Brian AJ Newman LLB

For many workers, the most intimidating part of a Fair Work Commission case is not the paperwork or the hearings—it is being cross-examined. Sitting in a room (or on a screen) while an employer’s representative questions your version of events can feel confronting, stressful, and deeply personal. Cross-examination is not a conversation. It is a testing process. Its purpose is to challenge your evidence, probe for inconsistencies, and sometimes to pressure you into conceding points that weaken...

In the 17th century, philosopher Thomas Hobbes described life without protection or order as “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” He was writing about society without rules or restraint on power. Centuries later, his words still resonate—particularly for workers who suddenly find themselves dismissed unfairly, without process, warning, or respect. For many working people, unfair dismissal is not just the loss of a job. It is the loss of security, routine, and dignity. One day you are...

Every labour movement has its ghosts. In England, his name was Captain Swing. In Australia, he was never named — but he was felt. This article asks a deliberately uncomfortable question: "Was Captain Swing ever a feature of Australian workplace disputes — and if not by name, then by function?" The answer goes to the heart of how worker resistance has always been framed by power. Captain Swing, the Phantom of Workplace Resistance – Did He Ever Come to Australia? Captain Swing: a warning from...