Crown boss John Alexander lashes media's "anti-Crown agenda"

Crown Resorts executive chairman John Alexander has attacked "interests and activists who continue to pursue an anti-Crown agenda" as he defended the casino company from damaging allegations about links to organised crime. 

With investigations underway by by commonwealth and state regulators, Mr Alexander said Crown was cooperating but rejected calls for a Royal Commission. 

ABC's Peter Ryan is covering the Royal Commission.

Government reverse mortgage rate to be reviewed after "gouging" allegations by retirees in light of RBA official rate cuts

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will review the government's reverse mortgage scheme to reflect Reserve Bank interest rates. 

READ THE STORY HERE

Retirees have accused the government of "gouging" pensioners while criticising banks for not passing on official interest rate cuts in full. 

The Treasurer says the government's 5.25 percent rate for reverse mortgages reflects the additional risk and that it is below commercial reverse mortgage rates. 

National Seniors Australia chief advocate Ian Henschke speaks with ABC's Peter Ryan

Brisbane cafe accused of paying its staff with food, instead of money - Fair Work ombudsman alleges

The operators of a Brisbane cafe allegedly partially paid some of it employees in food and drink, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Visa holders - including junior workers aged under 21 - were paid in meals, desserts and drinks over two periods between August 2017 and January 2018, the regulator will allege in the Federal Circuit Court.

Eleven employees from Cafe Chermside at the Westfield Chermside shopping centre in suburban allegedy underpaid by Timi Trading Pty Ltd had worked as cooks, kitchen attendants and food and beverage attendants.

Company director Tien Hoang Le, company manager Minh Vo Duy Nguyen and company owner-director Hamish Watson are scheduled to face a directions hearing in Brisbane next February.

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said the regulator sent in its inspectors to investigate after receiving underpayment allegations.

"All employees in Australia are entitled to be paid the minimum pay rates that apply to their positions – in money, not food," Ms Parker said.

"Businesses should be aware that we are cracking down on the underpayment of vulnerable workers in the fast food, restaurant and café sector as a priority."

The Fair Work Ombudsman's annual report has revealed that $40 million is stolen or lost wages was recovered for 18,000 workers in the year to June 30.

More than half of the litigation filed involved businesses in the fast food, restaurants and cafe sector, which secured more than $1.6 million in penalties against employers.

Fair Work is alleging that by paying workers in food and drink, the operators of Timi Trading breached the the Fair Work Act requiring that employees be paid in money.

Inspectors allegedly found that eight of the 11 employees were paid according to Individual Flexibility Agreements (IFA) that provide for flat hourly rates and bonuses and allowances instead of being provided with entitlements under the Restaurant Industry Award, such as overtime and penalty rates.

Under the IFA allowances allegedly used, employees were allowed food and drink worth $42 per day including $20 in meals, $7 in desserts and $15 in drinks.

Timi Trading is also accused of providing inspectors with false and misleading records and failing to pay one employee for taking leave on a public holiday.

"If we consider that employers are breaching their lawful obligation, we will take enforcement action so employees receive what they are entitled to," Ms Parker said.

If the allegations are proven, Timi Trading faces maximum penalties per breach of up to $63,000, while the directors and operators face maximum penalties per breach of up to $12,600. 

Ripped-off workers were repaid $40 million last year, while bosses were fined $4.4 million - Fair Work Ombudsman annual report

Ripped off workers have been compensated more than $40 million in stolen or lost wages recovered by the Fair Work Ombudsman over the past year.

In the agency's annual report released today, Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker revealed a "significant increase" in action on wages stolen from 18,000 employees.

The highest recovery in the workplace regulator's history comes after the resolution of 29,000 workplace disputes, 17.8 million visits to the Fair Work Ombudsman website and 380,000 calls from employees questioning irregularities in their pay and conditions.

Ombudsman Sandra Parker said more than half of the litigation filed involved businesses in the fast food, restaurants and cafe sector which secured more than $1.6 million in penalties against employers.

"We urge employers to actively check they are paying their staff correctly and access our free resources for help. We will take enforcement action against employers who break the law," Ms Parker said.

"We will continue our important work educating employers and employees, targeting high-risk industries, protecting vulnerable workers and improving compliance across Australian workplaces in the year ahead."

Ms Parker's warning comes after high profile restaurateurs were investigated by Fair Work officers with celebrity chef George Calombaris forced to repay $8 million in wages to hundreds of current and past employees.

The annual report says the changing workplace environment "increases the opportunity for unscrupulous employers to evade detection, particularly where vulnerable workers are employed."

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation is also being investigated for the alleged underpayment of 2500 flat rate casuals over six years.

The ABC's annual report for 2018-19 has put aside $22,9m for the potential "estimated historical salary and wages and superannuation entitlements owed to certain casual employees".

A Fair Work spokesman says the investigation into the allegations is continuing.

Source: ABC 2018-19 annual report

The annual report says courts imposed penalties of $4.4 million as a result of FWO litigation, including $383,616 against the operators of three Tokyo Sushi outlinets in regional New South Wales where vulnerable employees were underpaid more than $70,000.

The Fair Work Ombudsman regulates 13 million workers and over two million businesses using an "intelligence-led and risk-based approach" in covering key sectors of the economy.

A key success cited in the annual report was the "Harvest Trail Inquiry" which recovered more than a million dollars in unpaid wages for 2,500 agricultural workers.

The report says Fair Work inspectors will continue to focus on businesses with high staff turnover, franchises and businesse that use temporary visa holders.