A few of my friends have been working in the outback under the banner of contract pilots. Unless I'm mistaken, the IR laws apply the 'control test' when differentiating between contractors and employees. This test states that if the majority of the following are present, then the person (pilot) is clearly not a contractor.
- Hours, duration and location of work dictated by employer
- equipment (planes) provided by employer
- Employee under direct supervision of how they perform their job
- over 80% of income from one employer
- The employee is paid a set wage
- etc, etc.
So it appears to me that operators are required to provide all of the benefits such as (sick leave,etc.) to their pilots and they would be forced to do so if challenged.
Is this true???