Parents accessing the government-funded paid parental leave will receive an additional 12 per cent of their payments in super from July next year, after the federal government's legislation passed parliament.

The telco says emergency calls from public phones have risen by about 20 per cent, and the anonymity they provide for people experiencing mental health crises and domestic violence could be a driving factor.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has secured a total of $657,105 in penalties in court against the Mining and Energy Union and five then-union officials over conduct including verbal abuse of workers at the Oaky Creek North coal mine in central Queensland.

Government pay negotiations with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union broke down earlier this week and the union threatened to disrupt services on one of the busiest weekends of the year.

The world sugar price surged by about 15 per cent this week, which was easily the industry's sharpest rally of the year.