronic car hours after online leak
Jaguar unveiled its much-hyped electronic concept car in Miami on Monday, called the Type 00. As well as a range of 769km, the model features the Jaguar logo laser-etched into a brass ingot on each side of the car, no rear window, and is available in any colour the customer wants … as long as it’s either Miami pink or London blue.
What they said …
***
“Honestly, we have no idea why this started again.”
Researchers suspect that orcas may be reviving a peculiar fashion statement not seen since the 1980s. The once in-vogue “dead salmon hat” is making a comeback after a number of stylish killer whales were spotted with the accessory. Though scientists have some theories, researcher Deborah Giles says ultimately they’re baffled.
In numbers
The consumer energy report card, released today, also found that while most householders believe the energy transition will be good for the environment, as well as their local community and Australia as a whole, few understand what the transition means for them personally.
Before bed read
Protecting or restricting? The effect of social media bans on the big dreams of young Australians
Australia is about to find out if stopping under-16s accessing platforms such as Instagram and TikTok will protect against harmful content or stifle creativity and block opportunity, writes Rafqa Touma.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: PAY. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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