The Abbott government will review the benchmarks and workplace laws that restrict business use of independent
contractors, with the aim to make it easier to hire
contractors to work
exclusively on major projects.
On appeal, Canac argued that the Keenans were independent
contractors because they hadn't worked
exclusively for Canac during their last two years of service (they had also worked for a competitor).
The two plaintiffs, Lawrence and Marilyn Keenan, had very lengthy periods of service (32 and 25 years), were 63 and 61 at the time of termination, held supervisory positions and up until the final 2 years of the relationship, worked
exclusively for the defendant, Canac Kitchens.1 Initially the plaintiffs were employees but in 1987 were told that they would carry
on their work as independent
contractors.