1. Are you casual or full-time?

If the Government gets its way, the idea of a casual worker will change forever. A controversial court decision against an employer, meant a casual worker, who was effectively working as a full-timer, was paid benefits he would’ve accrued as a full-time worker, on top of a 25% casual loading he was paid. Yep, he was allowed to keep his 25% loading as well as collect backpay for being treated like a full-time worker.

To stop this possible double dipping, employers will have to offer casuals with regular work patterns full-time or permanent part-time jobs after 12 months. These proposed changes will be voted on by Parliament this week.

2. Here’s to new wine markets

With China declaring war on Australian winemakers with 212% tariffs, the local plonk producers are knocking on the doors of countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, whose populations are becoming regular consumers of reds and whites. Following Beijing imposing these tariffs, a $20 bottle of Aussie wine in Shanghai has gone to $80! Bruce Tyrrell, MD Tyrrell's Wines, told the SMH: “There’s not much we can do about it, we've just got to go and find some new markets”. You’ve got to wish them luck.

3. Aussie stock market to rise, again

The local stock market is expected to again open substantially higher today, with the US Dow Jones Index finishing 248 points higher and at a record high of 30,218.26, despite a disappointing jobs number over the weekend in the US. US economists expected 440,000 jobs to be created in November but only 245,000 showed up and the spike in second-wave infections and the failure to pass a stimulus bill are being blamed. Market experts think this poor jobs number will force US politicians to stop squabbling to get a stimulus bill passed before going on their Christmas break. And the stock market liked this thinking.

4. Rudy Giuliani tests positive for Coronavirus

Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani has tested positive for COVID-19 according to a tweet from the President. The result follows weeks of legal challenges led by Giuliani against the results of the presidential election, which Trump reinforced as being "the most corrupt election" in his tweet.

5. Zoom from up high

If you're getting tired of the same old Zoom calls at home or in the office, a Japanese theme park has come up with an interesting alternative. For about $24, you can hire a seat on a Ferris Wheel for an hour with access to Wi-Fi, giving your colleagues a unique view of suburban Tokyo.