Contents
Part 1—Preliminary 1
1............ Short title [see Note 1]....................................................................... 1
2............ Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................. 1
3............ Principal object................................................................................... 1
4............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 2
5............ Employee.......................................................................................... 17
6............ Employer.......................................................................................... 18
7............ Employment..................................................................................... 19
8............ Schedules 1, 6, 7, 7A, 7B, 8, and 9 have
effect................................. 19
9............ Schedule 10 has effect....................................................................... 19
10.......... Act binds Crown.............................................................................. 20
11.......... Modifications for Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling)
Islands.... 20
12.......... Exclusion of persons insufficiently connected
with Australia......... 20
13.......... Extraterritorial application................................................................ 21
14.......... Act not to apply so as to exceed Commonwealth
power................ 22
15.......... Application of Criminal Code.......................................................... 24
16.......... Act excludes some State and Territory laws.................................... 24
17.......... Awards, agreements and Commission orders prevail
over State and Territory law etc. 26
18.......... Act may exclude State and Territory laws in other
cases................. 27
Part 2—Australian Fair Pay Commission 28
Division 1—Preliminary 28
19.......... Definitions........................................................................................ 28
Division 2—Australian Fair Pay Commission 29
Subdivision A—Establishment and functions 29
20.......... Establishment................................................................................... 29
21.......... Functions of the AFPC.................................................................... 29
Subdivision B—AFPC’s wage‑setting function 29
22.......... AFPC’s wage‑setting function......................................................... 29
23.......... AFPC’s wage‑setting parameters..................................................... 30
24.......... Wage reviews and wage‑setting decisions......................................... 30
25.......... Constitution of the AFPC for wage‑setting
powers........................ 31
26.......... Publishing wage‑setting decisions etc............................................... 31
Subdivision C—Operation of the AFPC 31
27.......... AFPC to determine its own procedures........................................... 31
28.......... Annual report................................................................................... 32
Subdivision D—AFPC Chair 32
29.......... Appointment.................................................................................... 32
30.......... Remuneration.................................................................................... 32
31.......... Leave of absence............................................................................... 32
32.......... Engaging in other paid employment................................................. 33
33.......... Disclosure of interests...................................................................... 33
34.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 33
35.......... Termination of appointment............................................................ 33
36.......... Other terms and conditions.............................................................. 35
37.......... Acting AFPC Chair.......................................................................... 35
Subdivision E—AFPC Commissioners 35
38.......... Appointment.................................................................................... 35
39.......... Remuneration.................................................................................... 36
40.......... Leave of absence............................................................................... 36
41.......... Disclosure of interests...................................................................... 36
42.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 36
43.......... Termination of appointment............................................................ 36
44.......... Other terms and conditions.............................................................. 38
45.......... Acting AFPC Commissioners.......................................................... 38
Division 3—AFPC Secretariat 39
Subdivision A—Establishment and function 39
46.......... Establishment................................................................................... 39
47.......... Function............................................................................................ 39
Subdivision B—Operation of the AFPC Secretariat 39
48.......... AFPC Chair may give directions...................................................... 39
49.......... Annual report................................................................................... 39
Subdivision C—The Director of the Secretariat 40
50.......... Appointment.................................................................................... 40
51.......... Remuneration.................................................................................... 40
52.......... Leave of absence............................................................................... 40
53.......... Engaging in other paid employment................................................. 40
54.......... Disclosure of interests...................................................................... 40
55.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 41
56.......... Termination of appointment............................................................ 41
57.......... Other terms and conditions.............................................................. 42
58.......... Acting Director of the Secretariat..................................................... 42
Subdivision D—Staff and consultants 43
59.......... Staff.................................................................................................. 43
60.......... Consultants....................................................................................... 43
Part 3—Australian Industrial Relations Commission 44
Division 1—Establishment of Commission 44
61.......... Establishment of Commission.......................................................... 44
62.......... Functions of Commission................................................................. 44
63.......... Appointment of Commission members etc...................................... 44
64.......... Qualifications for appointment........................................................ 45
65.......... Seniority........................................................................................... 46
66.......... Performance of duties on part‑time basis......................................... 46
67.......... Dual federal and State appointments................................................ 47
68.......... Performance of duties by dual federal and State
appointees............ 48
69.......... Dual federal appointments............................................................... 48
70.......... Appointment of a Judge as President not to affect
tenure etc......... 48
71.......... Tenure of Commission members...................................................... 49
72.......... Acting President............................................................................... 49
73.......... Acting Vice President....................................................................... 50
74.......... Acting Senior Deputy President....................................................... 50
75.......... Acting Deputy Presidents................................................................ 51
76.......... Oath or affirmation of office............................................................. 51
77.......... Discharge of Commission’s business............................................... 52
78.......... Duty of Commission members......................................................... 52
79.......... Remuneration and allowances of Presidential
Members etc............. 52
80.......... Application of Judges’ Pensions Act............................................... 54
81.......... Remuneration and allowances of Commissioners............................. 55
82.......... Removal of Presidential Member from office................................... 56
83.......... Outside employment of Commissioner............................................ 56
84.......... Leave of absence of Commissioner................................................... 56
85.......... Disclosure of interest by Commission members.............................. 57
86.......... Termination of appointment of Commissioner................................ 58
87.......... Resignation by Commission member............................................... 58
Division 2—Organisation of Commission 59
88.......... Manner in which Commission may be constituted.......................... 59
89.......... Powers exercisable by single member of Commission...................... 59
90.......... Functions and powers conferred on members.................................. 59
91.......... Exercise of Commission powers....................................................... 60
92.......... Continuation of hearing by Commission.......................................... 60
93.......... Commission divided in opinion........................................................ 61
94.......... Arrangement of business of Commission......................................... 61
95.......... Panels of Commission for particular industries................................ 62
96.......... Delegation by President.................................................................... 62
97.......... Protection of Commission members................................................. 63
98.......... Co‑operation with the States by President...................................... 63
99.......... Co‑operation with the States by Registrar....................................... 63
Division 3—Representation and intervention 64
100........ Representation of parties before Commission................................. 64
101........ Intervention generally....................................................................... 66
102........ Particular rights of intervention of Minister..................................... 66
Division 4—General matters relating to the powers and
procedures of the Commission 67
Subdivision A—General matters Commission to take into account 67
103........ Commission to take into account the public
interest....................... 67
104........ Commission to take into account discrimination issues................... 67
105........ Commission to take account of Racial
Discrimination Act, Sex Discrimination Act, Disability Discrimination Act and
Age Discrimination Act.................................................................... 68
106........ Commission to take account of Family Responsibilities
Convention 68
107........ Safety, health and welfare of employees.......................................... 68
108........ Commission to act quickly............................................................... 68
109........ Commission to avoid technicalities and facilitate
fair conduct of proceedings 69
Subdivision B—Particular powers and procedures of the
Commission 69
110........ Procedure of Commission................................................................. 69
111........ Particular powers of Commission.................................................... 69
112........ Reference of proceedings to Full Bench........................................... 72
113........ President may deal with certain proceedings.................................... 73
114........ Review on application by Minister.................................................. 74
115........ Compulsory conferences.................................................................. 75
116........ Power to override certain laws affecting public
sector employment 75
117........ State authorities may be restrained from dealing
with matter that is before the Commission 76
118........ Joint sessions of Commission.......................................................... 76
119........ Revocation and suspension of awards and orders............................ 77
Division 5—Appeals to Full Bench and references to Court 79
120........ Appeals to Full Bench relating to matters arising
other than under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule..................................................................... 79
121........ Appeals to Full Bench relating to matters arising
under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule etc..................................................................................................... 81
122........ References to Court by Commission on question of
law................. 83
Division 6—Miscellaneous 84
123........ Seals of Commission......................................................................... 84
124........ Rules of Commission........................................................................ 84
125........ President must provide certain information etc. to
the Minister..... 85
126........ Annual report of Commission.......................................................... 85
Part 4—Australian Industrial Registry 86
Division 1—Interpretation 86
127........ Definition of State industrial body.................................................... 86
Division 2—Establishment and functions of Australian
Industrial Registry 87
128........ Australian Industrial Registry.......................................................... 87
129........ Functions of the Industrial Registry................................................. 87
130........ Registries.......................................................................................... 89
131........ Seals of the Registry......................................................................... 89
132........ Annual report of Industrial Registry................................................ 89
Division 3—Registrars 90
133........ Industrial Registrar........................................................................... 90
134........ Tenure of office of Industrial Registrar............................................ 91
135........ Remuneration and allowances of Industrial
Registrar....................... 92
136........ Outside employment of Industrial Registrar.................................... 92
137........ Disclosure of interests by Industrial Registrar................................. 92
138........ Leave of absence of Industrial Registrar........................................... 92
139........ Resignation by Industrial Registrar.................................................. 93
140........ Termination of appointment of Industrial Registrar........................ 93
141........ Deputy Industrial Registrars............................................................ 93
142........ Acting Industrial Registrar................................................................ 95
143........ Acting Deputy Industrial Registrars................................................ 95
144........ Oath or affirmation of office of Registrar......................................... 96
Division 4—References and appeals 97
145........ References by Registrar to Commission........................................... 97
146........ Removal of matters before Registrar................................................ 97
147........ Appeals from Registrar to Commission........................................... 97
148........ References to Court by Registrar on question of
law....................... 98
Division 5—Staff 100
149........ Staff................................................................................................ 100
Part 5—Workplace Authority Director 101
Division 1—Workplace Authority Director 101
Subdivision A—Establishment and
functions 101
150A..... Workplace Authority Director....................................................... 101
150B..... Functions of Workplace Authority Director.................................. 101
150C..... Minister may give directions to Workplace Authority
Director.... 102
Subdivision B—Appointment and terms and conditions 103
151A..... Appointment of Workplace Authority Director............................ 103
151B..... Remuneration.................................................................................. 103
151C..... Leave of absence............................................................................. 103
151D..... Other terms and conditions............................................................ 104
151E...... Outside employment...................................................................... 104
151F...... Disclosure of interests.................................................................... 104
151G..... Acting appointments...................................................................... 104
151H..... Resignation..................................................................................... 105
151J...... Termination of appointment.......................................................... 105
Division 2—Workplace Authority Deputy Directors 106
152A..... Workplace Authority Deputy Directors........................................ 106
152B..... Appointment of Workplace Authority Deputy Director.............. 106
152C..... Remuneration.................................................................................. 106
152D..... Leave of absence............................................................................. 107
152E...... Other terms and conditions............................................................ 107
152F...... Outside employment...................................................................... 107
152G..... Disclosure of interests.................................................................... 107
152H..... Resignation..................................................................................... 108
152J...... Termination of appointment.......................................................... 108
Division 3—Staff, delegations etc. 109
153A..... Staff................................................................................................ 109
153B..... Workplace Authority..................................................................... 109
153C..... Delegation....................................................................................... 109
Division 4—Reporting and disclosing information 110
Subdivision A—Reporting 110
163A..... Minister may require reports......................................................... 110
163B..... Annual report................................................................................. 110
163C..... Reports not to include information relating to an
individual’s affairs 110
Subdivision B—Disclosing information 111
164A..... Disclosure of information by workplace agreement
officials......... 111
165........ Identity of parties to ITEAs not to be
disclosed........................... 112
166........ Publication of workplace agreements etc. by
Workplace Authority Director 113
Part 5A—Workplace Ombudsman 114
Division 1—Establishment and functions 114
166A..... Workplace Ombudsman................................................................. 114
166B..... Functions of the Workplace Ombudsman...................................... 114
166C..... Minister may give directions to Workplace Ombudsman.............. 115
Division 2—Appointment and terms and conditions 116
166D..... Appointment of Workplace Ombudsman...................................... 116
166E...... Remuneration.................................................................................. 116
166F...... Leave of absence............................................................................. 116
166G..... Other terms and conditions............................................................ 117
166H..... Outside employment...................................................................... 117
166J...... Disclosure of interests.................................................................... 117
166K..... Acting appointments...................................................................... 117
166L...... Resignation..................................................................................... 118
166M.... Termination of appointment.......................................................... 118
Division 3—Staff, delegations etc. 119
166N..... Staff................................................................................................ 119
166P...... Office of the Workplace Ombudsman............................................ 119
166Q..... Delegation....................................................................................... 119
Division 4—Reporting and disclosing information 121
Subdivision A—Reporting to Minister 121
166R..... Minister may require reports......................................................... 121
166S...... Annual report................................................................................. 121
166T..... Reports not to include information relating to an
individual’s affairs 121
Subdivision B—Disclosing information 122
166U..... Disclosure of information by members of the Office
of the Workplace Ombudsman 122
166V..... Directions about exercise of powers to disclose
information......... 123
Part 6—Workplace inspectors 124
167........ Inspectors....................................................................................... 124
168........ Identity cards.................................................................................. 125
169........ Powers of inspectors...................................................................... 125
Part 7—The Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard 129
Division 1—Preliminary 129
171........ Purpose of Part............................................................................... 129
172........ Operation of the Australian Fair Pay and
Conditions Standard..... 129
173........ Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard cannot
be excluded. 130
174........ Extraterritorial extension................................................................. 130
175........ Model dispute resolution process.................................................. 132
Division 2—Wages 133
Subdivision A—Preliminary 133
176........ AFPC’s wage‑setting parameters etc............................................. 133
178........ Definitions...................................................................................... 133
179........ Meaning of casual loading provisions........................................... 138
180........ Meaning of classification................................................................ 138
181........ Meaning of rate provisions............................................................ 139
Subdivision B—Guarantee of basic rates of pay 140
182........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 140
183........ An employee’s guaranteed hours for the
purpose of section 182 141
184........ Modified operation of section 182 to continue
effect of Supported Wage System for certain employees with a disability......................................................................................... 144
Subdivision C—Guarantee of casual loadings 144
185........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 144
186........ Default casual loading percentage................................................... 145
Subdivision D—Guarantee of frequency of payment 146
189........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 146
Subdivision E—Guarantee against reductions below pre‑reform
commencement rates 147
190........ The guarantee where only basic periodic rates of
pay are involved 147
191........ The guarantee where basic piece rates of pay are
involved............ 148
192........ The guarantee for casual loadings that apply to
basic periodic rates of pay 149
Subdivision F—The guarantee against reductions below Federal
Minimum Wages (FMWs) 150
193........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 150
Subdivision G—Federal Minimum Wages (FMWs) 151
194........ When is there an FMW for an employee?...................................... 151
195........ Standard FMW............................................................................... 152
196........ Adjustment of standard FMW....................................................... 152
199........ How a special FMW is to be expressed......................................... 152
200........ Adjustment of a special FMW....................................................... 152
Subdivision H—Australian Pay and Classification Scales
(APCSs): general provisions 153
201........ What is an APCS?.......................................................................... 153
202........ What must or may be in an APCS?................................................ 153
203........ How pay rates and loadings are to be expressed in
an APCS........ 154
204........ When is employment covered by an APCS?.................................. 155
205........ What if 2 or more APCSs would otherwise cover an
employee?... 155
207........ Deeming APCS rates to at least equal FMW rates
after first exercise of AFPC’s powers takes effect 156
Subdivision I—Australian Pay and Classification Scales:
preserved APCSs 157
208........ Deriving preserved APCSs from pre‑reform
wage instruments..... 157
209........ Notional adjustment: rates and loadings determined
as for reform comparison day 158
210........ Notional adjustment: deducing basic periodic rate
of pay and casual loading from composite rate 159
211........ Notional adjustment: how basic periodic rates and
loadings are expressed 160
212........ Regulations dealing with notional adjustments............................... 161
213........ Certain regulations relating to preserved APCSs
may take effect before registration 161
Subdivision K—Australian Pay and Classification Scales:
duration and adjustment of APCSs (preserved or new) 162
215........ Duration of APCSs......................................................................... 162
216........ Adjustment of APCSs.................................................................... 162
Subdivision L—Adjustments to incorporate 2005 Safety Net
Review etc. 162
218........ Adjustments to incorporate 2005 Safety Net Review................... 162
219........ Regulations may require adjustments to incorporate
other decisions 163
Subdivision M—Special provisions relating to APCSs for
employees with a disability 164
219A..... Coverage of special APCSs for employees with a disability......... 164
Subdivision N—Miscellaneous 164
222........ Anti‑discrimination considerations................................................. 164
Division 3—Maximum ordinary hours of work 166
Subdivision A—Preliminary 166
223........ Employees to whom Division applies........................................... 166
224........ Definitions...................................................................................... 166
225........ Agreement between employees and employers............................. 166
Subdivision B—Guarantee of maximum ordinary hours of work 167
226........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 167
Division 4—Annual leave 170
Subdivision A—Preliminary 170
227........ Employees to whom Division applies........................................... 170
228........ Definitions...................................................................................... 170
229........ Meaning of nominal hours worked................................................ 172
230........ Agreement between employees and employers............................. 174
231........ Regulations may prescribe different definitions
for piece rate employees 174
Subdivision B—Guarantee of annual leave 175
232........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 175
233........ Entitlement to cash out annual leave.............................................. 175
Subdivision C—Annual leave rules 176
234........ Annual leave—accrual, crediting and accumulation
rules............... 176
235........ Annual leave—payment rules........................................................ 177
236........ Rules about taking annual leave...................................................... 177
237........ Annual leave and workers’ compensation...................................... 179
Subdivision D—Service: annual leave 180
238........ Annual leave—service.................................................................... 180
Division 5—Personal leave 181
Subdivision A—Preliminary 181
239........ Employees to whom Division applies........................................... 181
240........ Definitions...................................................................................... 181
241........ Meaning of nominal hours worked................................................ 183
242........ Agreement between employees and employers............................. 185
243........ Regulations may prescribe different definitions
for piece rate employees 185
244........ Meaning of personal/carer’s leave................................................. 185
Subdivision B—Guarantee of paid personal/carer’s leave 186
245........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 186
245A..... Entitlement to cash out an amount of paid
personal/carer’s leave. 186
246........ Paid personal/carer’s leave—accrual, crediting and
accumulation rules 188
247........ Paid personal/carer’s leave—payment rule
