Workplace Relations Act 1996

Act No. 86 of 1988 as amended

This compilation was prepared on 4 July 2007
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 107 of 2007

Volume 1 includes:       Table of Contents
                                    Sections 1 – 919

The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section

The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section

Volume 2 includes:       Table of Contents
                                    Schedules 1 – 10

Volume 3 includes:       Note 1
                                    Table of Acts
                                    Act Notes
                                    Table of Amendments
                                    Repeal Table
                                    Note 2
                                    Table A
                                    Renumbering Table

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General’s Department, Canberra

 

 

 

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.......................................................................................... 17

7............ Employment..................................................................................... 18

8............ Schedules 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 have effect............................................... 19

9............ Schedule 10 has effect....................................................................... 19

10.......... Act binds Crown.............................................................................. 19

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.......................................................... 23

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................. 26

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                                                                32

27.......... AFPC to determine its own procedures........................................... 32

28.......... Annual report................................................................................... 32

Subdivision D—AFPC Chair                                                                                   32

29.......... Appointment.................................................................................... 32

30.......... Remuneration.................................................................................... 32

31.......... Leave of absence............................................................................... 33

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                                                                 36

38.......... Appointment.................................................................................... 36

39.......... Remuneration.................................................................................... 36

40.......... Leave of absence............................................................................... 36

41.......... Disclosure of interests...................................................................... 36

42.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 37

43.......... Termination of appointment............................................................ 37

44.......... Other terms and conditions.............................................................. 38

45.......... Acting AFPC Commissioners.......................................................... 38

Division 3—AFPC Secretariat                                                                               40

Subdivision A—Establishment and function                                                        40

46.......... Establishment................................................................................... 40

47.......... Function............................................................................................ 40

Subdivision B—Operation of the AFPC Secretariat                                          40

48.......... AFPC Chair may give directions...................................................... 40

49.......... Annual report................................................................................... 40

Subdivision C—The Director of the Secretariat                                                 41

50.......... Appointment.................................................................................... 41

51.......... Remuneration.................................................................................... 41

52.......... Leave of absence............................................................................... 41

53.......... Engaging in other paid employment................................................. 41

54.......... Disclosure of interests...................................................................... 41

55.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 42

56.......... Termination of appointment............................................................ 42

57.......... Other terms and conditions.............................................................. 43

58.......... Acting Director of the Secretariat..................................................... 43

Subdivision D—Staff and consultants                                                                   44

59.......... Staff.................................................................................................. 44

60.......... Consultants....................................................................................... 44

Part 3—Australian Industrial Relations Commission                                      45

Division 1—Establishment of Commission                                                     45

61.......... Establishment of Commission.......................................................... 45

62.......... Functions of Commission................................................................. 45

63.......... Appointment of Commission members etc...................................... 45

64.......... Qualifications for appointment........................................................ 46

65.......... Seniority........................................................................................... 47

66.......... Performance of duties on part‑time basis......................................... 47

67.......... Dual federal and State appointments................................................ 48

68.......... Performance of duties by dual federal and State appointees............ 49

69.......... Dual federal appointments............................................................... 49

70.......... Appointment of a Judge as President not to affect tenure etc......... 49

71.......... Tenure of Commission members...................................................... 50

72.......... Acting President............................................................................... 50

73.......... Acting Vice President....................................................................... 51

74.......... Acting Senior Deputy President....................................................... 51

75.......... Acting Deputy Presidents................................................................ 52

76.......... Oath or affirmation of office............................................................. 52

77.......... Discharge of Commission’s business............................................... 53

78.......... Duty of Commission members......................................................... 53

79.......... Remuneration and allowances of Presidential Members etc............. 53

80.......... Application of Judges’ Pensions Act............................................... 55

81.......... Remuneration and allowances of Commissioners............................. 56

82.......... Removal of Presidential Member from office................................... 57

83.......... Outside employment of Commissioner............................................ 57

84.......... Leave of absence of Commissioner................................................... 57

85.......... Disclosure of interest by Commission members.............................. 58

86.......... Termination of appointment of Commissioner................................ 59

87.......... Resignation by Commission member............................................... 59

Division 2—Organisation of Commission                                                        60

88.......... Manner in which Commission may be constituted.......................... 60

89.......... Powers exercisable by single member of Commission...................... 60

90.......... Functions and powers conferred on members.................................. 60

91.......... Exercise of Commission powers....................................................... 61

92.......... Continuation of hearing by Commission.......................................... 61

93.......... Commission divided in opinion........................................................ 62

94.......... Arrangement of business of Commission......................................... 62

95.......... Panels of Commission for particular industries................................ 63

96.......... Delegation by President.................................................................... 63

97.......... Protection of Commission members................................................. 64

98.......... Co‑operation with the States by President...................................... 64

99.......... Co‑operation with the States by Registrar....................................... 64

Division 3—Representation and intervention                                               65

100........ Representation of parties before Commission................................. 65

101........ Intervention generally....................................................................... 67

102........ Particular rights of intervention of Minister..................................... 67

Division 4—General matters relating to the powers and procedures of the Commission          68

Subdivision A—General matters Commission to take into account                68

103........ Commission to take into account the public interest....................... 68

104........ Commission to take into account discrimination issues................... 68

105........ Commission to take account of Racial Discrimination Act, Sex Discrimination Act, Disability Discrimination Act and Age Discrimination Act.................................................................... 69

106........ Commission to take account of Family Responsibilities Convention 69

107........ Safety, health and welfare of employees.......................................... 69

108........ Commission to act quickly............................................................... 69

109........ Commission to avoid technicalities and facilitate fair conduct of proceedings        70

Subdivision B—Particular powers and procedures of the Commission         70

110........ Procedure of Commission................................................................. 70

111........ Particular powers of Commission.................................................... 70

112........ Reference of proceedings to Full Bench........................................... 73

113........ President may deal with certain proceedings.................................... 74

114........ Review on application by Minister.................................................. 75

115........ Compulsory conferences.................................................................. 76

116........ Power to override certain laws affecting public sector employment 76

117........ State authorities may be restrained from dealing with matter that is before the Commission 77

118........ Joint sessions of Commission.......................................................... 77

119........ Revocation and suspension of awards and orders............................ 78

Division 5—Appeals to Full Bench and references to Court                80

120........ Appeals to Full Bench relating to matters arising other than under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule..................................................................... 80

121........ Appeals to Full Bench relating to matters arising under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule etc..................................................................................................... 82

122........ References to Court by Commission on question of law................. 84

Division 6—Miscellaneous                                                                                      85

123........ Seals of Commission......................................................................... 85

124........ Rules of Commission........................................................................ 85

125........ President must provide certain information etc. to the Minister..... 86

126........ Annual report of Commission.......................................................... 86

Part 4—Australian Industrial Registry                                                                     87

Division 1—Interpretation                                                                                       87

127........ Definition of State industrial body.................................................... 87

Division 2—Establishment and functions of Australian Industrial Registry       88

128........ Australian Industrial Registry.......................................................... 88

129........ Functions of the Industrial Registry................................................. 88

130........ Registries.......................................................................................... 90

131........ Seals of the Registry......................................................................... 90

132........ Annual report of Industrial Registry................................................ 90

Division 3—Registrars                                                                                              91

133........ Industrial Registrar........................................................................... 91

134........ Tenure of office of Industrial Registrar............................................ 92

135........ Remuneration and allowances of Industrial Registrar....................... 93

136........ Outside employment of Industrial Registrar.................................... 93

137........ Disclosure of interests by Industrial Registrar................................. 93

138........ Leave of absence of Industrial Registrar........................................... 93

139........ Resignation by Industrial Registrar.................................................. 94

140........ Termination of appointment of Industrial Registrar........................ 94

141........ Deputy Industrial Registrars............................................................ 94

142........ Acting Industrial Registrar................................................................ 96

143........ Acting Deputy Industrial Registrars................................................ 96

144........ Oath or affirmation of office of Registrar......................................... 97

Division 4—References and appeals                                                                  98

145........ References by Registrar to Commission........................................... 98

146........ Removal of matters before Registrar................................................ 98

147........ Appeals from Registrar to Commission........................................... 98

148........ References to Court by Registrar on question of law....................... 99

Division 5—Staff                                                                                                          101

149........ Staff................................................................................................ 101

Part 5—Workplace Authority Director                                                                  102

Division 1—Workplace Authority Director                                                  102

Subdivision A—Establishment and functions                                                    102

150A..... Workplace Authority Director....................................................... 102

150B..... Functions of Workplace Authority Director.................................. 102

150C..... Minister may give directions to Workplace Authority Director.... 103

Subdivision B—Appointment and terms and conditions                                  104

151A..... Appointment of Workplace Authority Director............................ 104

151B..... Remuneration.................................................................................. 104

151C..... Leave of absence............................................................................. 104

151D..... Other terms and conditions............................................................ 105

151E...... Outside employment...................................................................... 105

151F...... Disclosure of interests.................................................................... 105

151G..... Acting appointments...................................................................... 105

151H..... Resignation..................................................................................... 106

151J...... Termination of appointment.......................................................... 106

Division 2—Workplace Authority Deputy Directors                               107

152A..... Workplace Authority Deputy Directors........................................ 107

152B..... Appointment of Workplace Authority Deputy Director.............. 107

152C..... Remuneration.................................................................................. 107

152D..... Leave of absence............................................................................. 108

152E...... Other terms and conditions............................................................ 108

152F...... Outside employment...................................................................... 108

152G..... Disclosure of interests.................................................................... 108

152H..... Resignation..................................................................................... 109

152J...... Termination of appointment.......................................................... 109

Division 3—Staff, delegations etc.                                                                     110

153A..... Staff................................................................................................ 110

153B..... Workplace Authority..................................................................... 110

153C..... Delegation....................................................................................... 110

Division 3A—Workplace Relations Fact Sheet                                          111

154A..... Workplace Authority Director must issue Workplace Relations Fact Sheet          111

154B..... Employer must give a Workplace Relations Fact Sheet to new employees            111

154C..... Employer must give a Workplace Relations Fact Sheet to existing employees       111

154D..... Penalties for contravention of civil remedy provisions.................. 112

Division 4—Reporting and disclosing information                                   113

Subdivision A—Reporting                                                                                     113

163A..... Minister may require reports......................................................... 113

163B..... Annual report................................................................................. 113

163C..... Reports not to include information relating to an individual’s affairs 113

Subdivision B—Disclosing information                                                             114

164A..... Disclosure of information by workplace agreement officials......... 114

165........ Identity of parties to AWAs not to be disclosed........................... 115

166........ Publication of AWAs etc. by Workplace Authority Director....... 116

Part 5A—Workplace Ombudsman                                                                            117

Division 1—Establishment and functions                                                      117

166A..... Workplace Ombudsman................................................................. 117

166B..... Functions of the Workplace Ombudsman...................................... 117

166C..... Minister may give directions to Workplace Ombudsman.............. 118

Division 2—Appointment and terms and conditions                               119

166D..... Appointment of Workplace Ombudsman...................................... 119

166E...... Remuneration.................................................................................. 119

166F...... Leave of absence............................................................................. 119

166G..... Other terms and conditions............................................................ 120

166H..... Outside employment...................................................................... 120

166J...... Disclosure of interests.................................................................... 120

166K..... Acting appointments...................................................................... 120

166L...... Resignation..................................................................................... 121

166M.... Termination of appointment.......................................................... 121

Division 3—Staff, delegations etc.                                                                     122

166N..... Staff................................................................................................ 122

166P...... Office of the Workplace Ombudsman............................................ 122

166Q..... Delegation....................................................................................... 122

Division 4—Reporting and disclosing information                                   124

Subdivision A—Reporting to Minister                                                                124

166R..... Minister may require reports......................................................... 124

166S...... Annual report................................................................................. 124

166T..... Reports not to include information relating to an individual’s affairs 124

Subdivision B—Disclosing information                                                             125

166U..... Disclosure of information by members of the Office of the Workplace Ombudsman            125

166V..... Directions about exercise of powers to disclose information......... 126

Part 6—Workplace inspectors                                                                                     127

167........ Inspectors....................................................................................... 127

168........ Identity cards.................................................................................. 128

169........ Powers of inspectors...................................................................... 128

Part 7—The Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard                        132

Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                          132

171........ Purpose of Part............................................................................... 132

172........ Operation of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard..... 132

173........ Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard cannot be excluded. 133

174........ Extraterritorial extension................................................................. 133

175........ Model dispute resolution process.................................................. 135

Division 2—Wages                                                                                                     136

Subdivision A—Preliminary                                                                                 136

176........ AFPC’s wage‑setting parameters etc............................................. 136

177........ AFPC to have regard to recommendations of Award Review Taskforce                136

178........ Definitions...................................................................................... 136

179........ Meaning of casual loading provisions........................................... 141

180........ Meaning of classification................................................................ 142

181........ Meaning of rate provisions............................................................ 142

Subdivision B—Guarantee of basic rates of pay                                                143

182........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 143

183........ An employee’s guaranteed hours for the purpose of section 182 144

184........ Modified operation of section 182 to continue effect of Supported Wage System for certain employees with a disability......................................................................................... 147

Subdivision C—Guarantee of casual loadings                                                   147

185........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 147

186........ Default casual loading percentage................................................... 149

187........ Adjustment of default casual loading percentage............................ 149

188........ Only one default casual loading percentage.................................... 149

Subdivision D—Guarantee of frequency of payment                                         150

189........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 150

Subdivision E—Guarantee against reductions below pre‑reform commencement rates   151

190........ The guarantee where only basic periodic rates of pay are involved 151

191........ The guarantee where basic piece rates of pay are involved............ 152

192........ The guarantee for casual loadings that apply to basic periodic rates of pay           153

Subdivision F—The guarantee against reductions below Federal Minimum Wages (FMWs)         154

193........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 154

Subdivision G—Federal Minimum Wages (FMWs)                                         155

194........ When is there an FMW for an employee?...................................... 155

195........ Standard FMW............................................................................... 156

196........ Adjustment of standard FMW....................................................... 156

197........ Determination of special FMWs.................................................... 157

198........ AFPC to state whether special FMW is a minimum standard for APCSs              157

199........ How a special FMW is to be expressed......................................... 157

200........ Adjustment of a special FMW....................................................... 158

Subdivision H—Australian Pay and Classification Scales (APCSs): general provisions 158

201........ What is an APCS?.......................................................................... 158

202........ What must or may be in an APCS?................................................ 158

203........ How pay rates and loadings are to be expressed in an APCS........ 160

204........ When is employment covered by an APCS?.................................. 160

205........ What if 2 or more APCSs would otherwise cover an employee?... 161

206........ AFPC to remove coverage rules described by reference to State or Territory boundaries      162

207........ Deeming APCS rates to at least equal FMW rates after first exercise of AFPC’s powers takes effect  162

Subdivision I—Australian Pay and Classification Scales: preserved APCSs 163

208........ Deriving preserved APCSs from pre‑reform wage instruments..... 163

209........ Notional adjustment: rates and loadings determined as for reform comparison day               164

210........ Notional adjustment: deducing basic periodic rate of pay and casual loading from composite rate        165

211........ Notional adjustment: how basic periodic rates and loadings are expressed             166

212........ Regulations dealing with notional adjustments............................... 167

213........ Certain regulations relating to preserved APCSs may take effect before registration             167

Subdivision J—Australian Pay and Classification Scales: new APCSs      168

214........ AFPC may determine new APCSs................................................. 168

Subdivision K—Australian Pay and Classification Scales: duration, adjustment and revocation of APCSs (preserved or new)                                                                                               168

215........ Duration of APCSs......................................................................... 168

216........ Adjustment of APCSs.................................................................... 168

217........ Revocation of APCSs..................................................................... 169

Subdivision L—Adjustments to incorporate 2005 Safety Net Review etc.   169

218........ Adjustments to incorporate 2005 Safety Net Review................... 169

219........ Regulations may require adjustments to incorporate other decisions 170

Subdivision M—Special provisions relating to APCSs for employees with disabilities and employees to whom training arrangements apply                                                                   170

220........ Employees with disabilities............................................................ 170

221........ Employees to whom training arrangements apply......................... 171

Subdivision N—Miscellaneous                                                                             172

222........ Anti‑discrimination considerations................................................. 172

Division 3—Maximum ordinary hours of work                                           174

Subdivision A—Preliminary                                                                                 174

223........ Employees to whom Division applies........................................... 174

224........ Definitions...................................................................................... 174

225........ Agreement between employees and employers............................. 174

Subdivision B—Guarantee of maximum ordinary hours of work                  175

226........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 175

Division 4—Annual leave                                                                                       178

Subdivision A—Preliminary                                                                                 178

227........ Employees to whom Division applies........................................... 178

228........ Definitions...................................................................................... 178

229........ Meaning of nominal hours worked................................................ 180

230........ Agreement between employees and employers............................. 182

231........ Regulations may prescribe different definitions for piece rate employees              182

Subdivision B—Guarantee of annual leave                                                         183

232........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 183

233........ Entitlement to cash out annual leave.............................................. 183

Subdivision C—Annual leave rules                                                                     184

234........ Annual leave—accrual, crediting and accumulation rules............... 184

235........ Annual leave—payment rules........................................................ 185

236........ Rules about taking annual leave...................................................... 185

237........ Annual leave and workers’ compensation...................................... 187

Subdivision D—Service: annual leave                                                                 188

238........ Annual leave—service.................................................................... 188

Division 5—Personal leave                                                                                   189

Subdivision A—Preliminary                                                                                 189

239........ Employees to whom Division applies........................................... 189

240........ Definitions...................................................................................... 189

241........ Meaning of nominal hours worked................................................ 191

242........ Agreement between employees and employers............................. 193

243........ Regulations may prescribe different definitions for piece rate employees              193

244........ Meaning of personal/carer’s leave................................................. 193

Subdivision B—Guarantee of paid personal/carer’s leave                              194

245........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 194

245A..... Entitlement to cash out an amount of paid personal/carer’s leave. 194

246........ Paid personal/carer’s leave—accrual, crediting and accumulation rules 196

247........ Paid personal/carer’s leave—payment rule.................................... 197

247A..... Entitlement to leave for all nominal hours in a day also extends to other hours on that day  197

248........ Paid personal/carer’s leave—workers’ compensation.................... 198

249........ Paid carer’s leave—annual limit...................................................... 198

Subdivision C—Guarantee of unpaid carer’s leave                                           199

250........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 199

251........ Unpaid carer’s leave—how taken................................................... 200

252........ Unpaid carer’s leave—paid personal leave exhausted.................... 200

Subdivision D—Notice and evidence requirements: personal/carer’s leave 200

253........ Sick leave—notice........................................................................... 200

254........ Sick leave—documentary evidence................................................. 201

255........ Carer’s leave—notice...................................................................... 202

256........ Carer’s leave—documentary evidence............................................ 202

Subdivision E—Guarantee of compassionate leave                                           203

257........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 203

258........ Taking compassionate leave........................................................... 204

259........ Compassionate leave—payment rule............................................. 204

Subdivision F—Personal leave: service                                                              204

260........ Paid personal leave—service.......................................................... 204

261........ Unpaid carer’s leave—service........................................................ 205

Division 6—Parental leave                                                                                    206

Subdivision A—Preliminary                                                                                 206

262........ Employees to whom Division applies........................................... 206

263........ Definitions...................................................................................... 206

264........ Meaning of eligible casual employee.............................................. 209

264A..... Regulations may prescribe different definition for piece rate employees                210

Subdivision B—Guarantee of maternity leave                                                   210

265........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 210

266........ Period of maternity leave................................................................ 211

267........ Period of special maternity leave.................................................... 212

268........ Transfer to a safe job...................................................................... 213

Subdivision C—Maternity leave: documentation                                               214

269........ Special maternity leave—documentation....................................... 214

270........ Ordinary maternity leave—medical certificate............................... 216

271........ Ordinary maternity leave—application.......................................... 217

Subdivision D—Maternity leave: from start to finish                                       218

272........ Maternity leave—start of leave...................................................... 218

273........ Requirement to take leave—for 6 weeks after birth....................... 218

274........ Requirement to take leave—within 6 weeks before birth............... 219

275........ End of pregnancy—effect on ordinary maternity leave entitlement 220

276........ Death of child—effect on ordinary maternity leave entitlement.... 220

277........ End of ordinary maternity leave if employee stops being primary care‑giver         221

278........ Variation of period of ordinary maternity leave............................. 221

279........ Employee’s right to terminate employment during maternity leave 222

280........ Return to work guarantee—maternity leave................................... 222

281........ Replacement employees—maternity leave.................................... 223

Subdivision E—Guarantee of paternity leave                                                     224

282........ The guarantee.................................................................................. 224

283........ Period of paternity leave................................................................ 225

284........ Short paternity leave—concurrent leave taken by spouse............. 226

285........ Long paternity leave—not to be concurrent with maternity leave taken by spouse               226

Subdivision F—Paternity leave: documentation                                                227

286........ Paternity leave—medical certificate............................................... 227

287........ Short paternity leave—application................................................ 228

288........ Long paternity leave—documentation........................................... 228

Subdivision G—Paternity leave: from start to finish                                        229

289........ Short paternity leave—when taken................................................ 229

290........ Long paternity leave—when taken................................................. 229

291........ End of pregnancy—effect on paternity leave................................. 230

292........ Death of child—effect on paternity leave...................................... 230

293........ End of long paternity leave if employee stops being primary care‑giver                231

294........ Variation of period of long paternity leave..................................... 231

295........ Employee’s right to terminate employment during paternity leave 232

296........ Return to work guarantee—paternity leave................................... 232

297........ Replacement employees—long paternity leave............................. 233

Subdivision H—Guarantee of adoption leave                                                      233

298........ Meaning of eligible child................................................................. 233

299........ The guarantee—pre‑adoption leave................................................ 234

300........ The guarantee—adoption leave...................................................... 235

301........ Period of adoption leave................................................................. 235

302........ Short adoption leave—concurrent leave taken by spouse.............. 236

303........ Long adoption leave—not to be concurrent with adoption leave taken by spouse 237

Subdivision I—Adoption leave: documentation                                                  237

304........ Adoption leave—notice.................................................................. 237

305........ Short adoption leave—application................................................. 239

306........ Long adoption leave—application.................................................. 239

307........ Adoption leave—additional documents......................................... 240

Subdivision J—Adoption leave: from start to finish                                         241

308........ Short adoption leave—when taken................................................. 241

309........ Long adoption leave—when taken................................................. 241

310........ Placement does not proceed—effect on adoption leave................. 242

311........ End of long adoption leave if employee stops being primary care‑giver 242

312........ Variation of period of long adoption leave..................................... 243

313........ Employee’s right to terminate employment during adoption leave 244

314........ Return to work guarantee—adoption leave.................................... 244

315........ Replacement employees—long adoption leave.............................. 245

Subdivision K—Parental leave: service                                                              245

316........ Parental leave and service............................................................... 245

Division 7—Civil remedies                                                                                   247

317........ Definition........................................................................................ 247

318........ Civil remedies................................................................................. 247

319........ Standing for civil remedies.............................................................. 247

320........ Court orders.................................................................................... 248

Part 8—Workplace agreements                                                                                 249

Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                          249

321........ Definitions...................................................................................... 249

322........ Single business and single employer............................................... 249

323........ New business.................................................................................. 250

324........ Extended operation of Part in relation to proposed workplace agreements            250

325........ Extraterritorial extension................................................................. 251

Division 2—Types of workplace agreements                                              252

326........ Australian workplace agreements (AWAs).................................... 252

327........ Employee collective agreements..................................................... 252

328........ Union collective agreements........................................................... 252

329........ Union greenfields agreements......................................................... 252

330........ Employer greenfields agreements................................................... 253

331........ Multiple‑business agreements........................................................ 253

332........ Authorisation of multiple‑business agreements............................. 254

333........ When a workplace agreement is made............................................ 254

Division 3—Bargaining agents                                                                            256

334........ Bargaining agents—AWAs............................................................. 256

335........ Bargaining agents—employee collective agreements...................... 256

Division 4—Pre‑lodgment procedure                                                              258

336........ Eligible employee............................................................................ 258

337........ Providing employees with ready access and information statement 258

338........ Employees may waive 7‑day period.............................................. 260

339........ Prohibition on withdrawal from union collective agreement.......... 261

340........ Approval of a workplace agreement............................................... 261

341........ Employer must not lodge unapproved agreement.......................... 262

Division 5—Lodgment                                                                                             263

342........ Employer must lodge certain workplace agreements with the Workplace Authority Director               263

343........ Lodging multiple‑business agreement without authorisation......... 263

344........ Lodging of workplace agreement documents with the Workplace Authority Director           263

345........ Workplace Authority Director must issue receipt for lodgment of declaration for workplace agreement              264

346........ Employer must notify employees after lodging workplace agreement 264

346A..... Employer to provide copy of lodged AWA to employee.............. 265

Division 5A—The fairness test                                                                           266

Subdivision A—Preliminary                                                                                 266

346B..... Definitions...................................................................................... 266

346C..... When protected award conditions apply to an employee.............. 268

346CA.. Industry or occupation usually regulated by State award before the reform commencement—extended operation of certain provisions........................................................................... 268

346D..... Application of Division to workplace agreements......................... 269

346DA.. Transmission of business—where no decision under section 346M at time of transmission 270

346DB.. Transmission of business—where no decision on a varied agreement under section 346U at time of transmission........................................................................................................ 271

346DC.. Transmission of business—employees still employed by old employer                271

Subdivision B—Workplace agreements to which the fairness test applies 272

346E...... Workplace Authority Director must apply the fairness test to certain workplace agreements              272

346F...... Workplace Authority Director must apply the fairness test to certain workplace agreements as varied               273

346G..... Provisions about annual rate of salary............................................ 275

346H..... Protected award conditions and designated awards—deemed exclusion or modification        276

346J...... Notice requirements........................................................................ 276

346K..... Designated awards—before a workplace agreement or variation is lodged              277

346L...... Designated awards—after a workplace agreement or variation is lodged                278

Subdivision C—The fairness test                                                                         280

346M.... When does an agreement pass the fairness test?............................ 280

346N..... Agreements to be tested as at lodgment date.................................. 282

346P...... Workplace Authority Director must notify of decision................. 282

Subdivision D—Consequences if a workplace agreement does not pass the fairness test                283

346Q..... Agreement does not pass fairness test—agreement not in operation 283

346R..... Agreement does not pass fairness test—agreement in operation... 284

346S...... Lodging of variation documents with the Workplace Authority Director               285

346T..... Operation of section 346R variations............................................. 286

346U..... Workplace Authority Director must test varied agreement........... 286

346V..... Effect if varied agreement does not pass fairness test—agreement not in operation               288

346W.... Effect if varied agreement does not pass fairness test—agreement in operation     288

346X..... Effect if varied agreement passes fairness test—agreement in operation                289

346Y..... Employment arrangements that apply if a workplace agreement ceases to operate because it does not pass fairness test........................................................................................................ 289

346YA.. Employment arrangements if a workplace agreement ceases to operate because it does not pass fairness test—transmission of business................................................................. 291

346Z..... Effect of sections 346Y and 346YA in relation to instruments...... 292

346ZA.. Redundancy provisions and section 394 undertakings................... 293

346ZB... Operation of workplace agreements............................................... 294

346ZC... Regulations may make provision for operation of provisions of revived instruments            295

Subdivision E—Entitlement to compensation                                                     295

346ZD.. Employee is entitled to compensation in respect of fairness test period                295

Subdivision F—Civil remedy provisions                                                             298

346ZE... Employer must notify employees.................................................. 298

346ZEA Notice requirements in relation to transmission of business.......... 298

346ZF... Employer not to dismiss etc. employee because agreement does not pass the fairness test   299

346ZG.. Other remedies for the contravention of section 346ZF................ 300

346ZH.. Employer not to require employee to agree to exclude or modify a protected award condition             301

Division 6—Operation of workplace agreements and persons bound 302

347........ When a workplace agreement is in operation................................. 302

348........ Relationship between overlapping workplace agreements............. 305

349........ Effect of awards while workplace agreement is in operation......... 305

350........ Workplace agreement displaces certain Commonwealth laws........ 305

351........ Persons bound by workplace agreements....................................... 306

Division 7—Content of workplace agreements                                          307

Subdivision A—Required content                                                                        307

352........ Nominal expiry date....................................................................... 307

353........ Workplace agreement to include dispute settlement procedures.... 308

354........ Protected award conditions............................................................ 308

355........ Calling up content of other documents........................................... 310

Subdivision B—Prohibited content                                                                      311

356........ Prohibited content.......................................................................... 311

357........ Employer must not lodge agreement containing prohibited content 312

358........ Prohibited content in workplace agreement is void........................ 313

359........ Initiating consideration of removal of prohibited content.............. 313

360........ Workplace Authority Director must give notice that he or she is considering variation         313

361........ Matters to be contained in notice................................................... 314

362........ Employer must ensure employees have ready access to notice..... 314

363........ Workplace Authority Director must remove prohibited content from agreement  314

364........ Employer must give employees notice of removal of prohibited content               315

365........ Seeking to include prohibited content in an agreement................... 315

366........ Misrepresentations about prohibited content................................ 316

Division 8—Varying a workplace agreement                                               317

Subdivision A—General                                                                                         317

367........ Varying a workplace agreement...................................................... 317

368........ When a variation to a workplace agreement is made...................... 317

Subdivision B—Pre‑lodgment procedure for variations                                  318

369........ Eligible employee in relation to variation of workplace agreement 318

370........ Providing employees with ready access and information statement 318

371........ Employees may waive 7‑day period.............................................. 320

372........ Prohibition on withdrawal from variation to union collective agreement or union greenfields agreement               321

373........ Approval of a variation to a workplace agreement......................... 321

374........ Employer must not lodge unapproved variation............................ 322

Subdivision C—Lodgment of variations                                                              322

375........ Employer must lodge variations with the Workplace Authority Director              322

376........ Lodging variation to multiple‑business agreement without authorisation               322

377........ Lodging of variation documents with the Workplace Authority Director               323

378........ Workplace Authority Director must issue receipt for lodgment of declaration for variation  323

379........ Employer must notify employees after lodging variation.............. 324

Subdivision D—When a variation comes into operation                                  324

380........ When a variation comes into operation.......................................... 324

Division 9—Terminating a workplace agreement                                     325

Subdivision A—General                                                                                         325

381........ Types of termination...................................................................... 325

Subdivision B—Termination by approval (pre‑lodgment procedure)             325

382........ Terminating a workplace agreement by approval........................... 325

383........ Eligible employee in relation to termination of workplace agreement 326

384........ Providing employees with information statement.......................... 326

385........ Prohibition on withdrawal from termination of union collective agreement or union greenfields agreement           327

386........ Approval of a termination.............................................................. 327

387........ Employer must not lodge unapproved termination........................ 328

Subdivision C—Termination by approval (lodgment)                                       328

388........ Employer must lodge termination with the Workplace Authority Director           328

389........ Lodging termination documents with the Workplace Authority Director               328

390........ Workplace Authority Director must issue receipt for lodgment of declaration for termination             329

391........ Employer must notify employees after lodging termination.......... 330

Subdivision D—Unilateral termination after nominal expiry date                 330

392........ Unilateral termination in a manner provided for in workplace agreement               330

393........ Unilateral termination with 90 days written notice........................ 331

394........ Undertakings about post‑termination conditions........................... 333

395........ Lodging unilateral termination documents with the Workplace Authority Director               334

396........ Workplace Authority Director must issue receipt for lodgment of declaration for notice of termination              335

397........ Employer must notify employees after lodging notice of termination 336

Subdivision E—Effect of termination                                                                   336

398........ When a termination takes effect..................................................... 336

399........ Consequence of termination of agreement—application of other industrial instruments        336

399A..... Preservation of redundancy provisions in certain circumstances... 337

Division 10—Prohibited conduct                                                                        339

400........ Coercion and duress........................................................................ 339

401........ False or misleading statements....................................................... 340

402........ Employers not to discriminate between unionist and non‑unionist 341

Division 11—Contravention of civil remedy provisions                        342

Subdivision A—General                                                                                         342

403........ General powers of Court not affected by this Division................. 342

404........ Workplace inspector may take over proceeding............................. 342

405........ Standing for civil remedies.............................................................. 342

Subdivision B—Pecuniary penalty for contravention of civil remedy provisions                343

406........ Application of Subdivision............................................................. 343

407........ Court may order pecuniary penalty............................................... 343

Subdivision C—Other remedies for contravention of certain civil remedy provisions      345

408........ Application of Subdivision............................................................. 345

409........ Court may declare workplace agreement or part of workplace agreement void      345

410........ Court may vary terms of workplace agreement............................. 345

411........ Court may order that workplace agreement continues to operate despite termination           346

412........ Date of effect and preconditions for orders under sections 409, 410 and 411        346

413........ Court may order compensation...................................................... 346

414........ Court may order injunction............................................................ 346

Division 12—Miscellaneous                                                                                 347

415........ AWAs with Commonwealth employees........................................ 347

416........ Evidence—verified copies.............................................................. 347

417........ Evidence—certificates.................................................................... 348

418........ Regulations relating to workplace agreements................................ 350

Part 9—Industrial action                                                                                                 351

Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                          351

419........ Definitions...................................................................................... 351

420........ Meaning of industrial action........................................................... 351

421........ Meaning of pattern bargaining....................................................... 353

422........ Extraterritorial extension................................................................. 354

Division 2—Bargaining periods                                                                          356

423........ Initiation of bargaining period......................................................... 356

424........ Employee may appoint agent to initiate bargaining period............ 357

425........ Identity of person who has appointed agent not to be disclosed... 357

426........ Particulars to accompany notice..................................................... 359

427........ When bargaining period begins....................................................... 359

428........ When bargaining period ends.......................................................... 359

429........ Power of Commission to restrict initiation of new bargaining periods 360

430........ Suspension and termination of bargaining periods—general powers of Commission             361

431........ Suspension and termination of bargaining periods—pattern bargaining  365

432........ Suspension of bargaining periods—cooling off.............................. 367

433........ Suspension of bargaining periods—significant harm to third party 368

434........ Industrial action without further protected action ballot after end of suspension of bargaining period  371

Division 3—Protected action                                                                                373

Subdivision A—What is protected action?                                                         373

435........ Protected action.............................................................................. 373

Subdivision B—Exclusions from protected action                                            374

436........ Exclusion—claims in support of inclusion of prohibited content.. 374

437........ Exclusion—industrial action while bargaining period is suspended 374

438........ Exclusion—industrial action must not involve persons who are not protected for that industrial action               375

439........ Exclusion—industrial action must not be in support of pattern bargaining claims 375

440........ Exclusion—industrial action must not be taken until after nominal expiry date of workplace agreements or workplace determinations................................................................................ 376

441........ Exclusion—notice of action to be given.......................................... 376

442........ Employee may appoint agent to give notice under section 441..... 378

443........ Exclusion—requirement that employee organisation or employee comply with Commission orders and directions........................................................................................................ 379

444........ Exclusion—requirement that employer genuinely try to reach agreement etc.        379

445........ Exclusion—employee and employee organisation action to be authorised by secret ballot or be in response to employer action.............................................................................. 380

446........ Exclusion—employee organisation action must be duly authorised 380

Subdivision C—Significance of action being protected action                       381

447........ Immunity provisions...................................................................... 381

448........ Employer not to dismiss employee etc. for engaging in protected action               382

Division 4—Secret ballots on proposed protected action                     384

Subdivision A—General                                                                                         384

449........ Object of Division and overview of Division................................. 384

450........ Definitions...................................................................................... 384

Subdivision B—Application for order for protected action ballot to be held 386

451........ Who may apply for a ballot order etc............................................ 386

452........ Contents of application.................................................................. 387

453........ Material to accompany application................................................ 387

454........ Notice of application...................................................................... 388

455........ Joint applications........................................................................... 389

Subdivision C—Determination of application and order for ballot to be held 389

456........ Commission may notify parties etc. of procedure......................... 389

457........ Commission to act quickly in relation to application etc............... 390

458........ Parties and relevant employees may make submissions and apply for directions  390

459........ Commission may make orders or give directions........................... 390

460........ Commission procedure regarding multiple applications................. 391

461........ Application not to be granted unless certain conditions are met.... 392

462........ Grant of application—order for ballot to be held........................... 392

463........ Matters to be included in order...................................................... 393

464........ Guidelines for ballot timetables...................................................... 394

465........ Power of Commission to require information relevant to roll of voters  395

466........ Roll to be compiled by Commission or ballot agent....................... 395

467........ Eligibility to be included on the roll................................................ 395

468........ Adding or removing names from the roll........................................ 396

469........ Variation of order............................................................................ 397

470........ Expiry and revocation of order....................................................... 397

471........ Compliance with orders and directions.......................................... 397

472........ Commission to notify parties and authorised ballot agent............. 398

Subdivision D—Conduct and results of protected action ballot                      398

473........ Conduct of ballot............................................................................ 398

474........ Form of ballot paper....................................................................... 398

475........ Who can vote.................................................................................. 399

476........ Declaration of ballot results............................................................ 399

477........ Ballot reports.................................................................................. 399

478........ Effect of ballot................................................................................ 401

479........ Registrar to record questions put in ballot, and to publish results of ballot            401

Subdivision E—Authorised ballot agents and authorised independent advisers  402

480........ Who may be an authorised ballot agent?........................................ 402

481........ Who may be an authorised independent adviser?........................... 403

Subdivision F—Funding of ballots                                                                        404

482........ Liability for cost of ballot............................................................... 404

483........ Commonwealth has partial liability for cost of completed ballot.. 404

484........ Liability for cost of legal challenges................................................ 405

Subdivision G—Miscellaneous                                                                             406

485........ Identity of certain persons not to be disclosed by Commission.... 406

486........ Persons not to disclose identity of certain persons........................ 406

487........ Immunity if person acted in good faith on ballot results................ 407

488........ Limits on challenges etc. to ballot orders etc.................................. 408

489........ Limits on challenges etc. to ballots................................................. 408

490........ Penalties not affected...................................................................... 410

491........ Preservation of roll of voters, ballot papers etc............................. 410

492........ Conferral of function on Australian Electoral Commission............ 410

493........ Regulations..................................................................................... 410

Division 5—Industrial action not to be engaged in before nominal expiry date of workplace agreement or workplace determination                                                              412

494........ Industrial action etc. must not be taken before nominal expiry date of collective agreement or workplace determinations........................................................................................................ 412

495........ Industrial action must not be taken before nominal expiry date of AWA               414

Division 6—Orders and injunctions against industrial action             416

496........ Orders and injunctions against industrial action—general.............. 416

497........ Injunction against industrial action if pattern bargaining engaged in in relation to proposed collective agreement 418

Division 7—Ministerial declarations terminating bargaining periods 420

498........ Minister’s declaration..................................................................... 420

499........ Minister’s directions to remove or reduce the threat..................... 421

Division 8—Workplace determinations                                                          423

500........ Application of Division.................................................................. 423

501........ Definitions...................................................................................... 423

502........ Negotiating period.......................................................................... 423

503........ When Full Bench must make workplace determination................. 423

504........ Content of workplace determination.............................................. 424

505........ Who is bound by a workplace determination?............................... 425

506........ Act applies to workplace determination as if it were a collective agreement          425

Division 9—Payments in relation to periods of industrial action      427

507........ Payments not to be made or accepted in relation to periods of industrial action    427

508........ Organisations not to take action for payments in relation to periods of industrial action      428

509........ Persons not to coerce people for payments in relation to periods of industrial action           430

Part 10—Awards                                                                                                                  432

Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                          432

510........ Objects of Part................................................................................ 432

511........ Performance of functions by the Commission............................... 432

512........ Extraterritorial extension................................................................. 433

Division 2—Terms that may be included in awards                                 435

Subdivision A—Allowable award matters                                                           435

513........ Allowable award matters................................................................ 435

514........ Dispute settling procedures............................................................ 437

515........ Matters that are not allowable award matters................................ 437

516........ Matters provided for by the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard           439

517........ Awards may not include terms involving discrimination and preference                439

518........ Awards may not include certain terms about rights of entry......... 439

519........ Awards may not include enterprise flexibility provisions............. 440

Subdivision B—Other terms that are permitted to be in awards                    440

520........ Preserved award terms.................................................................... 440

521........ Facilitative provisions.................................................................... 440

522........ Incidental and machinery terms...................................................... 440

523........ Anti‑discrimination clauses............................................................ 441

524........ Boards of reference......................................................................... 441

Subdivision C—Terms in awards that cease to have effect                              443

525........ Terms in awards that cease to have effect after the reform commencement            443

Subdivision D—Regulations relating to part‑time employees                        443

526........ Award conditions for part‑time employees................................... 443

Division 3—Preserved award entitlements                                                  444

527........ Preservation of certain award terms............................................... 444

528........ Preserved award terms of rationalised awards................................ 445

529........ When preserved award entitlements have effect............................ 446

530........ Meaning of more generous............................................................. 447

531........ Modifications that may be prescribed—personal/carer’s leave..... 448

532........ Modifications that may be prescribed—parental leave.................. 448

533........ Preserved award terms—employers bound after reform commencement               449

Division 4—Award rationalisation and award simplification                450

Subdivision A—Award rationalisation                                                                450

534........ Commission’s award rationalisation function................................ 450

535........ Commission must deal with State‑based differences...................... 451

536........ Award rationalisation to be undertaken by Full Bench.................. 451

537........ Award rationalisation request to be published............................... 451

538........ Minister may intervene.................................................................. 452

539........ Making awards as a result of award rationalisation........................ 452

540........ Making awards as a result of award rationalisation........................ 452

541........ Awards may not include certain terms........................................... 452

542........ Awards must include term about regular part‑time employment... 452

543........ Who is bound by awards................................................................ 452

544........ Variation of awards as part of award rationalisation...................... 453

545........ Revocation of awards as part of award rationalisation................... 454

546........ Preserved award terms.................................................................... 454

Subdivision B—Award simplification                                                                  454

547........ Review and simplification of awards.............................................. 454

548........ Principles for award simplification................................................. 455

549........ Minister may intervene.................................................................. 455

Subdivision C—Special technical requirements                                               455

550........ Inclusion of preserved award terms in written awards................... 455

551........ Reprints of varied awards............................................................... 456

Division 5—Variation and revocation of awards                                         457

Subdivision A—Variation of awards                                                                    457

552........ Variation of awards—general.......................................................... 457

553........ Variation of awards if essential to maintain minimum safety net entitlements       457

554........ Variation of awards—other grounds............................................... 458

Subdivision B—Revocation of awards                                                                  460

555........ Revocation of awards—general...................................................... 460

556........ Revocation of awards—award obsolete or no longer capable of operating             460

Division 6—Binding additional employers, employees and organisations to awards     461

557........ Binding additional employers, employees and organisations to an award               461

558........ Application to be bound by an award—agreement between employer and employees          461

559........ Application to be bound by an award—no agreement between employer and employees     462

560........ Application to be bound by an award—new organisations........... 463

561........ Application by new organisation to be bound by an award—additional matters   464

562........ Process for valid majority of employees........................................ 464

563........ General provisions.......................................................................... 464

Division 7—Outworkers                                                                                         465

564........ Definitions...................................................................................... 465

565........ Outworker terms may bind eligible entities and employers........... 465

566........ Binding additional eligible entities and employers.......................... 466

Division 8—Technical matters                                                                            467

567........ Making and publication of awards and award‑related orders......... 467

568........ Awards and award‑related orders must meet certain requirements 468

569........ Registrar’s powers if member ceases to be a member.................... 469

570........ Form of awards............................................................................... 469

571........ Date of awards................................................................................ 469

572........ Commencement of awards.............................................................. 469

573........ Continuation of awards.................................................................. 470

574........ Awards of Commission are final.................................................... 470

575........ Reprints of awards as varied.......................................................... 470

576........ Expressions used in awards............................................................ 470

Part 11—Transmission of business rules                                                              471

Division 1—Introductory                                                                                        471

577........ Object............................................................................................. 471

578........ Simplified outline............................................................................ 471

579........ Definitions...................................................................................... 472

Division 2—Application of Part                                                                           473

580........ Application of Part......................................................................... 473

581........ Transferring employees.................................................................. 473

582........ Transferring employees in relation to particular instrument.......... 474

Division 3—Transmission of AWA                                                                   475

583........ Transmission of AWA................................................................... 475

584........ Termination of transmitted AWA.................................................. 476

Division 4—Transmission of collective agreement                                  477

Subdivision A—General                                                                                         477

585........ Transmission of collective agreement............................................. 477

586........ Interaction rules.............................................................................. 479

587........ Transmitted collective agreement ceasing in relation to transferring employee       479

588........ Termination of transmitted collective agreement............................ 480

Subdivision B—Commission’s powers                                                                481

589........ Application and terminology.......................................................... 481

590........ Commission may make order......................................................... 481

591........ When application for order can be made........................................ 482

592........ Who may apply for order............................................................... 482

593........ Applicant to give notice of application.......................................... 482

594........ Submissions in relation to application............................................ 483

Division 5—Transmission of award                                                                   485

595........ Transmission of award................................................................... 485

596........ Interaction rules.............................................................................. 487

597........ Transmitted award ceasing in relation to transferring employee.... 487

Division 6—Transmission of APCS                                                                  489

598........ Transmission of APCS................................................................... 489

Division 6A—Transmission of preserved redundancy provisions from workplace agreements             490

598A..... Transmission of preserved redundancy provisions from workplace agreements    490

Division 7—Entitlements under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard        492

599........ Parental leave entitlements............................................................. 492

600........ New employer assuming liability for particular entitlements........ 493

601........ New employer assuming entitlements generally............................ 494

Division 8—Notice requirements and enforcement                                 496

602........ Informing transferring employees about transmission of instrument 496

603........ Lodging copy of notice with Workplace Authority Director......... 497

603A..... Informing transferring employees about transmission of preserved redundancy provisions  499

603B..... Lodging copy of notice about preserved redundancy provisions with Workplace Authority Director  500

604........ Workplace Authority Director must issue receipt for lodgment.... 500

605........ Civil penalties................................................................................. 501

Division 9—Miscellaneous                                                                                    503

606........ Regulations..................................................................................... 503

Part 12—Minimum entitlements of employees                                                  504

Division 1—Entitlement to meal breaks                                                        504

607........ Meal breaks.................................................................................... 504

608........ Displacement of entitlement to meal breaks................................... 504

609........ Model dispute resolution process.................................................. 504

610........ Extraterritorial extension................................................................. 504

Division 2—Entitlement to public holidays                                                   507

611........ Definition of public holiday............................................................ 507

612........ Entitlement to public holidays....................................................... 507

613........ Reasonableness of refusal............................................................... 508

614........ Model dispute resolution process.................................................. 509

615........ Employer not to prejudice employee for reasonable refusal.......... 509

616........ Penalties etc. for contravention of section 615............................... 509

617........ Burden of proof in relation to reasonableness of refusal................ 510

618........ Proof not required of the reason for conduct.................................. 510

619........ Extraterritorial extension................................................................. 511

Division 3—Equal remuneration for work of equal value                     513

620........ Object............................................................................................. 513

621........ Relationship of this Division to other laws providing alternative remedies            513

622........ Relationship of this Division to AFPC decisions and the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard              514

623........ Equal remuneration for work of equal value................................... 516

624........ Orders requiring equal remuneration............................................... 516

625........ Orders only on application............................................................. 516

626........ Conciliation or mediation................................................................ 517

627........ If conciliation or mediation is unsuccessful.................................... 518

628........ Hearing of matter by member who conducted conciliation............ 518

629........ Immediate or progressive introduction of equal remuneration....... 519

630........ Employer not to reduce remuneration............................................ 519

631........ Employer not to prejudice employee............................................. 519

632........ Penalties etc. for contravention of section 631............................... 519

633........ Proof not required of the reason for conduct.................................. 520

634........ Extraterritorial extension................................................................. 521

Division 4—Termination of employment                                                       522

Subdivision A—Object, application and definitions                                          522

635........ Object............................................................................................. 522

636........ Meaning of employee, employer and employment........................... 522

637........ Application..................................................................................... 523

638........ Exclusions....................................................................................... 524

639........ Regulations may provide for additional exclusions........................ 528

640........ People’s rights, liabilities and obligations the same as if certain provisions of the regulations had been valid       528

641........ Extraterritorial extension................................................................. 529

642........ Definitions...................................................................................... 530

Subdivision B—Application to Commission for relief in respect of termination of employment     533

643........ Application to Commission to deal with termination under this Subdivision         533

644........ Fees for lodging applications under section 643............................. 536

645........ Motions for dismissal of application for want of jurisdiction....... 538

646........ Applications that are frivolous, vexatious or lacking in substance. 539

647........ Extension of time applications may be decided without a hearing. 540

648........ Matters that do not require a hearing............................................. 541

649........ Dismissal of application relating to termination for operational reasons                541

650........ Conciliation..................................................................................... 543

651........ Elections to proceed to arbitration or to begin court proceedings.. 544

652........ Arbitration...................................................................................... 546

653........ Exercise of arbitration powers by member who has exercised conciliation powers                547

654........ Remedies on arbitration.................................................................. 548

655........ Orders made on arbitration are binding........................................... 551

656........ Representatives to disclose contingency fee agreements................ 551

657........ Commission may dismiss application if applicant fails to attend.. 552

658........ Commission may order payment of costs...................................... 552

Subdivision C—Unlawful termination of employment by employer               555

659........ Employment not to be terminated on certain grounds................... 555

660........ Employer to notify CES of proposed terminations in certain cases 558

661........ Employer to give notice of termination.......................................... 558

662........ Contravention of this Subdivision not an offence.......................... 560

663........ Application to courts in relation to alleged contravention of section 659, 660 or 661            560

664........ Proof of issues in relation to alleged contravention of section 659 561

665........ Orders available to courts............................................................... 561

666........ Costs............................................................................................... 563

667........ Small claims procedure................................................................... 564

Subdivision D—Commission orders after employer fails to consult trade union about terminations            564

668........ Orders by Commission where employer fails to consult trade union about terminations      564

669........ Orders only on application............................................................. 566

670........ Powers and procedures of Commission for dealing with applications 566

671........ No order if alternative remedy exists.............................................. 566

Subdivision E—Rights relating to termination of employment                      567

672........ Limitation on applications alleging termination on paragraph 643(1)(a) grounds   567

673........ No second applications under section 643 concerning same termination to be made              568

674........ Limitation on applications alleging unlawful termination............... 569

Subdivision F—Unmeritorious or speculative proceedings                            570

675........ Definitions...................................................................................... 570

676........ Advisers not to encourage applicants to make, or to pursue, certain applications 571

677........ Applications to the Court.............................................................. 571

678........ Evidentiary matters........................................................................ 572

679........ Order that the Court may make...................................................... 572

Division 5—Orders and proceedings                                                               573

680........ Orders to be in writing.................................................................... 573

681........ When orders take effect.................................................................. 573

682........ Compliance with orders.................................................................. 573

683........ Variation and revocation of orders.................................................. 573

684........ Representation of employers......................................................... 574

685........ Appeals to Full Bench.................................................................... 574

686........ Inconsistency with awards or other orders of Commission........... 574

687........ Meaning of employee and employer................................................ 575

Division 6—Parental leave                                                                                    576

688........ Object and application of Division................................................. 576

689........ Entitlement to parental leave.......................................................... 576

690........ Division supplements other laws................................................... 577

691........ Model dispute resolution process.................................................. 577

Division 7—Stand downs                                                                                        578

691A..... Employer may stand down employees in certain circumstances... 578

691B..... Prohibition of unauthorised stand downs....................................... 579

691C..... Extraterritorial extension................................................................. 580

Part 13—Dispute resolution processes                                                                  582

Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                          582

692........ Object............................................................................................. 582

693........ Court process................................................................................. 582

Division 2—Model dispute resolution process                                          583

694........ Model dispute resolution process.................................................. 583

695........ Resolving dispute at workplace level............................................. 583

696........ Where dispute cannot be resolved at workplace level.................... 584

697........ Conduct during dispute.................................................................. 584

Division 3—Alternative dispute resolution process conducted by Commission under model dispute resolution process                                                                            586

698........ Alternative dispute resolution process........................................... 586

699........ Application..................................................................................... 586

700........ Refusing application....................................................................... 587

701........ Commission’s powers.................................................................... 588

702........ Privacy............................................................................................ 589

703........ When alternative dispute resolution process complete.................. 590

Division 4—Alternative dispute resolution process used to resolve other disputes    591

704........ Application..................................................................................... 591

705........ Grounds on which Commission must refuse application............... 591

706........ Powers of the Commission............................................................. 592

707........ Privacy............................................................................................ 593

708........ When alternative dispute resolution process complete.................. 594

Division 5—Dispute resolution process conducted by the Commission under workplace agreement                                                                                                                    595

709........ Application..................................................................................... 595

710........ Grounds on which Commission must refuse application............... 595

711........ Commission’s powers.................................................................... 596

712........ Privacy............................................................................................ 596

Division 6—Dispute resolution process conducted by another provider             598

713........ Application of this Division........................................................... 598

714........ Representation................................................................................ 598

715........ Privacy............................................................................................ 598

716........ Where anti‑discrimination or equal opportunity proceedings in progress               600

Part 14—Compliance                                                                                                        601

Division 1—Definitions                                                                                            601

717........ Definitions...................................................................................... 601

Division 2—Penalties and other remedies for contravention of applicable provisions 603

718........ Standing to apply for penalties or remedies under this Division [see Note 2]        603

719........ Imposition and recovery of penalties............................................. 606

720........ Recovery of wages etc.................................................................... 608

721........ Damages for breach of AWA.......................................................... 608

722........ Interest up to judgment.................................................................. 608

723........ Interest on judgment....................................................................... 609

724........ Plaintiffs may choose small claims procedure in magistrates’ courts 609

725........ Small claims procedure................................................................... 609

726........ Unclaimed moneys......................................................................... 611

Division 3—General provisions relating to civil remedies                  612

727........ Operation of this Division.............................................................. 612

728........ Involvement in contravention treated in same way as actual contravention            612

729........ Civil evidence and procedure rules for civil remedy orders............ 612

730........ Recovery of pecuniary penalties.................................................... 613

731........ Civil proceedings after criminal proceedings.................................. 613

732........ Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings................................ 613

733........ Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings.................................. 613

734........ Evidence given in proceedings for pecuniary penalty not admissible in criminal proceedings                613

735........ Civil double jeopardy..................................................................... 614

Part 15—Right of entry                                                                                                   615

Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                          615

736........ Objects of this Part......................................................................... 615

737........ Definitions...................................................................................... 615

738........ Form of entry notice....................................................................... 617

739........ Extraterritorial extension................................................................. 618

Division 2—Issue of permits                                                                                619

740........ Issue of permit................................................................................ 619

741........ Imposition of permit conditions at time of issue........................... 619

742........ Permit not to be issued in certain cases.......................................... 620

Division 3—Expiry, revocation, suspension etc. of permits                622

743........ Expiry of permit............................................................................. 622

744........ Revocation, suspension etc. by Registrar....................................... 622

745........ Revoked etc. permit must be returned to Registrar........................ 624

746........ Extra conditions to be endorsed on permit..................................... 624

Division 4—Right of entry to investigate suspected breaches          625

747........ Right of entry to investigate breach................................................ 625

748........ Rights of permit holder after entering premises............................. 625

749........ Limitation on rights—entry notice or exemption certificate.......... 628

750........ Exemption from requirement to provide entry notice.................... 629

751........ Limitation on rights—failure to comply with requests of occupier or affected employer      629

752........ Limitation on rights—residential premises..................................... 630

753........ Limitation on rights—permit conditions........................................ 630

754........ Burden of proving reasonable grounds for suspecting breach........ 630

Division 5—Entry for OHS purposes                                                               632

755........ OHS entries to which this Division applies................................... 632

756........ Permit required for OHS entry....................................................... 633

757........ Rights to inspect employment records after entering premises..... 633

758........ Limitation on OHS entry—failure to comply with requests of occupier                634

759........ Limitation on OHS entry—permit conditions............................... 634

Division 6—Right of entry to hold discussions with employees        635

760........ Right of entry to hold discussions with employees....................... 635

761........ Limitation on rights—times of entry and discussions.................... 635

762........ Limitation on rights—conscientious objection certificates............. 635

763........ Limitation on rights—entry notice................................................. 636

764........ Limitation on rights—residential premises..................................... 636

765........ Limitation on rights—failure to comply with requests of occupier or affected employer      636

766........ Limitation on rights—permit conditions........................................ 637

Division 7—Prohibitions                                                                                         638

767........ Hindering, obstruction etc. in relation to this Part......................... 638

768........ Misrepresentations about right of entry........................................ 639

Division 8—Enforcement                                                                                       640

769........ Penalties etc. for contravention of civil remedy provisions........... 640

Division 9—Powers of the Commission                                                         641

770........ Orders by Commission for abuse of system.................................. 641

771........ Unreasonable requests by occupier or affected employer.............. 642

772........ Disputes about the operation of this Part...................................... 643

773........ Powers of inspection...................................................................... 644

774........ Parties to proceedings..................................................................... 644

775........ Kinds of orders............................................................................... 644

776........ Relief not limited to claim............................................................... 644

777........ Publishing orders............................................................................ 645

Part 16—Freedom of association                                                                               647

Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                          647

778........ Objects of Part................................................................................ 647

779........ Definitions...................................................................................... 647

780........ Meaning of industrial action........................................................... 650

781........ Meaning of office............................................................................ 650

Division 2—Conduct to which this Part applies                                         652

782........ Application..................................................................................... 652

783........ Organisations.................................................................................. 652

784........ Matters arising under this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule        652

785........ Constitutional corporations............................................................ 652

786........ Commonwealth and Commonwealth authorities............................ 653

787........ Territories and Commonwealth places........................................... 654

788........ Extraterritorial extension................................................................. 654

Division 3—General prohibitions relating to freedom of association 657

789........ Coercion.......................................................................................... 657

790........ False or misleading statements about membership......................... 657

791........ Industrial action for reasons relating to membership...................... 658

Division 4—Conduct by employers etc.                                                         659

792........ Dismissal etc. of members of industrial associations etc................ 659

793........ Prohibited reasons.......................................................................... 660

794........ Inducements to cease membership etc. of industrial associations etc. 662

Division 5—Conduct by employees etc.                                                         663

795........ Cessation of work........................................................................... 663

Division 6—Conduct by industrial associations etc.                                664

796........ Industrial associations acting against employers............................ 664

797........ Industrial associations acting against employees etc...................... 665

798........ Industrial associations acting against members............................... 666

799........ Industrial associations acting against independent contractors etc. 667

800........ Industrial associations acting against independent contractors etc. to encourage contraventions           670

801........ Industrial associations not to demand bargaining services fee........ 670

802........ Action to coerce person to pay bargaining services fee.................. 670

803........ Industrial associations not prevented from entering contracts....... 671

Division 7—Conduct in relation to industrial instruments                   672

804........ Discrimination against employer in relation to industrial instruments 672

Division 8—False or misleading representations about bargaining services fees etc. 673

805........ False or misleading representations about bargaining services fees etc... 673

Division 9—Enforcement                                                                                       674

806........ Definition........................................................................................ 674

807........ Penalties etc. for contravention of civil remedy provisions........... 674

808........ Conduct that contravenes Division 3 and another Division of this Part 675

809........ Proof not required of the reason for, or the intention of, conduct.. 675

Division 10—Objectionable provisions                                                          676

810........ Meaning of objectionable provision............................................... 676

811........ Objectionable provisions etc. in industrial instruments etc............ 677

812........ Removal of objectionable provisions from awards......................... 677

Division 11—Miscellaneous                                                                                 678

813........ Freedom of association not dependent on certificate..................... 678

Part 17—Offences                                                                                                              679

814........ Offences in relation to Commission............................................... 679

815........ Attendance at compulsory conferences.......................................... 680

816........ Intimidation etc............................................................................... 680

817........ Creating disturbance near Commission........................................... 681

818........ Offences relating to witnesses........................................................ 681

819........ Non‑compliance with requirement made by an inspector.............. 682

820........ False statement in application for protected action ballot order.... 683

821........ Offences in relation to secret ballots ordered under Division 4 of Part 9                683

822........ Contracts entered into by agents of employers.............................. 685

823........ Publication of trade secrets etc....................................................... 685

Part 18—Costs                                                                                                                      686

Division 1—Costs                                                                                                       686

824........ Costs only where proceeding instituted vexatiously etc................ 686

Part 19—Miscellaneous                                                                                                  687

825........ Delegation by Minister................................................................... 687

826........ Conduct by officers, directors, employees or agents..................... 687

827........ Signature on behalf of body corporate............................................ 688

828........ No imprisonment in default............................................................ 688

829........ Jurisdiction of courts limited as to area.......................................... 688

830........ Public sector employer to act through employing authority.......... 688

831........ Variation of workplace agreements on grounds of sex discrimination 689

835........ Proceedings by and against unincorporated clubs.......................... 689

836........ Records relating to employees........................................................ 689

837........ Inspection of documents etc........................................................... 690

838........ Interim injunctions.......................................................................... 690

839........ Trade secrets etc. tendered as evidence.......................................... 690

840........ Powers of courts............................................................................. 691

841........ Application of penalty................................................................... 691

842........ Enforcement of penalties etc.......................................................... 691

843........ Appropriation for payment of certain salaries and allowances...... 691

844........ Reports about developments in making agreements....................... 692

845........ Acquisition of property................................................................. 692

846........ Regulations..................................................................................... 694

Part 20—Jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Australia and Federal Magistrates Court 696

Division 1—Original jurisdiction                                                                        696

847........ Jurisdiction of Court....................................................................... 696

848........ Interpretation of awards................................................................. 697

849........ Interpretation of certified agreements............................................. 697

850........ Exclusive jurisdiction...................................................................... 697

851........ Exercise of Court’s original jurisdiction.......................................... 698

852........ Reference of proceedings to Full Court.......................................... 699

Division 2—Appellate jurisdiction                                                                     700

853........ Appeals from State and Territory courts....................................... 700

Division 3—Representation and intervention                                             701

854........ Representation of parties before the Court or the Federal Magistrates Court        701

855........ Intervention generally..................................................................... 702

856........ Particular rights of intervention of Minister................................... 703

Part 21—Matters referred by Victoria                                                                   704

Division 1—Introduction                                                                                        704

857........ Objects............................................................................................ 704

858........ Definitions...................................................................................... 704

859........ Part only has effect if supported by reference............................... 704

Division 2—Pay and conditions                                                                           705

860........ Additional effect of Act—AFPC’s powers................................... 705

861........ Additional effect of Act—Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard               705

862........ Application of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard to employees in Victoria   706

863........ Additional provisions of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard           706

864........ Adjustment of APCSs.................................................................... 707

865........ Limitation on application of minimum wage standards.................. 707

866........ Guarantee against reductions below pre‑reform basic periodic rates of pay           708

867........ Guarantee against reductions below pre‑reform casual loadings that apply to basic periodic rates of pay            709

868........ Additional effect of Act—enforcement of, and compliance with, the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard........................................................................................................ 710

Division 3—Workplace agreements                                                                 711

869........ Additional effect of Act—workplace agreements.......................... 711

870........ Workplace agreements—mandatory term about basic periodic rate of pay            712

871........ Workplace agreements—mandatory term about casual loading..... 713

Division 4—Industrial action                                                                                714

872........ Additional effect of Act—industrial action.................................... 714

873........ Intervention in proceedings under Part 9........................................ 716

874........ Additional effect of Act—enforcement of, and compliance with, orders under Part 9           716

Division 5—Meal breaks                                                                                        718

875........ Additional effect of Act—meal breaks........................................... 718

876........ Additional effect of Act—enforcement of, and compliance with, section 607        718

Division 6—Public holidays                                                                                   720

877........ Additional effect of Act—public holidays..................................... 720

878........ Additional effect of Act—enforcement of, and compliance with, section 612        720

Division 7—Termination of employment                                                       722

879........ Additional effect of Act—termination of employment.................. 722

880........ Additional effect of Act—enforcement of, and compliance with, orders under Division 4 of Part 12   722

Division 7A—Stand downs                                                                                     723

880A..... Additional effect of Act—stand downs......................................... 723

Division 8—Freedom of association                                                                 724

881........ Additional effect of Act—freedom of association.......................... 724

Division 9—Right of entry                                                                                     725

882........ Right of entry................................................................................. 725

883........ Additional effect of Act—enforcement of, and compliance with, orders under Part 15         725

Division 10—Employee records and pay slips                                            726

884........ Additional effect of Act—employee records and pay slips........... 726

Division 11—Transmission of business                                                          727

885........ Additional effect of Act—transmission of business...................... 727

886........ Additional effect of Act—enforcement of, and compliance with, orders under Part 11         729

Division 11A—Sham arrangements                                                                  730

886A..... Additional effect of Act—sham arrangements............................... 730

Division 12—Employment agreements                                                          731

887........ Definitions...................................................................................... 731

888........ Application of this Division........................................................... 731

889........ Inconsistency with other Commonwealth laws............................. 732

890........ Continued operation of employment agreements........................... 732

892........ Model dispute resolution process.................................................. 732

893........ Additional effect of Act—enforcing employment agreements....... 733

894........ Employer to give copy of employment agreement........................ 734

895........ Registrar not to divulge information in employment agreements... 734

896........ Relationship between employment agreements and Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard       734

897........ Relationship between employment agreements and awards.......... 734

Division 13—Exclusion of Victorian laws                                                      736

898........ Additional effect of Act—exclusion of Victorian laws................... 736

Division 14—Additional effect of other provisions of this Act           738

899........ Additional effect of other provisions of this Act........................... 738

Part 22—Sham arrangements                                                                                      739

900........ Misrepresenting an employment relationship as an independent contracting arrangement    739

901........ Misrepresenting a proposed employment relationship as a proposed independent contract arrangement            739

902........ Dismissal etc. for purpose of engaging certain persons as independent contractors               740

903........ Prohibited conduct for purpose of engaging certain persons as independent contractors       741

904........ Penalty for contravention............................................................... 741

905........ Meaning of Court........................................................................... 742

Part 23—School‑based apprentices and trainees                                             743

Division 1—Preliminary                                                                                          743

914........ Definitions...................................................................................... 743

Division 2—School‑based apprentices                                                            744

915........ Additional conditions for school‑based apprentices...................... 744

916........ Pay for apprentices who were school‑based apprentices.............. 745

Division 3—School‑based trainees                                                                    746

917........ Additional conditions for school‑based trainees............................. 746

918........ Loading in lieu of certain conditions............................................... 747

Division 4—Enforcement                                                                                       748

919........ Enforcement.................................................................................... 748

An Act relating to workplace relations, and for other purposes

  

Part 1—Preliminary

  

1  Short title [see Note 1]

                   This Act may be cited as the Workplace Relations Act 1996.

2  Commencement [see Note 1]

                   This Act commences on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation.

3  Principal object

                   The principal object of this Act is to provide a framework for cooperative workplace relations which promotes the economic prosperity and welfare of the people of Australia by:

                     (a)  encouraging the pursuit of high employment, improved living standards, low inflation and international competitiveness through higher productivity and a flexible and fair labour market; and

                     (b)  establishing and maintaining a simplified national system of workplace relations; and

                     (c)  providing an economically sustainable safety net of minimum wages and conditions for those whose employment is regulated by this Act; and

                     (d)  ensuring that, as far as possible, the primary responsibility for determining matters affecting the employment relationship rests with the employer and employees at the workplace or enterprise level; and

                     (e)  enabling employers and employees to choose the most appropriate form of agreement for their particular circumstances; and

                      (f)  ensuring compliance with minimum standards, industrial instruments and bargaining processes by providing effective means for the investigation and enforcement of:

                              (i)  employee entitlements; and

                             (ii)  the rights and obligations of employers and employees, and their organisations; and

                     (g)  ensuring that awards provide minimum safety net entitlements for award‑reliant employees which are consistent with Australian Fair Pay Commission decisions and which avoid creating disincentives to bargain at the workplace level; and

                     (h)  supporting harmonious and productive workplace relations by providing flexible mechanisms for the voluntary settlement of disputes; and

                      (i)  balancing the right to take industrial action for the purposes of collective bargaining at the workplace level with the need to protect the public interest and appropriately deal with illegitimate and unprotected industrial action; and

                      (j)  ensuring freedom of association, including the rights of employees and employers to join an organisation or association of their choice, or not to join an organisation or association; and

                     (k)  protecting the competitive position of young people in the labour market, promoting youth employment, youth skills and community standards and assisting in reducing youth unemployment; and

                      (l)  assisting employees to balance their work and family responsibilities effectively through the development of mutually beneficial work practices with employers; and

                    (m)  respecting and valuing the diversity of the work force by helping to prevent and eliminate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, sexual preference, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin; and

                     (n)  assisting in giving effect to Australia’s international obligations in relation to labour standards.

4  Definitions

             (1)  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

A.C.T. Consequential Provisions Act means the A.C.T. Self‑Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988.

AFPC has the meaning given by section 19.

allowable award matters means the matters referred to in subsection 513(1).

Note:          The matters referred to in subsection 513(1) have a meaning that is affected by section 515.

alternative dispute resolution process has the meaning given by section 698.

Anti‑Discrimination Conventions means:

                     (a)  the Equal Remuneration Convention; and

                     (b)  the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, a copy of the English text of which is set out in the Schedule to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984; and

                     (c)  the Convention concerning Discrimination in respect of Employment and Occupation, a copy of the English text of which is set out in Schedule 1 to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986; and

                     (d)  Articles 3 and 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

APCS has the meaning given by section 178.

applies to employment generally: a law of a State or Territory applies to employment generally if it applies (subject to constitutional limitations) to:

                     (a)  all employers and employees in the State or Territory; or

                     (b)  all employers and employees in the State or Territory except those identified (by reference to a class or otherwise) by a law of the State or Territory.

For this purpose, it does not matter whether or not the law also applies to other persons, or whether or not an exercise of a power under the law affects all the persons to whom the law applies.

arbitration powers means the powers of the Commission in relation to arbitration.

Australian‑based employee means:

                     (a)  an employee whose primary place of work is in Australia, in Australia’s exclusive economic zone or in, on, or over Australia’s continental shelf; or

                     (b)  an employee who is employed by the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority, except an employee engaged outside Australia and the external Territories to perform duties outside Australia and the external Territories; or

                     (c)  an employee who is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition.

Note:          Subsection 5(1) defines employee.

Australian Capital Territory Government Service means the service established by the Public Sector Management Act 1994 of the Australian Capital Territory.

Australian employer means:

                     (a)  an employer that is a trading corporation formed within the limits of the Commonwealth (within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution); or

                     (b)  an employer that is a financial corporation formed within the limits of the Commonwealth (within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution); or

                     (c)  an employer that is the Commonwealth; or

                     (d)  an employer that is a Commonwealth authority; or

                     (e)  an employer that is a body corporate incorporated in a Territory; or

                      (f)  an employer that carries on in Australia, in Australia’s exclusive economic zone or in, on, or over Australia’s continental shelf an activity (whether of a commercial, governmental or other nature) whose central management and control is in Australia; or

                     (g)  an employer that is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition.

Note:          Subsection 6(1) defines employer.

Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard has the meaning given by subsection 171(3).

Australian workplace agreement or AWA has the meaning given by section 326.

Australia’s continental shelf means the continental shelf (as defined in the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973) of Australia.

Australia’s exclusive economic zone means the exclusive economic zone (as defined in the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973) of Australia.

authorised stand down means a stand down of an employee that is authorised as mentioned in subsection 691B(1).

AWA: see Australian workplace agreement.

award means:

                     (a)  an award made by the Commission under section 539; or

                     (b)  a pre‑reform award.

award rationalisation process means a process of award rationalisation conducted as a result of an award rationalisation request.

award rationalisation request has the meaning given by section 534.

award‑related order means an order varying, revoking or suspending an award.

award simplification process means a process of reviewing and simplifying awards under section 547.

bargaining agent means:

                     (a)  in relation to an AWA—a person who has been duly appointed as a bargaining agent in relation to the AWA in accordance with section 334; or

                     (b)  in relation to an employee collective agreement—a person who has been requested to be a bargaining agent in relation to the agreement in accordance with section 335.

BCII Act means the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005.

breach includes non‑observance.

Chief Justice means the Chief Justice of the Court.

civil remedy provision has the meaning given by section 727.

collective agreement means:

                     (a)  an employee collective agreement; or

                     (b)  a union collective agreement; or

                     (c)  an employer greenfields agreement; or

                     (d)  a union greenfields agreement; or

                     (e)  a multiple‑business agreement.

Commission means the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

Commissioner means a Commissioner of the Commission.

committee of management, in relation to an organisation, association or branch of an organisation or association, means the group or body of persons (however described) that manages the affairs of the organisation, association or branch.

Commonwealth authority means:

                     (a)  a body corporate established for a public purpose by or under a law of the Commonwealth; or

                     (b)  a body corporate:

                              (i)  incorporated under a law of the Commonwealth or a State or Territory; and

                             (ii)  in which the Commonwealth has a controlling interest.

Commonwealth workplace relations legislation means:

                     (a)  this Act; or

                     (b)  the Independent Contractors Act 2006; or

                     (c)  regulations made under the Independent Contractors Act 2006.

Note:          The definition of Commonwealth workplace relations legislation does not cover the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule or regulations made under that Schedule, because the definition of this Act excludes them both (although it includes other regulations made under the Act).

conciliation powers means the powers of the Commission in relation to conciliation.

constitutional corporation means a corporation to which paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution applies.

constitutional trade or commerce means trade or commerce:

                     (a)  between Australia and a place outside Australia; or

                     (b)  among the States; or

                     (c)  between a State and a Territory; or

                     (d)  between 2 Territories; or

                     (e)  within a Territory.

contingency fee agreement means an agreement between a legal practitioner and a person under which:

                     (a)  the legal practitioner agrees to provide legal services; and

                     (b)  the payment of all, or a substantial proportion, of the legal practitioner’s costs is contingent on the outcome of the matter in which the practitioner provides the legal services for the person.

Court means the Federal Court of Australia.

Note:          For the purposes of various provisions of this Act, Court means the Federal Court of Australia or the Federal Magistrates Court. This is indicated by definitions that apply for the purposes of those provisions.

demarcation dispute includes:

                     (a)  a dispute arising between 2 or more organisations, or within an organisation, as to the rights, status or functions of members of the organisations or organisation in relation to the employment of those members; or

                     (b)  a dispute arising between employers and employees, or between members of different organisations, as to the demarcation of functions of employees or classes of employees; or

                     (c)  a dispute about the representation under this Act, or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule, of the industrial interests of employees by an organisation of employees.

Deputy President means a Deputy President of the Commission.

employee has a meaning affected by section 5.

employee collective agreement has the meaning given by section 327.

employer has a meaning affected by section 6.

employer greenfields agreement has the meaning given by section 330.

employing authority, in relation to a class of employees, means the person or body, or each of the persons or bodies, prescribed as the employing authority in relation to the class of employees.

employment has a meaning affected by section 7.

Equal Remuneration Convention means the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951.

Family Responsibilities Convention means the Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981, a copy of the English text of which is set out in Schedule 5.

flight crew officer has the meaning given by clause 1 of Schedule 2.

Full Bench means a Full Bench of the Commission.

Full Court means a Full Court of the Court.

greenfields agreement means a union greenfields agreement or an employer greenfields agreement.

industrial action has the meaning given by section 420.

Industrial Registrar means the Industrial Registrar appointed under section 133.

Industrial Registry means the Australian Industrial Registry.

industry includes:

                     (a)  any business, trade, manufacture, undertaking or calling of employers; and

                     (b)  any calling, service, employment, handicraft, industrial occupation or vocation of employees; and

                     (c)  a branch of an industry and a group of industries.

inspector means a workplace inspector.

Judge means:

                     (a)  in the case of a reference to the Court or a Judge—a Judge (including the Chief Justice) sitting in Chambers; or

                     (b)  otherwise—a Judge of the Court (including the Chief Justice).

judgment means a judgment, decree or order, whether final or interlocutory, or a sentence.

legal practitioner means a legal practitioner (however described) of the High Court or of a Supreme Court of a State or Territory.

magistrate’s court means:

                     (a)  a court constituted by a police, stipendiary or special magistrate; or

                     (b)  a court constituted by an industrial magistrate who is also a police, stipendiary or special magistrate.

maritime employee has the meaning given by clause 1 of Schedule 2.

member of the Office of the Workplace Ombudsman means a person covered by subsection 166P(2).

member of the Workplace Authority means a person covered by subsection 153B(2).

model dispute resolution process means the process set out in Division 2 of Part 13.

multiple‑business agreement has the meaning given by section 331.

new APCS has the meaning given by subsection 214(1).

nominal expiry date of a workplace agreement has the meaning given by section 352.

Northern Territory authority means:

                     (a)  a body corporate established for a public purpose by or under a law of the Northern Territory; or

                     (b)  a body corporate:

                              (i)  incorporated under a law of the Northern Territory; and

                             (ii)  in which the Northern Territory has a controlling interest;

other than a prescribed body.

notional agreement preserving State awards has the meaning given by clause 1 of Schedule 8.

occupier, in relation to premises, includes a person in charge of the premises.

office, in relation to an organisation or a branch of an organisation, has the same meaning as in the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule.

officer, in relation to an organisation or a branch of an organisation, means a person who holds an office in the organisation or branch.

organisation means an organisation registered under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule.

Note:          An organisation that was registered under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 immediately before the commencement of item 1 of Schedule 2 to the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2002 (the Consequential Provisions Act) is taken to have been registered under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule (see item 15 of Schedule 1 to the Consequential Provisions Act).

panel means a panel to which an industry has been assigned under section 95.

peak council means a national or State council or federation that is effectively representative of a significant number of organisations representing employers or employees in a range of industries.

penalty unit has the meaning given by section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914.

person includes an organisation.

pilot has the meaning given by clause 1 of Schedule 2.

premises includes any land, building, structure, mine, mine working, ship, aircraft, vessel, vehicle or place.

pre‑reform AWA has the meaning given by clause 1 of Schedule 7.

pre‑reform award means an instrument that has effect after the reform commencement under item 4 of Schedule 4 to the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act 2005.

prescribed includes prescribed by Rules of the Commission made under section 124.

preserved APCS has the meaning given by subsection 208(1).

preserved award entitlement, in relation to an employee, has the meaning given by section 529.

preserved award term has the meaning given by section 527.

preserved State agreement has the meaning given by clause 1 of Schedule 8.

President means the President of the Commission.

Presidential Member means the President, a Vice President, a Senior Deputy President or a Deputy President.

previous Act means the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904, and includes any other Act so far as the other Act affects the operation of that Act.

proceeding includes a proceeding relating to the following:

                     (a)  an award rationalisation process;

                     (b)  an award simplification process.

protected action has the meaning given by section 435.

protected action ballot means a ballot under Division 4 of Part 9.

public sector employment means employment of, or service by, a person in any capacity (whether permanently or temporarily and whether full‑time or part‑time):

                     (a)  under the Public Service Act 1999 or the Parliamentary Service Act 1999; or

                     (b)  by or in the service of a Commonwealth authority; or

                     (c)  under a law of the Australian Capital Territory relating to employment by that Territory, including a law relating to the Australian Capital Territory Government Service; or

                     (d)  by or in the service of:

                              (i)  an enactment authority as defined by section 3 of the A.C.T. Consequential Provisions Act; or

                             (ii)  a body corporate incorporated under a law of the Australian Capital Territory and in which the Australian Capital Territory has a controlling interest;

                            other than a prescribed authority or body; or

                     (e)  under a law of the Northern Territory relating to the Public Service of the Northern Territory; or

                      (f)  by or in the service of a Northern Territory authority; or

                     (g)  by or in the service of a prescribed person or under a prescribed law;

but, other than in section 116, does not include:

                     (h)  employment of, or service by, a person included in a prescribed class of persons; or

                      (i)  employment or service under a prescribed law.

reform commencement means the commencement of Schedule 1 to the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act 2005.

Registrar means the Industrial Registrar or a Deputy Industrial Registrar.

Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule means Schedule 1.

registry means the Principal Registry or another registry established under section 130.

regular part‑time employee means an employee who:

                     (a)  works less than full‑time ordinary hours; and

                     (b)  has reasonably predictable hours of work; and

                     (c)  receives, on a pro‑rata basis, equivalent pay and conditions to those specified in an award or awards for full‑time employees who do the same kind of work.

secondary office, in relation to a person who holds an office of member of the Commission and an office of member of a prescribed State industrial authority, means the office to which the person was most recently appointed.

Senior Deputy President means a Senior Deputy President of the Commission.

ship has the meaning given by clause 1 of Schedule 2.

single business has the meaning given by section 322.

special magistrate means a magistrate appointed as a special magistrate under a law of a State or Territory.

State award means an award, order, decision or determination of a State industrial authority.

State employment agreement means an agreement:

                     (a)  between an employer and one or more of the following:

                              (i)  an employee of the employer;

                             (ii)  a trade union; and

                     (b)  that regulates wages and conditions of employment of one or more of the employees; and

                     (c)  that is in force under a State or Territory industrial law; and

                     (d)  that prevails over an inconsistent State award.

State industrial authority means:

                     (a)  a board or court of conciliation or arbitration, or tribunal, body or persons, having authority under a State Act to exercise any power of conciliation or arbitration in relation to industrial disputes within the limits of the State; or

                     (b)  a special board constituted under a State Act relating to factories; or

                     (c)  any other State board, court, tribunal, body or official prescribed for the purposes of this definition.

State or Territory industrial law means:

                     (a)  any of the following State Acts:

                              (i)  the Industrial Relations Act 1996 of New South Wales;

                             (ii)  the Industrial Relations Act 1999 of Queensland;

                            (iii)  the Industrial Relations Act 1979 of Western Australia;

                            (iv)  the Fair Work Act 1994 of South Australia;

                             (v)  the Industrial Relations Act 1984 of Tasmania; or

                     (b)  an Act of a State or Territory that applies to employment generally and has one or more of the following as its main purpose or one or more of its main purposes:

                              (i)  regulating workplace relations (including industrial matters, industrial disputes and industrial action, within the ordinary meaning of those expressions);

                             (ii)  providing for the determination of terms and conditions of employment;

                            (iii)  providing for the making and enforcement of agreements determining terms and conditions of employment;

                            (iv)  providing for rights and remedies connected with the termination of employment;

                             (v)  prohibiting conduct that relates to the fact that a person either is, or is not, a member of an industrial association (as defined in section 779); or

                     (c)  an instrument made under an Act described in paragraph (a) or (b), so far as the instrument is of a legislative character; or

                     (d)  a law that:

                              (i)  is a law of a State or Territory; and

                             (ii)  is prescribed by regulations for the purposes of this paragraph.

State or Territory training authority means a body authorised by a law or award of a State or Territory for the purpose of overseeing arrangements for the training of employees.

stevedoring operations has the meaning given by clause 1 of Schedule 2.

Termination of Employment Convention means the Termination of Employment Convention, 1982, a copy of the English text of which is set out in Schedule 4.

this Act includes the regulations but does not include Schedule 1 or regulations made under that Schedule.

trade union means:

                     (a)  an organisation of employees; or

                     (b)  an association of employees that is registered or recognised as a trade union (however described) under the law of a State or Territory; or

                     (c)  an association of employees a principal purpose of which is the protection and promotion of the employees’ interests in matters concerning their employment.

training arrangement means a combination of work and training that is subject to a training agreement or a training contract between the employee and employer that is registered:

                     (a)  with the relevant State or Territory training authority; or

                     (b)  under a law of a State or Territory relating to the training of employees.

union collective agreement has the meaning given by section 328.

union greenfields agreement has the meaning given by section 329.

Vice President means a Vice President of the Commission.

vocational placement means a placement that is:

                     (a)  undertaken with an employer for which a person is not entitled to be paid any remuneration; and

                     (b)  undertaken as a requirement of an education or training course; and

                     (c)  authorised under a law or an administrative arrangement of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

waterside worker has the meaning given by clause 1 of Schedule 2.

wharf has the meaning given by clause 1 of Schedule 2.

working day means a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday.

workplace agreement means:

                     (a)  an AWA; or

                     (b)  a collective agreement.

Note:          Section 324 affects the meaning of workplace agreement.

workplace agreement official means:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Director; or

                     (b)  a Workplace Authority Deputy Director; or

                     (c)  a member of the staff assisting the Workplace Authority Director; or

                     (d)  a delegate of the Workplace Authority Director.

Workplace Authority Deputy Director means a Workplace Authority Deputy Director holding office under Part 5.

Workplace Authority Director means the Workplace Authority Director holding office under Part 5.

workplace determination means a determination under Division 8 of Part 9.

workplace inspector means a person who is a workplace inspector under section 167.

Workplace Ombudsman means the Workplace Ombudsman holding office under Part 5A.

             (2)  To avoid doubt, it is declared that a reference in this Act (except in Parts 10 and 16, and in regulations made for the purposes of paragraph 356(1)(f)) to an independent contractor is confined to a natural person.

             (3)  In this Act, a reference to:

                     (a)  a person who is eligible to become a member of an organisation; or

                     (b)  a person who is eligible for membership of an organisation;

includes a reference to a person who is eligible merely because of an agreement made under rules of the organisation made under subsection 151(1) of the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule.

             (4)  In this Act, a reference to a person making a statement that is to the person’s knowledge false or misleading in a material particular includes a reference to a person making a statement where the person is reckless as to whether the statement is false or misleading in a material particular.

             (5)  In this Act, a reference to engaging in conduct includes a reference to being, whether directly or indirectly, a party to or concerned in the conduct.

             (6)  A reference in this Act to a term of an award includes a reference to a provision of an award.

Note:          Section 69B of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979 provides that this Act does not apply to certain matters relating to AFP employees.

5  Employee

Basic definition

             (1)  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

employee means an individual so far as he or she is employed, or usually employed, as described in the definition of employer in subsection 6(1), by an employer, except on a vocational placement.

Note:          See also Part 21 (employees and employers in Victoria).

References to employee with ordinary meaning

             (2)  However, a reference to employee has its ordinary meaning (subject to subsections (3) and (4)) if the reference is listed in clause 2 of Schedule 2. This does not limit the circumstances in which a contrary intention may appear for the purposes of subsection (1).

Note:          The regulations may amend clause 2 of Schedule 2. See clause 5 of Schedule 2.

             (3)  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to employee with its ordinary meaning includes a reference to an individual who is usually an employee with that meaning.

             (4)  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to employee with its ordinary meaning does not include a reference to an individual on a vocational placement.

6  Employer

Basic definition

             (1)  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

employer means:

                     (a)  a constitutional corporation, so far as it employs, or usually employs, an individual; or

                     (b)  the Commonwealth, so far as it employs, or usually employs, an individual; or

                     (c)  a Commonwealth authority, so far as it employs, or usually employs, an individual; or

                     (d)  a person or entity (which may be an unincorporated club) so far as the person or entity, in connection with constitutional trade or commerce, employs, or usually employs, an individual as:

                              (i)  a flight crew officer; or

                             (ii)  a maritime employee; or

                            (iii)  a waterside worker; or

                     (e)  a body corporate incorporated in a Territory, so far as the body employs, or usually employs, an individual; or

                      (f)  a person or entity (which may be an unincorporated club) that carries on an activity (whether of a commercial, governmental or other nature) in a Territory in Australia, so far as the person or entity employs, or usually employs, an individual in connection with the activity carried on in the Territory.

Note 1:       In this context, Australia includes the Territory of Christmas Island and the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. See paragraph 17(a) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

Note 2:       See also Part 21 (employees and employers in Victoria).

References to employer with ordinary meaning

             (2)  However, a reference to employer has its ordinary meaning (subject to subsection (3)) if the reference is listed in clause 3 of Schedule 2. This does not limit the circumstances in which a contrary intention may appear for the purposes of subsection (1).

Note:          The regulations may amend clause 3 of Schedule 2. See clause 5 of Schedule 2.

             (3)  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears, a reference to employer with its ordinary meaning includes a reference to a person or entity that is usually an employer with that meaning.

7  Employment

             (1)  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

employment means the employment of an employee by an employer.

Note:          Subsections 5(1) and 6(1) define employee and employer.

References to employment with ordinary meaning

             (2)  However, a reference to employment has its ordinary meaning if the reference is listed in clause 4 of Schedule 2. This does not limit the circumstances in which a contrary intention may appear for the purposes of subsection (1).

Note:          The regulations may amend clause 4 of Schedule 2. See clause 5 of Schedule 2.

8  Schedules 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 have effect

                   Schedules 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9 have effect.

Note 1:       Schedule 1 is about registration and accountability of organisations.

Note 2:       Schedule 6 is about transitional arrangements for parties bound by federal awards.

Note 3:       Schedule 7 is about transitional arrangements for existing pre‑reform certified agreements.

Note 4:       Schedule 8 is about transitional treatment of State employment agreements and State awards.

Note 5:       Schedule 9 is about transitional instruments and transmission of business.

9  Schedule 10 has effect

                   Schedule 10 has effect.

Note:          Schedule 10 is about transitionally registered associations.

10  Act binds Crown

             (1)  This Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities.

             (2)  However, this Act does not make the Crown liable to be prosecuted for an offence.

11  Modifications for Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands

             (1)  If the regulations prescribe modifications of this Act for its application in relation to the Territory of Christmas Island, this Act has effect as modified in relation to the Territory.

             (2)  If the regulations prescribe modifications of this Act for its application in relation to the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, this Act has effect as modified in relation to the Territory.

             (3)  In this section:

modifications includes additions, omissions and substitutions.

12  Exclusion of persons insufficiently connected with Australia

             (1)  A provision of this Act prescribed by the regulations does not apply to a person or entity in Australia prescribed by the regulations as a person to whom, or an entity to which, the provision does not apply.

Note 1:       In this context, Australia includes the Territory of Christmas Island, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the coastal sea. See section 15B and paragraph 17(a) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

Note 2:       The regulations may prescribe the person or entity by reference to a class. See subsection 13(3) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

             (2)  Before the Governor‑General makes regulations for the purposes of subsection (1) prescribing either or both of the following:

                     (a)  a provision of this Act that is not to apply to a person or entity;

                     (b)  a person to whom, or an entity to which, a provision of this Act is not to apply;

the Minister must be satisfied that the provision should not apply to the person or entity in Australia because there is not a sufficient connection between the person or entity and Australia.

             (3)  In this section:

this Act includes the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and regulations made under it.

13  Extraterritorial application

             (1)  Each Part or Division listed in the table, and the rest of this Act so far as it relates to the Part or Division, extends to persons, acts, omissions, matters and things outside Australia as described in the relevant section listed in the table.

 

Extraterritorial application
Item	This Part or Division:	Which is about this topic:	Extends to persons, acts, omissions, matters and things outside Australia as described in this section:
1	Part 7	The Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard	Section 174
2	Part 8	Workplace agreements	Section 325
3	Part 10	Awards	Section 512
4	Division 1 of Part 12	Meal breaks	Section 610
4A	Division 2 of Part 12	Public holidays	Section 619
5	Division 3 of Part 12	Equal remuneration for work of equal value	Section 634
6	Division 4 of Part 12	Termination of employment	Section 641
6A	Division 7 of Part 12	Stand downs	Section 691C
7	Part 15	Right of entry	Section 739
8	Part 16	Freedom of association	Section 788

Note 1:       In this context, Australia includes the Territory of Christmas Island, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the coastal sea. See section 15B and paragraph 17(a) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

Note 2:       Provisions of section 169 giving inspectors power to enter certain premises and places and do certain things there also extend to some premises and places outside Australia, subject to Australia’s international obligations relating to foreign‑flagged ships and foreign‑registered aircraft.

Note 3:       Part 9 (Industrial action) and related provisions of this Act may extend in relation to Australia’s exclusive economic zone, and in relation to Australia’s continental shelf, as prescribed by the regulations. See section 422.

Modified application in Australia’s exclusive economic zone

             (2)  If the regulations prescribe modifications of this Act for its operation in relation to all or part of Australia’s exclusive economic zone, then, so far as this Act extends to the zone or part apart from this subsection, it has effect as modified in relation to the zone or part.

             (3)  For the purposes of subsection (2), the regulations may prescribe different modifications in relation to different parts of Australia’s exclusive economic zone.

Modified application in relation to Australia’s continental shelf

             (4)  If the regulations prescribe modifications of this Act for its operation in relation to all or part of Australia’s continental shelf, then, so far as this Act extends in relation to the continental shelf or part apart from this subsection, it has effect as modified in relation to the continental shelf or part.

             (5)  For the purposes of subsection (4), the regulations may prescribe different modifications in relation to different parts of Australia’s continental shelf.

Definitions

             (6)  In this section:

modifications includes additions, omissions and substitutions.

this Act includes the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and regulations made under it.

14  Act not to apply so as to exceed Commonwealth power

             (1)  Unless the contrary intention appears, if a provision of this Act:

                     (a)  would, apart from this section, have an invalid application; but

                     (b)  also has at least one valid application;

it is the Parliament’s intention that the provision is not to have the invalid application, but is to have every valid application.

             (2)  Despite subsection (1), the provision is not to have a particular valid application if:

                     (a)  apart from this section, it is clear, taking into account the provision’s context and the purpose or object underlying this Act, that the provision was intended to have that valid application only if every invalid application, or a particular invalid application, of the provision had also been within the Commonwealth’s legislative power; or

                     (b)  the provision’s operation in relation to that valid application would be different in a substantial respect from what would have been its operation in relation to that valid application if every invalid application of the provision had been within the Commonwealth’s legislative power.

             (3)  Subsection (2) does not limit the cases where a contrary intention may be taken to appear for the purposes of subsection (1).

             (4)  This section applies to a provision of this Act, whether enacted before, at or after the commencement of this section.

             (5)  In this section:

application means an application in relation to:

                     (a)  one or more particular persons, things, matters, places, circumstances or cases; or

                     (b)  one or more classes (however defined or determined) of persons, things, matters, places, circumstances or cases.

invalid application, in relation to a provision, means an application because of which the provision exceeds the Commonwealth’s legislative power.

valid application, in relation to a provision, means an application that, if it were the provision’s only application, would be within the Commonwealth’s legislative power.

15  Application of Criminal Code

             (1)  Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code (except Part 2.5) applies to all offences against this Act.

Note 1:       Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.

Note 2:       For the purposes of this Act, corporate criminal responsibility is dealt with by section 826, rather than by Part 2.5 of the Criminal Code.

             (2)  However, so far as Part 2.7 of the Criminal Code is relevant to this Act, it has effect subject to the following sections of this Act:

                     (a)  section 13;

                     (b)  the sections mentioned in section 13;

                     (c)  section 169;

                     (d)  section 422.

Note:          Part 2.7 of the Criminal Code is about geographical jurisdiction in connection with offences. Section 13, the sections mentioned there and sections 169 and 422 deal with extraterritorial operation of this Act.

16  Act excludes some State and Territory laws

             (1)  This Act is intended to apply to the exclusion of all the following laws of a State or Territory so far as they would otherwise apply in relation to an employee or employer:

                     (a)  a State or Territory industrial law;

                     (b)  a law that applies to employment generally and deals with leave other than long service leave;

                     (c)  a law providing for a court or tribunal constituted by a law of the State or Territory to make an order in relation to equal remuneration for work of equal value (as defined in section 623);

                     (d)  a law providing for the variation or setting aside of rights and obligations arising under a contract of employment, or another arrangement for employment, that a court or tribunal finds is unfair;

                     (e)  a law that entitles a representative of a trade union to enter premises.

Note:          Subsection 4(1) defines applies to employment generally.

State and Territory laws that are not excluded

             (2)  However, subsection (1) does not apply to a law of a State or Territory so far as:

                     (a)  the law deals with the prevention of discrimination, the promotion of EEO or both, and is neither a State or Territory industrial law nor contained in such a law; or

                     (b)  the law is prescribed by the regulations as a law to which subsection (1) does not apply; or

                     (c)  the law deals with any of the matters (the non‑excluded matters) described in subsection (3).

             (3)  The non‑excluded matters are as follows:

                     (a)  superannuation;

                     (b)  workers compensation;

                     (c)  occupational health and safety (including entry of a representative of a trade union to premises for a purpose connected with occupational health and safety);

                     (d)  matters relating to outworkers (including entry of a representative of a trade union to premises for a purpose connected with outworkers);

                     (e)  child labour;

                      (f)  long service leave;

                     (g)  the observance of a public holiday, except the rate of payment of an employee for the public holiday;

                     (h)  the method of payment of wages or salaries;

                      (i)  the frequency of payment of wages or salaries;

                      (j)  deductions from wages or salaries;

                     (k)  industrial action (within the ordinary meaning of the expression) affecting essential services;

                      (l)  attendance for service on a jury;

                    (m)  regulation of any of the following:

                              (i)  associations of employees;

                             (ii)  associations of employers;

                            (iii)  members of associations of employees or of associations of employers.

Note:          Part 15 (Right of entry) sets prerequisites for a trade union representative to enter certain premises under a right given by a prescribed law of a State or Territory. The prerequisites apply even though the law deals with such entry for a purpose connected with occupational health and safety and paragraph (2)(c) says this Act is not to apply to the exclusion of a law dealing with that.

This Act excludes prescribed State and Territory laws

             (4)  This Act is intended to apply to the exclusion of a law of a State or Territory that is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection.

             (5)  To avoid doubt, subsection (4) has effect even if the law is covered by subsection (2) (so that subsection (1) does not apply to the law). This subsection does not limit subsection (4).

Definition

             (6)  In this section:

this Act includes the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and regulations made under it.

17  Awards, agreements and Commission orders prevail over State and Territory law etc.

             (1)  An award or workplace agreement prevails over a law of a State or Territory, a State award or a State employment agreement, to the extent of any inconsistency.

             (2)  However, a term of an award or workplace agreement dealing with any of the following matters has effect subject to a law of a State or Territory dealing with the matter, except a law that is prescribed by the regulations as a law to which awards and workplace agreements are not subject:

                     (a)  occupational health and safety;

                     (b)  workers compensation;

                     (c)  training arrangements;

                     (d)  a matter prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph.

             (3)  An order of the Commission under Part 12 prevails over a law of a State or Territory, a State award or a State employment agreement, to the extent of any inconsistency.

Note:          Part 12 is about minimum entitlements of employees.

18  Act may exclude State and Territory laws in other cases

             (1)  Sections 16 and 17 are not a complete statement of the circumstances in which this Act and instruments made under it are intended to apply to the exclusion of, or prevail over, laws of the States and Territories or instruments made under those laws.

Note:          Other provisions of this Act deal with its relationship with laws of the States and Territories. For example, see clause 87 of Schedule 6, which is about not excluding or limiting Victorian law that can operate concurrently with certain provisions of that Schedule.

             (2)  In this section:

this Act includes the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and regulations made under it.

 

Part 2—Australian Fair Pay Commission

Division 1—Preliminary

19  Definitions

                   In this Part:

AFPC means the Australian Fair Pay Commission established by section 20.

AFPC Chair means the AFPC Chair appointed under section 29.

AFPC Commissioner means an AFPC Commissioner appointed under section 38.

AFPC Secretariat means the AFPC Secretariat established under section 46.

Director of the Secretariat means the Director of the Secretariat appointed under section 50.

wage review means a review conducted by the AFPC to determine whether it should exercise any of its wage‑setting powers.

wage‑setting decision means a decision made by the AFPC in the exercise of its wage‑setting powers.

wage‑setting function has the meaning given by subsection 22(1).

wage‑setting powers means the powers of the AFPC under Division 2 of Part 7.

 

Division 2—Australian Fair Pay Commission

Subdivision A—Establishment and functions

20  Establishment

             (1)  The Australian Fair Pay Commission is established by this section.

             (2)  The AFPC is to consist of:

                     (a)  the AFPC Chair; and

                     (b)  4 AFPC Commissioners.

21  Functions of the AFPC

                   The functions of the AFPC are as follows:

                     (a)  its wage‑setting function as set out in subsection 22(1);

                     (b)  any other functions conferred on the AFPC under this Act or any other Act;

                     (c)  any other functions conferred on the AFPC by regulations made under this Act or any other Act;

                     (d)  to undertake activities to promote public understanding of matters relevant to its wage‑setting and other functions.

Subdivision B—AFPC’s wage‑setting function

22  AFPC’s wage‑setting function

The AFPC’s wage‑setting function

             (1)  The AFPC’s wage‑setting function is to:

                     (a)  conduct wage reviews; and

                     (b)  exercise its wage‑setting powers as necessary depending on the outcomes of wage reviews.

Note:          The main wage‑setting powers of the AFPC cover the following matters (within the meaning of Division 2 of Part 7):

(a)           adjusting the standard FMW (short for Federal Minimum Wage);

(b)           determining or adjusting special FMWs for junior employees, employees with disabilities or employees to whom training arrangements apply;

(c)           determining or adjusting basic periodic rates of pay and basic piece rates of pay payable to employees or employees of particular classifications;

(d)           determining or adjusting casual loadings.

             (2)  During the period (the interim period) from the commencement of this Part to the commencement of Division 2 of Part 7, the AFPC has the function of gathering information (including by undertaking or commissioning research, or consulting with any person or body) for the purpose of assisting it to perform its wage‑setting function after that Division has commenced. When performing its wage‑setting function, the AFPC may have regard to any information so gathered during the interim period.

23  AFPC’s wage‑setting parameters

                   The objective of the AFPC in performing its wage‑setting function is to promote the economic prosperity of the people of Australia having regard to the following:

                     (a)  the capacity for the unemployed and low paid to obtain and remain in employment;

                     (b)  employment and competitiveness across the economy;

                     (c)  providing a safety net for the low paid;

                     (d)  providing minimum wages for junior employees, employees to whom training arrangements apply and employees with disabilities that ensure those employees are competitive in the labour market.

24  Wage reviews and wage‑setting decisions

             (1)  The AFPC may determine the following:

                     (a)  the timing and frequency of wage reviews;

                     (b)  the scope of particular wage reviews;

                     (c)  the manner in which wage reviews are to be conducted;

                     (d)  when wage‑setting decisions are to come into effect.

             (2)  For the purposes of performing its wage‑setting function, the AFPC may inform itself in any way it thinks appropriate, including by:

                     (a)  undertaking or commissioning research; or

                     (b)  consulting with any other person, body or organisation; or

                     (c)  monitoring and evaluating the impact of its wage‑setting decisions.

             (3)  Subsections (1) and (2) have effect subject to this Act and any regulations made under this Act.

             (4)  The AFPC’s wage‑setting decisions must:

                     (a)  be in writing; and

                     (b)  be expressed as decisions of the AFPC as a body; and

                     (c)  include reasons for the decisions, expressed as reasons of the AFPC as a body.

A wage‑setting decision is not a legislative instrument.

25  Constitution of the AFPC for wage‑setting powers

             (1)  For the purposes of exercising its wage‑setting powers, the AFPC must be constituted by:

                     (a)  the AFPC Chair; and

                     (b)  the 4 AFPC Commissioners.

             (2)  However, if the AFPC Chair considers it necessary in circumstances where AFPC Commissioners are unavailable, the AFPC Chair may determine that, for the purposes of exercising its wage‑setting powers in those circumstances, the AFPC is to be constituted by:

                     (a)  the AFPC Chair; and

                     (b)  no fewer than 2 AFPC Commissioners.

26  Publishing wage‑setting decisions etc.

             (1)  The AFPC must publish its wage‑setting decisions.

             (2)  The AFPC may, as it thinks appropriate, publish other information about wages or its wage‑setting function.

             (3)  Publishing under subsection (1) or (2) may be done in any way the AFPC thinks appropriate.

Subdivision C—Operation of the AFPC

27  AFPC to determine its own procedures

             (1)  The AFPC may determine the procedures it will use in performing its functions.

             (2)  Subsection (1) has effect subject to Subdivision B and any regulations made under subsection (3).

             (3)  The regulations may prescribe procedures to be used by the AFPC for all or for specified purposes.

28  Annual report

                   The AFPC must, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, give to the Minister a report on the operation of the AFPC for presentation to the Parliament.

Subdivision D—AFPC Chair

29  Appointment

             (1)  The AFPC Chair is to be appointed by the Governor‑General by written instrument.

             (2)  The AFPC Chair may be appointed on a full‑time or part‑time basis and holds office for the period specified in his or her instrument of appointment. The period must not exceed 5 years.

             (3)  To be appointed as AFPC Chair, a person must have a high level of skills and experience in business or economics.

30  Remuneration

             (1)  The AFPC Chair is to be paid the remuneration that is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. If no determination of that remuneration by the Tribunal is in operation, the AFPC Chair is to be paid the remuneration that is prescribed.

             (2)  The AFPC Chair is to be paid the allowances that are prescribed.

             (3)  This section has effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.

31  Leave of absence

             (1)  If the AFPC Chair is appointed on a full‑time basis:

                     (a)  the AFPC Chair has the recreation leave entitlements that are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal; and

                     (b)  the Minister may grant the AFPC Chair leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on the terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise that the Minister determines.

             (2)  If the AFPC Chair is appointed on a part‑time basis, the Minister may grant leave of absence to the AFPC Chair on the terms and conditions that the Minister determines.

32  Engaging in other paid employment

                   If the AFPC Chair is appointed on a full‑time basis, the AFPC Chair must not engage in paid employment outside the duties of his or her office without the Minister’s approval.

33  Disclosure of interests

                   The AFPC Chair must give written notice to the Minister of all interests (financial or otherwise) that the AFPC Chair has or acquires and that could conflict with the proper performance of his or her duties.

34  Resignation

             (1)  The AFPC Chair may resign his or her appointment by giving the Governor‑General a written resignation.

             (2)  The resignation takes effect on the day it is received by the Governor‑General or, if a later day is specified in the resignation, on that later day.

35  Termination of appointment

             (1)  The Governor‑General may terminate the appointment of the AFPC Chair if:

                     (a)  the AFPC Chair:

                              (i)  becomes bankrupt; or

                             (ii)  applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors; or

                            (iii)  compounds with his or her creditors; or

                            (iv)  makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for the benefit of his or her creditors; or

                     (b)  the AFPC Chair fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 33; or

                     (c)  the AFPC Chair has or acquires interests (including by being an employer or employee) that the Minister considers conflict unacceptably with the proper performance of the AFPC Chair’s duties; or

                     (d)  if the AFPC Chair is appointed on a full‑time basis:

                              (i)  the AFPC Chair engages, except with the Minister’s approval, in paid employment outside the duties of his or her office; or

                             (ii)  the AFPC Chair is absent, except on leave of absence, for 14 consecutive days or for 28 days in any 12 months; or

                     (e)  if the AFPC Chair is appointed on a part‑time basis—the AFPC Chair is absent, except on leave of absence, to an extent that the Minister considers excessive.

             (2)  Subject to subsections (3), (4) and (5), the Governor‑General may terminate the appointment of the AFPC Chair for misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.

             (3)  If the AFPC Chair:

                     (a)  is an eligible employee for the purposes of the Superannuation Act 1976; and

                     (b)  has not reached his or her maximum retiring age within the meaning of that Act;

his or her appointment cannot be terminated for physical or mental incapacity unless the CSS Board has given a certificate under section 54C of that Act.

             (4)  If the AFPC Chair:

                     (a)  is a member of the superannuation scheme established by deed under the Superannuation Act 1990; and

                     (b)  is under 60 years of age;

his or her appointment cannot be terminated for physical or mental incapacity unless the PSS Board has given a certificate under section 13 of that Act.

             (5)  If the AFPC Chair:

                     (a)  is an ordinary employer‑sponsored member of PSSAP, within the meaning of the Superannuation Act 2005; and

                     (b)  is under 60 years of age;

his or her appointment cannot be terminated on the ground of physical or mental incapacity unless the Board (within the meaning of that Act) has given an approval and certificate under section 43 of that Act.

36  Other terms and conditions

                   The AFPC Chair holds office on the terms and conditions (if any) in relation to matters not covered by this Act that are determined by the Minister.

37  Acting AFPC Chair

             (1)  The Minister may appoint a person who meets the requirements set out in subsection 29(3) to act as the AFPC Chair:

                     (a)  during a vacancy in the office of the AFPC Chair (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office); or

                     (b)  during any period, or during all periods, when the AFPC Chair is absent from duty or from Australia, or is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.

             (2)  Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under an appointment is not invalid merely because:

                     (a)  the occasion for the appointment had not arisen; or

                     (b)  there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment; or

                     (c)  the appointment had ceased to have effect; or

                     (d)  the occasion to act had not arisen or had ceased.

Subdivision E—AFPC Commissioners

38  Appointment

             (1)  An AFPC Commissioner is to be appointed by the Governor‑General by written instrument.

             (2)  An AFPC Commissioner holds office on a part‑time basis for the period specified in his or her instrument of appointment. The period must not exceed 4 years.

             (3)  To be appointed as an AFPC Commissioner, a person must have experience in one or more of the following areas:

                     (a)  business;

                     (b)  economics;

                     (c)  community organisations;

                     (d)  workplace relations.

39  Remuneration

             (1)  An AFPC Commissioner is to be paid the remuneration that is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. If no determination of that remuneration by the Tribunal is in operation, an AFPC Commissioner is to be paid the remuneration that is prescribed.

             (2)  An AFPC Commissioner is to be paid the allowances that are prescribed.

             (3)  This section has effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.

40  Leave of absence

                   The AFPC Chair may grant leave of absence to an AFPC Commissioner on the terms and conditions that the AFPC Chair determines.

41  Disclosure of interests

                   An AFPC Commissioner must give written notice to the Minister of all interests (financial or otherwise) that the AFPC Commissioner has or acquires and that could conflict with the proper performance of his or her duties.

42  Resignation

             (1)  An AFPC Commissioner may resign his or her appointment by giving the Governor‑General a written resignation.

             (2)  The resignation takes effect on the day it is received by the Governor‑General or, if a later day is specified in the resignation, on that later day.

43  Termination of appointment

             (1)  The Governor‑General may terminate the appointment of an AFPC Commissioner if:

                     (a)  the AFPC Commissioner:

                              (i)  becomes bankrupt; or

                             (ii)  applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors; or

                            (iii)  compounds with his or her creditors; or

                            (iv)  makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for the benefit of his or her creditors; or

                     (b)  the AFPC Commissioner fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 41; or

                     (c)  the AFPC Commissioner has or acquires interests (including by being an employer or employee) that the Minister considers conflict unacceptably with the proper performance of the AFPC Commissioner’s duties; or

                     (d)  the AFPC Commissioner is absent, except on leave of absence, to an extent that the Minister considers excessive.

             (2)  Subject to subsections (3), (4) and (5), the Governor‑General may terminate the appointment of an AFPC Commissioner for misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.

             (3)  If an AFPC Commissioner:

                     (a)  is an eligible employee for the purposes of the Superannuation Act 1976; and

                     (b)  has not reached his or her maximum retiring age within the meaning of that Act;

his or her appointment cannot be terminated for physical or mental incapacity unless the CSS Board has given a certificate under section 54C of that Act.

             (4)  If an AFPC Commissioner:

                     (a)  is a member of the superannuation scheme established by deed under the Superannuation Act 1990; and

                     (b)  is under 60 years of age;

his or her appointment cannot be terminated for physical or mental incapacity unless the PSS Board has given a certificate under section 13 of that Act.

             (5)  If an AFPC Commissioner:

                     (a)  is an ordinary employer‑sponsored member of PSSAP, within the meaning of the Superannuation Act 2005; and

                     (b)  is under 60 years of age;

his or her appointment cannot be terminated on the ground of physical or mental incapacity unless the Board (within the meaning of that Act) has given an approval and certificate under section 43 of that Act.

44  Other terms and conditions

                   An AFPC Commissioner holds office on the terms and conditions (if any) in relation to matters not covered by this Act that are determined by the Minister.

45  Acting AFPC Commissioners

             (1)  The Minister may appoint a person who meets the requirement set out in subsection 38(3) to act as an AFPC Commissioner:

                     (a)  during a vacancy in the office of an AFPC Commissioner (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office); or

                     (b)  during any period, or during all periods, when an AFPC Commissioner is acting as AFPC Chair, is absent from duty or from Australia, or is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.

             (2)  Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under an appointment is not invalid merely because:

                     (a)  the occasion for the appointment had not arisen; or

                     (b)  there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment; or

                     (c)  the appointment had ceased to have effect; or

                     (d)  the occasion to act had not arisen or had ceased.

 

Division 3—AFPC Secretariat

Subdivision A—Establishment and function

46  Establishment

             (1)  The AFPC Secretariat is established by this section.

             (2)  The AFPC Secretariat is to consist of:

                     (a)  the Director of the Secretariat; and

                     (b)  the staff of the Secretariat.

47  Function

                   The function of the AFPC Secretariat is to assist the AFPC in the performance of the AFPC’s functions.

Subdivision B—Operation of the AFPC Secretariat

48  AFPC Chair may give directions

             (1)  The AFPC Chair may give directions to the Director of the Secretariat about the performance of the function of the AFPC Secretariat.

             (2)  The Director of the Secretariat must ensure that a direction given under subsection (1) is complied with.

             (3)  To avoid doubt, the AFPC Chair must not give directions under subsection (1) in relation to the performance of functions, or exercise of powers, under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 or the Public Service Act 1999.

49  Annual report

                   The Director of the Secretariat must, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, give to the Minister a report on the operation of the AFPC Secretariat for presentation to the Parliament.

Subdivision C—The Director of the Secretariat

50  Appointment

             (1)  The Director of the Secretariat is to be appointed by the Minister by written instrument.

             (2)  The Director of the Secretariat holds office on a full‑time basis for the period specified in his or her instrument of appointment. The period must not exceed 5 years.

51  Remuneration

             (1)  The Director of the Secretariat is to be paid the remuneration that is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. If no determination of that remuneration by the Tribunal is in operation, the Director of the Secretariat is to be paid the remuneration that is prescribed.

             (2)  The Director of the Secretariat is to be paid the allowances that are prescribed.

             (3)  This section has effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.

52  Leave of absence

             (1)  The Director of the Secretariat has the recreation leave entitlements that are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.

             (2)  The Minister may grant the Director of the Secretariat leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on the terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise that the Minister determines.

53  Engaging in other paid employment

                   The Director of the Secretariat must not engage in paid employment outside the duties of his or her office without the Minister’s approval.

54  Disclosure of interests

                   The Director of the Secretariat must give written notice to the Minister of all interests (financial or otherwise) that the Director of the Secretariat has or acquires and that could conflict with the proper performance of his or her duties.

55  Resignation

             (1)  The Director of the Secretariat may resign his or her appointment by giving the Minister a written resignation.

             (2)  The resignation takes effect on the day it is received by the Minister or, if a later day is specified in the resignation, on that later day.

56  Termination of appointment

             (1)  The Minister may terminate the appointment of the Director of the Secretariat if:

                     (a)  the Director of the Secretariat:

                              (i)  becomes bankrupt; or

                             (ii)  applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors; or

                            (iii)  compounds with his or her creditors; or

                            (iv)  makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for the benefit of his or her creditors; or

                     (b)  the Director of the Secretariat fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 54; or

                     (c)  the Director of the Secretariat has or acquires interests that the Minister considers conflict unacceptably with the proper performance of the Director of the Secretariat’s duties; or

                     (d)  the Director of the Secretariat engages, except with the Minister’s approval, in paid employment outside the duties of his or her office; or

                     (e)  the Director of the Secretariat is absent, except on leave of absence, for 14 consecutive days or for 28 days in any 12 months.

             (2)  The Minister must terminate the appointment of the Director of the Secretariat if the Minister is of the opinion that the performance of the Director of the Secretariat has been unsatisfactory for a significant period of time.

             (3)  Subject to subsections (4), (5) and (6), the Minister may terminate the appointment of the Director of the Secretariat for misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.

             (4)  If the Director of the Secretariat:

                     (a)  is an eligible employee for the purposes of the Superannuation Act 1976; and

                     (b)  has not reached his or her maximum retiring age within the meaning of that Act;

his or her appointment cannot be terminated for physical or mental incapacity unless the CSS Board has given a certificate under section 54C of that Act.

             (5)  If the Director of the Secretariat:

                     (a)  is a member of the superannuation scheme established by deed under the Superannuation Act 1990; and

                     (b)  is under 60 years of age;

his or her appointment cannot be terminated for physical or mental incapacity unless the PSS Board has given a certificate under section 13 of that Act.

             (6)  If the Director of the Secretariat:

                     (a)  is an ordinary employer‑sponsored member of PSSAP, within the meaning of the Superannuation Act 2005; and

                     (b)  is under 60 years of age;

his or her appointment cannot be terminated on the ground of physical or mental incapacity unless the Board (within the meaning of that Act) has given an approval and certificate under section 43 of that Act.

57  Other terms and conditions

                   The Director of the Secretariat holds office on the terms and conditions (if any) in relation to matters not covered by this Act that are determined by the Minister.

58  Acting Director of the Secretariat

             (1)  The Minister may appoint a person to act as the Director of the Secretariat:

                     (a)  during a vacancy in the office of the Director of the Secretariat (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office); or

                     (b)  during any period, or during all periods, when the Director of the Secretariat is absent from duty or from Australia, or is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.

             (2)  Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under an appointment is not invalid merely because:

                     (a)  the occasion for the appointment had not arisen; or

                     (b)  there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment; or

                     (c)  the appointment had ceased to have effect; or

                     (d)  the occasion to act had not arisen or had ceased.

Subdivision D—Staff and consultants

59  Staff

             (1)  The staff of the AFPC Secretariat are to be persons engaged under the Public Service Act 1999.

             (2)  For the purposes of the Public Service Act 1999:

                     (a)  the Director of the Secretariat and the staff of the AFPC Secretariat together constitute a Statutory Agency; and

                     (b)  the Director of the Secretariat is the Head of that Statutory Agency.

60  Consultants

                   The Director of the Secretariat may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, engage persons having suitable qualifications and experience as consultants to the AFPC or the AFPC Secretariat. The terms and conditions of the engagement of a person are those determined by the Director of the Secretariat in writing.

 

Part 3—Australian Industrial Relations Commission

Division 1—Establishment of Commission

61  Establishment of Commission

             (1)  There is established a commission by the name of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

             (2)  The Commission consists of:

                     (a)  a President;

                     (b)  2 Vice Presidents;

                     (c)  such number of Senior Deputy Presidents as, from time to time, hold office under this Act;

                     (d)  such number of Deputy Presidents as, from time to time, hold office under this Act; and

                     (e)  such number of Commissioners as, from time to time, hold office under this Act.

62  Functions of Commission

                   The functions of the Commission are the functions conferred on the Commission by this Act, the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule or otherwise.

63  Appointment of Commission members etc.

             (1)  The President, Vice Presidents, Senior Deputy Presidents, Deputy Presidents and Commissioners shall be appointed by the Governor‑General by commission and hold office as provided by this Act.

             (2)  Each Presidential Member has the same rank, status and precedence as a Judge of the Court.

             (3)  A Presidential Member or former Presidential Member is entitled to be styled “The Honourable”.

             (4)  A person is not entitled to be styled “The Honourable” merely because the person is acting, or has acted, as a Presidential Member.

64  Qualifications for appointment

             (1)  The Governor‑General may only appoint a person as the President if:

                     (a)  the person:

                              (i)  is or has been a Judge of a court created by the Parliament; or

                             (ii)  has been a Judge of a court of a State or Territory; or

                            (iii)  has been enrolled as a legal practitioner of the High Court, or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory, for at least 5 years; and

                     (b)  in the opinion of the Governor‑General, the person is, because of skills and experience in the field of industrial relations, a suitable person to be appointed as President.

             (2)  The Governor‑General may only appoint a person as a Vice President, a Senior Deputy President or a Deputy President if:

                     (a)  the person has been a Judge of a court created by the Parliament or a court of a State or Territory, or has been enrolled as a legal practitioner of the High Court, or the Supreme Court of a State or Territory, for at least 5 years;

                     (b)  the person has had experience at a high level in industry or commerce or in the service of:

                              (i)  a peak council or another association representing the interests of employers or employees; or

                             (ii)  a government or an authority of a government; or

                     (c)  the person has, at least 5 years previously, obtained a degree of a university or an educational qualification of a similar standard after studies in the field of law, economics or industrial relations, or some other field of study considered by the Governor‑General to have substantial relevance to the duties of a Vice President, a Senior Deputy President or a Deputy President;

and, in the opinion of the Governor‑General, the person is, because of skills and experience in the field of industrial relations, a suitable person to be appointed as a Vice President, a Senior Deputy President or a Deputy President (as the case may be).

             (3)  The Governor‑General may only appoint a person as a Commissioner if the person has, in the opinion of the Governor‑General, appropriate skills and experience in the field of industrial relations.

65  Seniority

                   The members of the Commission have seniority according to the following order of precedence:

                     (a)  the President;

                     (b)  the Vice Presidents, according to the days on which their commissions took effect, or, if their commissions took effect on the same day, according to the precedence assigned to them by their commissions;

                     (c)  the Senior Deputy Presidents, according to the days on which their commissions took effect, or, where the commissions of 2 or more of them took effect on the same day, according to the precedence assigned to them by their commissions;

                     (d)  the Deputy Presidents, according to the days on which their commissions took effect, or, where the commissions of 2 or more of them took effect on the same day, according to the precedence assigned to them by their commissions;

                     (e)  the Commissioners, according to the days on which their commissions took effect, or, where the commissions of 2 or more of them took effect on the same day, according to the precedence assigned to them by their commissions.

66  Performance of duties on part‑time basis

             (1)  A member of the Commission may, with the consent of the President, perform his or her duties on a part‑time basis.

             (2)  If the President consents to a member performing his or her duties on a part‑time basis, the President and the member are to enter into an agreement specifying the proportion of full‑time duties to be worked by the member from and including a specified date.

             (3)  The proportion may be varied by an agreement entered into between the President and the member.

             (4)  The proportion in force in relation to a particular period is in this section called the agreed proportion.

             (5)  If the President consents to a member performing his or her duties on a part‑time basis, the member is to be paid:

                     (a)  salary at an annual rate equal to the agreed proportion of the annual rate of salary that would be payable to the member if the member were performing his or her duties on a full‑time basis instead of on a part‑time basis; and

                     (b)  such travelling allowances as are determined from time to time by the Remuneration Tribunal for travel within Australia; and

                     (c)  such other allowances as are prescribed by the regulations.

             (6)  If the annual rate of salary of a member mentioned in subsection (5) is not an amount of whole dollars, it is to be rounded to the nearest dollar (with 50 cents being rounded up).

             (7)  If, assuming that a member or former member mentioned in subsection (5) had performed his or her duties on a full‑time basis instead of on a part‑time basis, the member or former member would be entitled to a payment under subsection 79(9), (10) or (11) or 81(3), the member or former member is to be paid an amount equal to the agreed proportion of that payment.

             (8)  If there are different agreed proportions applicable to different periods, paragraph (5)(a) and subsection (7) apply separately to each of those periods.

             (9)  In this section:

member of the Commission does not include:

                     (a)  the President; or

                     (b)  a person who also holds office as a member of a prescribed State industrial authority.

67  Dual federal and State appointments

                   A person who is a member of the Commission may be appointed as a member of a prescribed State industrial authority, and a person who is a member of a prescribed State industrial authority may, subject to section 64, be appointed as a member of the Commission, and, subject to any law of the State, a person so appointed may, at the same time, hold the offices of member of the Commission and member of the prescribed State industrial authority.

68  Performance of duties by dual federal and State appointees

                   As agreed from time to time by the President and the head of the prescribed State industrial authority, a person who holds an office of member of the Commission and an office of member of a prescribed State industrial authority:

                     (a)  may perform the duties of the secondary office; and

                     (b)  may exercise, in relation to a particular matter:

                              (i)  any powers that the person has in relation to the matter as a member of the Commission; and

                             (ii)  any powers that the person has in relation to the matter as a member of the State industrial authority.

69  Dual federal appointments

             (1)  Nothing in this Act prevents a person who holds office as a member of the Commission from holding at the same time:

                     (a)  an office as member of a prescribed Commonwealth tribunal or prescribed Territory tribunal; or

                     (b)  an office under a Commonwealth or Territory law that provides for the office to be held by a member of the Commission.

             (2)  A person who is a member of the Commission may, in accordance with and subject to the directions of the President, perform functions as a member of a prescribed Territory tribunal.

             (3)  In this section:

tribunal does not include a court created by the Parliament.

70  Appointment of a Judge as President not to affect tenure etc.

             (1)  The appointment of a Judge of a court created by the Parliament as the President, or service by such a Judge as President, does not affect:

                     (a)  the Judge’s tenure of office as a Judge; or

                     (b)  the Judge’s rank, title, status, precedence, salary, annual or other allowances or other rights or privileges as the holder of his or her office as a Judge.

             (2)  For all purposes, the Judge’s service as the President is taken to be service as a Judge.

71  Tenure of Commission members

             (1)  A member of the Commission holds office until the member resigns, is removed from office or attains the age of 65 years.

             (2)  The first President of the Commission appointed after the commencement of this subsection may be appointed for a fixed term and, in that case, the person holds office as President until:

                     (a)  the term ends; or

                     (b)  the person dies, resigns or is removed from office;

whichever first happens.

             (3)  The appointment of a person who is a member of a prescribed State industrial authority as a member of the Commission may be for a fixed term and, in that case, the person holds office as a member of the Commission until:

                     (a)  the term ends;

                     (b)  the person ceases to be a member of the prescribed State industrial authority; or

                     (c)  the person resigns or is removed from office;

whichever first happens.

72  Acting President

             (1)  During any period when:

                     (a)  the President is absent from duty or from Australia, or is for any other reason unable to perform the duties of the office of President; or

                     (b)  there is a vacancy in the office of President (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office);

the Governor‑General may appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed as the President to act in that office.

             (2)  Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under subsection (1) is not invalid because:

                     (a)  the occasion for the appointment had not arisen;

                     (b)  there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment;

                     (c)  the appointment had ceased to have effect; or

                     (d)  the occasion for the person to act had not arisen or had ceased.

             (3)  For the purpose of subsection (1) only, a person is not disqualified from appointment as the President merely because the person has reached the age of 65.

73  Acting Vice President

             (1)  The Governor‑General may appoint a person who is qualified to be appointed as a Vice President to act in an office of Vice President:

                     (a)  during a vacancy in the office (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office); or

                     (b)  during any period, or during all periods, when the holder of the office is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.

             (2)  Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under subsection (1) is not invalid merely because:

                     (a)  the occasion for the appointment had not arisen; or

                     (b)  there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment; or

                     (c)  the appointment had ceased to have effect; or

                     (d)  the occasion for the person to act had not arisen or had ceased.

             (3)  For the purpose of subsection (1) only, a person is not disqualified from appointment as a Vice President merely because the person has reached the age of 65.

74  Acting Senior Deputy President

             (1)  The Governor‑General may appoint a person qualified to be appointed as a Senior Deputy President to act as Senior Deputy President for a specified period (including a period that exceeds 12 months) if the Governor‑General is satisfied that the appointment is necessary to enable the Commission to perform its functions effectively.

             (2)  Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under subsection (1) is not invalid merely because:

                     (a)  the occasion for the appointment had not arisen; or

                     (b)  there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment; or

                     (c)  the appointment had ceased to have effect; or

                     (d)  the occasion for the person to act had not arisen or had ceased.

             (3)  For the purpose of subsection (1) only, a person is not disqualified from appointment as a Senior Deputy President merely because the person has reached 65.

75  Acting Deputy Presidents

             (1)  The Governor‑General may appoint a person qualified to be appointed as a Deputy President to act as Deputy President for a specified period (including a period that exceeds 12 months) if the Governor‑General is satisfied that the appointment is necessary to enable the Commission to perform its functions effectively.

             (2)  Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under subsection (1) is not invalid because:

                     (a)  the occasion for the appointment had not arisen;

                     (b)  there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment;

                     (c)  the appointment had ceased to have effect; or

                     (d)  the occasion for the person to act had not arisen or had ceased.

             (3)  For the purposes of subsection (1) only, a person is not disqualified from appointment as a Deputy President merely because the person has attained the age of 65.

76  Oath or affirmation of office

                   A member of the Commission shall, before proceeding to discharge the duties of the office, take before the Governor‑General, a Justice of the High Court, a Judge of the Court or a Judge of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory an oath or affirmation in accordance with the form in Schedule 3.

77  Discharge of Commission’s business

                   The President is to be assisted by the Vice President in ensuring the orderly and quick discharge of the business of the Commission.

78  Duty of Commission members

                   Each member of the Commission shall keep acquainted with industrial affairs and conditions.

79  Remuneration and allowances of Presidential Members etc.

             (1)  The President is to be paid:

                     (a)  salary at an annual rate equal to the annual rate of salary payable to the Chief Justice of the Court; and

                     (b)  such travelling allowances as are determined from time to time by the Remuneration Tribunal for travel within Australia; and

                     (c)  such other allowances as are prescribed by the regulations.

             (2)  If a person holds office as the President and as a Judge of a court created by the Parliament, he or she is not to be paid remuneration as President except as provided by subsection (3).

             (3)  If the salary payable to the person as a Judge is less than the salary that would be payable to the President under subsection (1), the person is to be paid an allowance equal to the difference between the Judge’s salary and the salary that would be payable to the President.

             (4)  A Vice President is to be paid:

                     (a)  salary at an annual rate equal to 103% of the annual rate of salary payable to a Judge of the Court; and

                     (b)  such travelling allowances as are determined from time to time by the Remuneration Tribunal for travel within Australia; and

                     (c)  such other allowances as are prescribed by the regulations.

             (5)  A Senior Deputy President is to be paid:

                     (a)  salary at an annual rate equal to the annual rate of salary payable to a Judge of the Court; and

                     (b)  such travelling allowances as are determined from time to time by the Remuneration Tribunal for travel within Australia; and

                     (c)  such other allowances as are prescribed by the regulations.

             (6)  A Deputy President is to be paid:

                     (a)  salary at an annual rate equal to 95% of the annual rate of salary payable to a Judge of the Court; and

                     (b)  such travelling allowances as are determined from time to time by the Remuneration Tribunal for travel within Australia; and

                     (c)  such other allowances as are prescribed by the regulations.

             (7)  If the annual rate of salary of a Presidential Member is not an amount of whole dollars, it is to be rounded to the nearest dollar (with 50 cents being rounded up).

             (8)  If, assuming that the President or a former President had held the office of Chief Justice of the Court instead of the office of President, the President or former President would be entitled to a payment under subsection 7(5E) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973, the President or former President is to be paid an amount equal to that payment.

             (9)  If, assuming that a Vice President or former Vice President had held an office of Judge of the Court instead of an office of Vice President, the Vice President or former Vice President would be entitled to a payment under subsection 7(5E) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973, the Vice President or former Vice President is to be paid an amount equal to 103% of that payment.

           (10)  If, assuming that a Senior Deputy President or former Senior Deputy President had held an office of Judge of the Court instead of the office of Senior Deputy President, the Senior Deputy President or former Senior Deputy President would be entitled to a payment under subsection 7(5E) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973, the Senior Deputy President or former Senior Deputy President is to be paid an amount equal to that payment.

           (11)  If, assuming that a Deputy President or former Deputy President had held an office of Judge of the Court instead of the office of Deputy President, the Deputy President or former Deputy President would be entitled to a payment under subsection 7(5E) of the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973, the Deputy President or former Deputy President is to be paid an amount equal to 95% of that payment.

           (12)  The salary of the Presidential Members accrue from day to day and are payable monthly.

           (13)  Where a person who is a member of a prescribed State industrial authority is appointed as a member of the Commission, the person shall not be remunerated in relation to the office of member of the Commission, but the person may be paid, in relation to expenses in travelling to discharge the duties of the office, such sums (if any) as the Governor‑General considers reasonable.

           (14)  A person who, at the same time, holds the offices of member of the Commission and member of a prescribed Commonwealth tribunal or prescribed Territory tribunal as permitted by section 69:

                     (a)  shall be remunerated in relation to the office of member of the tribunal only in accordance with another law of the Commonwealth or Territory relating to the remuneration of persons holding at the same time offices of member of the Commission and member of the tribunal; but

                     (b)  may be paid, in relation to expenses in travelling to discharge the duties of the office of member of the tribunal, such sums (if any) as the Governor‑General considers reasonable.

           (15)  This section has effect subject to:

                     (a)  section 66; and

                     (b)  any Commonwealth or Territory law making provision as mentioned in paragraph 69(1)(b).

           (16)  In this section:

Judge does not include the Chief Justice of the Court.

80  Application of Judges’ Pensions Act

             (1)  The Judges’ Pensions Act 1968 does not apply in relation to a Presidential Member if:

                     (a)  immediately before being appointed as a Presidential Member, he or she was:

                              (i)  an eligible employee for the purposes of the Superannuation Act 1976; or

                             (ii)  a member of the superannuation scheme established by deed under the Superannuation Act 1990; and

                     (b)  he or she does not make an election under subsection (2).

             (2)  A Presidential Member may elect to cease to be:

                     (a)  an eligible employee for the purposes of the Superannuation Act 1976; or

                     (b)  a member of the superannuation scheme established by deed under the Superannuation Act 1990.

             (3)  The election must be made:

                     (a)  within 3 months of the Presidential Member’s appointment; and

                     (b)  by notice in writing to the Minister.

             (4)  If a Presidential Member makes the election:

                     (a)  the Judges’ Pensions Act 1968 applies in relation to him or her and is taken to have so applied immediately after he or she was appointed as a Presidential Member; and

                     (b)  he or she is taken to have ceased to be:

                              (i)  an eligible employee for the purposes of the Superannuation Act 1976; or

                             (ii)  a member of the superannuation scheme established by deed under the Superannuation Act 1990;

                            immediately before being appointed as a Presidential Member.

81  Remuneration and allowances of Commissioners

             (1)  A Commissioner is to be paid:

                     (a)  salary at an annual rate equal to 70% of the annual rate of salary payable to a Deputy President; and

                     (b)  such travelling allowances as are determined from time to time by the Remuneration Tribunal for travel within Australia; and

                     (c)  such other allowances as are prescribed by the regulations.

             (2)  If the annual rate of salary of a Commissioner is not an amount of whole dollars, it is to be rounded to the nearest dollar (with 50 cents being rounded up).

             (3)  If, assuming that a Commissioner or former Commissioner had held an office of Deputy President instead of the office of Commissioner, the Commissioner or former Commissioner would be entitled to a payment under subsection 79(11), the Commissioner or former Commissioner is to be paid an amount equal to 70% of that payment.

             (4)  This section has effect subject to section 66.

82  Removal of Presidential Member from office

                   The Governor‑General may remove a Presidential Member from office on an address praying for removal on the grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity being presented to the Governor‑General by both Houses of the Parliament in the same session.

83  Outside employment of Commissioner

             (1)  Subject to subsection (2), a Commissioner shall not, except with the consent of the Minister, engage in paid employment outside the duties of the office.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to the holding by a member of an office or appointment in the Defence Force.

84  Leave of absence of Commissioner

             (1)  A Commissioner has such recreation leave entitlements as are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.

             (2)  The President may grant a Commissioner leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on such terms and conditions as to Remuneration or otherwise as the President determines.

             (3)  In determining the recreation leave entitlements of a Commissioner under the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973, the Remuneration Tribunal must have regard to:

                     (a)  any past employment of the Commissioner in the service of a State or an authority of a State; or

                     (b)  any past service of the Commissioner as a member of an authority of a State.

             (4)  In determining the terms and conditions on which leave of absence is granted to a Commissioner under subsection (2), the President must have regard to:

                     (a)  any past employment of the Commissioner in the service of a State or an authority of a State; or

                     (b)  any past service of the Commissioner as a member of an authority of a State.

85  Disclosure of interest by Commission members

             (1)  Where, for the purposes of a proceeding, the Commission is constituted by, or includes, a member of the Commission who has or acquires any interest, pecuniary or otherwise, that could conflict with the proper performance of the member’s functions in relation to the proceeding:

                     (a)  the member shall disclose the interest to the parties to the proceeding; and

                     (b)  unless all the parties consent—the member shall not take part in the proceeding or exercise any powers in relation to the proceeding.

             (2)  Where the President becomes aware that, for the purposes of a proceeding, the Commission is constituted by, or includes, a member of the Commission who has or acquires any interest, pecuniary or otherwise, that could conflict with the proper performance of the member’s functions in relation to the proceeding:

                     (a)  if the President considers that the member should not take part, or should not continue to take part, in the proceeding—the President shall give a direction to the member accordingly; or

                     (b)  in any other case—the President shall cause the interest of the member to be disclosed to the parties to the proceeding and the member shall not take part in the proceeding or exercise any powers in relation to the proceeding unless all the parties to the proceeding consent.

             (3)  In this section:

proceeding includes a proceeding under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule.

86  Termination of appointment of Commissioner

             (1)  The Governor‑General may remove a Commissioner from office on an address praying for removal on the grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity being presented to the Governor‑General by both Houses of the Parliament in the same session.

             (2)  The Governor‑General shall terminate the appointment of a Commissioner who:

                     (a)  becomes bankrupt, applies to take the benefit of a law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors, compounds with creditors or makes an assignment of remuneration for their benefit;

                     (b)  is absent from duty, except on leave of absence, for 14 consecutive days or for 28 days in any 12 months; or

                     (c)  engages in paid employment outside the duties of the office in contravention of section 83.

87  Resignation by Commission member

                   A member of the Commission may resign by signed instrument delivered to the Governor‑General.

 

Division 2—Organisation of Commission

88  Manner in which Commission may be constituted

             (1)  Subject to this Act and the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule, the Commission may be constituted by:

                     (a)  a single member, or 2 or more members, of the Commission; or

                     (b)  a Full Bench.

             (2)  A Full Bench consists of at least 3 members of the Commission, including at least 2 Presidential Members, established by the President as a Full Bench for the purposes of a proceeding.

             (3)  The Commission constituted by a member or members of the Commission may exercise its powers (whether under this Act, the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule or otherwise) even though the Commission constituted by another member or other members of the Commission is at the same time exercising the powers of the Commission (whether under this Act, the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule or otherwise).

89  Powers exercisable by single member of Commission

                   Subject to this Act and the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule, a function or power of the Commission may be performed or exercised by a single member of the Commission.

90  Functions and powers conferred on members

                   A function or power conferred by this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule on a member or members of the Commission, however described, shall, where the context admits, be taken to be a function or power conferred on the Commission to be performed or exercised by the member or members.

91  Exercise of Commission powers

             (1)  The Commission may perform a function or exercise a power on its own initiative.

             (2)  Despite subsection (1), the Commission must not perform a function or exercise a power under a provision of this Act on its own initiative if:

                     (a)  the function is to be performed, or the power exercised, on application by a specified person or class of persons; and

                     (b)  the function is not also expressed to be able to be performed, or the power exercised, on the Commission’s own initiative.

92  Continuation of hearing by Commission

             (1)  Where:

                     (a)  the hearing of a matter has been commenced before the Commission constituted by a single member; and

                     (b)  before the matter has been determined, the member becomes unavailable;

the President shall appoint another member of the Commission to constitute the Commission for the purposes of the matter.

             (2)  Where the hearing of a matter has been commenced before the Commission constituted by 2 or more members and, before the matter has been determined, one of the members becomes unavailable, the President:

                     (a)  shall if it is necessary for the purpose of establishing a Full Bench of the Commission under section 88; and

                     (b)  may in any other case;

appoint a member to participate as a member of the Commission for the purposes of the matter.

             (3)  A member of the Commission becomes unavailable where the member is unable to continue dealing with a matter, whether because the member has ceased to be a member of the Commission or is prevented from taking part in the proceeding by section 85 or for any other reason.

             (4)  Where the Commission is reconstituted under this section for the purposes of a matter, the Commission as reconstituted shall have regard to the evidence given, the arguments adduced and any award, order or determination made in relation to the matter before the Commission was reconstituted.

93  Commission divided in opinion

                   If the persons constituting the Commission for the purposes of any proceeding are divided in opinion as to the decision to be given, the decision shall be given, if there is a majority, according to the opinion of the majority, but, if the members are equally divided in opinion, the opinion that shall prevail is:

                     (a)  where the President is a member—the opinion of the President; and

                     (b)  where the President is not a member and the Vice President is a member—the opinion of the Vice President; and

                     (c)  where neither the President nor the Vice President is a member and only one Senior Deputy President is a member—the opinion of the Senior Deputy President; and

                     (d)  where neither the President nor the Vice President is a member and 2 or more Senior Deputy Presidents are members—the opinion of the Senior Deputy President who has seniority under section 65; and

                     (e)  where the President, the Vice President and any Senior Deputy President are not members, and only one Deputy President is a member—the opinion of the Deputy President; and

                      (f)  where the President, Vice President and any Senior Deputy President are not members and 2 or more Deputy Presidents are members—the opinion of the Deputy President who has seniority under section 65; and

                     (g)  in any other case—the opinion of the Commissioner who is a member and who has seniority under section 65.

94  Arrangement of business of Commission

             (1)  The President shall direct the business of the Commission.

             (2)  When exercising powers under this section and section 95, the President must have regard to the improved:

                     (a)  efficiency of the Commission; and

                     (b)  cooperation between the Commission and State industrial authorities;

that may be achieved by the Commission’s powers and functions being exercised and performed, in relation to a particular matter, by members of State industrial authorities who hold secondary offices as members of the Commission.

95  Panels of Commission for particular industries

             (1)  The President may assign an industry or group of industries to a panel of members of the Commission consisting of at least one Presidential Member and at least one Commissioner and, subject to this Act and any direction of the President, the powers of the Commission in relation to that industry (other than powers exercisable by a Full Bench) shall, as far as practicable, be exercised by a member or members of the panel.

             (2)  Even though an industry has been assigned to a panel, the President may direct that the powers of the Commission in relation to a particular matter relating to that industry are to be exercised by:

                     (a)  a member of the Commission who is not a member of that panel; or

                     (b)  members of the Commission, some or all of whom are not members of that panel.

             (3)  If more than one Presidential Member is assigned to a panel, the President must nominate one of the Presidential Members to organise and allocate the work of the panel.

             (4)  A member of the Commission may be a member of more than one panel mentioned in subsection (1).

             (5)  A member of the Commission may be a member of the panel established under section 14 of the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule.

96  Delegation by President

             (1)  The President may, by signed instrument, delegate to a Vice President all or any of the President’s powers under this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule.

             (2)  If the President delegates a power to only one of the Vice Presidents, he or she may, in addition, delegate that power to a Senior Deputy President to be exercised when that Vice President is unable, for any reason, to exercise that power personally.

             (3)  If the President delegates the same power to both Vice Presidents, he or she may, in addition, delegate that power to a Senior Deputy President to be exercised when, for any reason, neither Vice President is able to exercise that power personally.

97  Protection of Commission members

                   A member of the Commission has, in the performance of functions as a member of the Commission, the same protection and immunity as a Judge of the Court.

98  Co‑operation with the States by President

                   The President may invite the heads of State industrial authorities to meet with the President to exchange information and discuss matters of mutual interest in relation to workplace relations.

99  Co‑operation with the States by Registrar

                   The Industrial Registrar may invite the principal registrars of State industrial authorities to meet with the Industrial Registrar to exchange information and discuss matters of mutual interest in relation to workplace relations.

 

Division 3—Representation and intervention

100  Representation of parties before Commission

             (1)  A party to a proceeding before the Commission may appear in person.

             (2)  Subject to this and any other Act, a party to a proceeding before the Commission may be represented only as provided by this section.

             (3)  A party (including an employing authority) may be represented by counsel, solicitor or agent if:

                     (a)  all parties have given express consent to that representation; and

                     (b)  the Commission grants leave for the party to be so represented.

             (4)  A party (including an employing authority) may be represented by counsel, solicitor or agent if:

                     (a)  the party applies to the Commission to be so represented; and

                     (b)  the Commission grants leave for the party to be so represented.

             (5)  In deciding whether or not to grant leave under subsection (3), the Commission must have regard to the following matters:

                     (a)  whether being represented by counsel, solicitor or agent would assist the party concerned to bring the best case possible;

                     (b)  the capacity of the particular counsel, solicitor or agent to represent the party concerned;

                     (c)  the capacity of the particular counsel, solicitor or agent to assist the Commission in performing the Commission’s functions under this Act.

             (6)  In deciding whether or not to grant leave under subsection (4), the Commission must have regard to the following matters:

                     (a)  the matters referred to in paragraphs (5)(a), (b) and (c);

                     (b)  the complexity of the factual and legal issues relating to the proceeding;

                     (c)  whether there are special circumstances that make it desirable that the party concerned be represented by counsel, solicitor or agent;

                     (d)  if the party applies to be represented by an agent—whether the agent is a person or body, or an officer or employee of a person or body, that is able to represent the interests of the party under a State or Territory industrial relations law.

             (7)  An appeal to a Full Bench under section 120 may not be made in relation to a decision under subsection (3) or (4) to grant leave or not to grant leave.

             (8)  A party that is an organisation may be represented by:

                     (a)  a member, officer or employee of the organisation; or

                     (b)  an officer or employee of a peak council to which the organisation is affiliated.

             (9)  An employing authority may be represented by a prescribed person.

           (10)  Regulations made for the purposes of subsection (9) may prescribe different classes of persons in relation to different classes of proceedings.

           (11)  A party other than an organisation or employing authority may be represented by:

                     (a)  an officer or employee of the party; or

                     (b)  a member, officer or employee of an organisation of which the party is a member; or

                     (c)  an officer or employee of a peak council to which the party is affiliated; or

                     (d)  an officer or employee of a peak council to which an organisation or association of which the party is a member is affiliated; or

                     (e)  a bargaining agent.

           (12)  Where the Minister is a party (other than in the capacity of employing authority), the Minister may be represented by counsel or solicitor or by another person authorised for the purpose by the Minister.

           (13)  Where the Minister is a party (other than in the capacity of employing authority), another party (including an employing authority) may, with the leave of the Commission, be represented by counsel, solicitor or agent.

           (14)  In this section (other than paragraph (3)(a)):

party includes an intervener.

101  Intervention generally

                   Where the Commission is of the opinion that an organisation, a person (including the Minister) or a body should be heard in a matter before the Commission, the Commission may grant leave to the organisation, person or body to intervene in the matter.

102  Particular rights of intervention of Minister

             (1)  The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, by giving written notice to the Industrial Registrar, intervene in the public interest in a matter before a Full Bench.

             (2)  The Minister may, on behalf of the Commonwealth, by giving written notice to the Industrial Registrar, intervene in the public interest in a matter before the Commission so far as the matter involves public sector employment.

 

Division 4—General matters relating to the powers and procedures of the Commission

Subdivision A—General matters Commission to take into account

103  Commission to take into account the public interest

             (1)  In the performance of its functions, the Commission must take into account the public interest, and for that purpose must have regard to:

                     (a)  the objects of this Act; and

                     (b)  the state of the national economy and the likely effects on the national economy of any order that the Commission is considering, or is proposing to make, with special reference to likely effects on the level of employment and on inflation.

             (2)  To the extent that the Commission is performing its functions in relation to matters arising under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule, the Commission must take into account the public interest, and for that purpose must have regard to:

                     (a)  Parliament’s intention in enacting that Schedule; and

                     (b)  the state of the national economy and the likely effects on the national economy of any order that the Commission is considering, or is proposing to make, with special reference to likely effects on the level of employment and on inflation.

             (3)  This section does not apply to the performance of a function under Part 9 or Part 10.

104  Commission to take into account discrimination issues

                   In the performance of its functions, the Commission must take into account the following:

                     (a)  the need to apply the principle of equal pay for work of equal value;

                     (b)  the need to prevent and eliminate discrimination because of, or for reasons including, race, colour, sex, sexual preference, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin.

105  Commission to take account of Racial Discrimination Act, Sex Discrimination Act, Disability Discrimination Act and Age Discrimination Act

                   In the performance of its functions, the Commission must take account of the principles embodied in the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Age Discrimination Act 2004 relating to discrimination in relation to employment.

106  Commission to take account of Family Responsibilities Convention

             (1)  In performing its functions, the Commission must take account of the principles embodied in the Family Responsibilities Convention, in particular those relating to:

                     (a)  preventing discrimination against workers who have family responsibilities; and

                     (b)  helping workers to reconcile their employment and family responsibilities.

             (2)  This section does not apply to the performance of a function under Part 9.

107  Safety, health and welfare of employees

             (1)  In performing its functions, the Commission must take into account the provisions of any law of a State or Territory relating to the safety, health and welfare of employees in relation to their employment.

             (2)  This section does not apply to the performance of a function under Division 3 of Part 12.

108  Commission to act quickly

                   The Commission must perform its functions as quickly as practicable.

109  Commission to avoid technicalities and facilitate fair conduct of proceedings

                   The Commission must perform its functions in a way that avoids unnecessary technicalities and facilitates the fair and practical conduct of any proceedings under this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule.

Subdivision B—Particular powers and procedures of the Commission

110  Procedure of Commission

             (1)  In a proceeding under this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule:

                     (a)  the procedure of the Commission is, subject to this Act, the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and the Rules of the Commission, within the discretion of the Commission; and

                     (b)  the Commission is not bound to act in a formal manner and is not bound by any rules of evidence, but may inform itself on any matter in such manner as it considers just; and

                     (c)  the Commission must act according to equity, good conscience and the substantial merits of the case, without regard to technicalities and legal forms.

             (2)  The Commission may determine the periods that are reasonably necessary for the fair and adequate presentation of the respective cases of the parties to the proceeding and require that the cases be presented within the respective periods.

             (3)  The Commission may require evidence or argument to be presented in writing, and may decide the matters on which it will hear oral evidence or argument.

111  Particular powers of Commission

             (1)  The Commission may do any of the following in relation to a proceeding under this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule:

                     (a)  inform itself in any manner that it thinks appropriate;

                     (b)  take evidence on oath or affirmation;

                     (c)  give directions orally or in writing in the course of, or for the purposes of, procedural matters relating to the proceeding;

                     (d)  vary or revoke an order, direction or decision of the Commission;

                     (e)  dismiss a matter or part of a matter on the ground:

                              (i)  that the matter, or the part of the matter, is trivial; or

                             (ii)  that further proceedings in relation to the matter are not necessary or desirable in the public interest;

                      (f)  determine the proceeding in the absence of a person who has been summoned or served with a notice to appear;

                     (g)  sit at any place;

                     (h)  conduct the proceeding, or any part of the proceeding, in private;

                      (i)  adjourn the proceeding to any time and place;

                      (j)  refer any matter to an expert and accept the expert’s report as evidence;

                     (k)  direct a member of the Commission to consider a particular matter that is before the Full Bench and prepare a report for the Full Bench on that matter;

                      (l)  allow the amendment, on any terms that it thinks appropriate, of any application or other document relating to the proceeding;

                    (m)  correct, amend or waive any error, defect or irregularity whether in substance or form;

                     (n)  summon before it any persons whose presence the Commission considers would assist in relation to the proceeding;

                     (o)  compel the production before it of documents and other things for the purpose of reference to such entries or matters as relate to the proceeding;

                     (p)  make interim decisions;

                     (q)  make a final decision in respect of the matter to which the proceeding relates.

             (2)  The Commission may, in writing, authorise a person (including a member of the Commission) to take evidence on its behalf, with any limitations as the Commission directs, in relation to the proceeding, and the person has all the powers of the Commission to secure:

                     (a)  the attendance of witnesses; and

                     (b)  the production of documents and things; and

                     (c)  the taking of evidence on oath or affirmation.

             (3)  The following provisions do not apply to the performance of a function under Part 9:

                     (a)  paragraph (1)(e);

                     (b)  paragraph (1)(j);

                     (c)  paragraph (1)(k).

             (4)  The following provisions do not apply to the performance of a function under Division 3, 4 or 5 of Part 12:

                     (a)  paragraph (1)(a);

                     (b)  paragraph (1)(e);

                     (c)  paragraph (1)(k);

                     (d)  paragraph (1)(p);

                     (e)  paragraph (1)(q);

                      (f)  subsection (2).

             (5)  Paragraph (1)(j) does not apply to the performance of a function under Division 4 of Part 12.

             (6)  If a provision of this Act specifies a time or a period in respect of any matter or thing, the Commission must not extend the time or the period specified unless this Act expressly permits the Commission to do so.

             (7)  If a provision of the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule specifies a time or a period in respect of any matter or thing, the Commission must not extend the time or the period specified unless the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule expressly permits the Commission to do so.

             (8)  For the purposes of paragraph (1)(d), order does not include an award or an award‑related order.

112  Reference of proceedings to Full Bench

             (1)  If a proceeding is before a member of the Commission, a party to the proceeding or the Minister may apply to the member to have the proceeding dealt with by a Full Bench because the subject matter of the proceeding is of such importance that, in the public interest, the proceeding should be dealt with by a Full Bench.

             (2)  If an application is made under subsection (1) to a member of the Commission other than the President:

                     (a)  the member must refer the application to the President to be dealt with; and

                     (b)  the President must confer with the member about whether the application should be granted.

             (3)  If the President is of the opinion that the subject matter of the proceeding is of such importance that, in the public interest, the proceeding should be dealt with by a Full Bench, the President must grant the application.

             (4)  If the President grants an application under subsection (1), the Full Bench must (subject to subsection (5)) hear and determine the proceeding to which the application relates.

             (5)  If the President grants an application under subsection (1), the Full Bench may do either or both of the following:

                     (a)  have regard to any evidence given, and any arguments adduced, in the proceeding before the Full Bench began to deal with it;

                     (b)  refer a part of the proceeding to a member of the Commission to hear and determine.

             (6)  The President may, before a Full Bench has been established for the purpose of dealing with a proceeding under this section, authorise a member of the Commission to take evidence for the purposes of the proceeding, and the Full Bench must have regard to the evidence.

             (7)  The President or a Full Bench may, in relation to the exercise of powers under this section, direct a member of the Commission to provide a report in relation to a specified matter.

             (8)  The member must, after making such investigation (if any) as is necessary, provide a report to the President or the Full Bench, as required.

             (9)  In this section:

proceeding includes a part of a proceeding.

113  President may deal with certain proceedings

             (1)  The President may, whether or not another member of the Commission has begun to deal with a particular proceeding, decide to deal with the proceeding.

             (2)  If the President decides to deal with the proceeding, the President must:

                     (a)  hear and determine the proceeding; or

                     (b)  refer the proceeding to a Full Bench.

             (3)  If the President refers an application to a Full Bench, the Full Bench must (subject to subsection (4)) hear and determine the proceeding.

             (4)  If the President refers the proceeding to a Full Bench, the Full Bench may refer a part of the proceeding to a member of the Commission to hear and determine.

             (5)  The President or the Full Bench may, in dealing with the proceeding, have regard to any evidence given, and any arguments adduced, in the proceeding before the President or the Full Bench, as the case may be, began to deal with it.

             (6)  The President or a Full Bench may, in relation to the exercise of powers under this section, direct a member of the Commission to provide a report in relation to a specified matter.

             (7)  The member must, after making such investigation (if any) as is necessary, provide a report to the President or a Full Bench, as the case may be.

             (8)  In this section:

proceeding includes a part of a proceeding.

114  Review on application by Minister

             (1)  The Minister may apply to the President for a review by a Full Bench of an award or order, or a decision relating to the making of an award or order, made by a member of the Commission (whether under this Act, the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule or otherwise) if it appears to the Minister that the award, order or decision is contrary to the public interest.

             (2)  If an application is made to the President under subsection (1), the President must establish a Full Bench to hear and determine the application.

             (3)  The Full Bench must, if in its opinion the matter is of such importance that, in the public interest, the award, order or decision should be reviewed, make such review of the award, order or decision as appears to it to be desirable having regard to the matters referred to in the application.

             (4)  Subject to subsection (5) of this section, subsections 120(4) to (8) apply in relation to a review under this section in the same manner as they apply in relation to an appeal under section 120.

             (5)  Subsections 121(4) to (8) apply in relation to a review under this section in relation to a matter arising under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule in the same manner as they apply in relation to an appeal under section 121.

             (6)  In a review under this section:

                     (a)  the Commission must take such steps as it thinks appropriate to ensure that each person and organisation bound by the award or otherwise with an interest in the review is made aware of the review; and

                     (b)  the Minister may intervene in the proceeding.

             (7)  Each provision of this Act relating to the performance of the Commission’s functions in relation to awards extends to a review under this section.

             (8)  Nothing in this section affects any right of appeal or any power of a Full Bench under section 120, and an appeal under that section and a review under this section may, if the Full Bench thinks appropriate, be dealt with together.

             (9)  Nothing in this section affects any right of appeal or any power of a Full Bench under section 121, and an appeal under that section and a review under this section may, if the Full Bench thinks appropriate, be dealt with together.

115  Compulsory conferences

             (1)  For the purpose of the performance of a function, or the exercise of a power, of the Commission under this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule, a member of the Commission may, on the initiative of the member or on application made by a party to, or intervener in, the proceeding, direct a person to attend, at a specified time and place, a conference to be presided over by a member of the Commission or another person nominated by the President.

Note:          Contravening a direction may be an offence under section 815.

             (2)  A direction may be given to anyone whose presence at the conference the member considers would help in the performance of a function under this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule.

             (3)  The conference must be held in private except to the extent that the person presiding over the conference directs that it be held in public.

             (4)  This section does not apply to the performance of a function under Part 9.

116  Power to override certain laws affecting public sector employment

             (1)  In so far as the performance of its functions under this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule involves public sector employment, the Commission may, where it considers it proper to do so, make an award or order that is not, or in its opinion may not be, consistent with a relevant law of the Commonwealth or of an internal Territory.

             (2)  In this section:

enactment means an ordinance made under the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910 and continued in force by the Northern Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1978.

relevant law means a law of the Commonwealth or an internal Territory relating to matters pertaining to the relationship between employers and employees in public sector employment, other than:

                     (a)  the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, the Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976, the Superannuation Act 1976 or the Superannuation Act 1990; or

                     (b)  a prescribed Act or enactment, or prescribed provisions of an Act or enactment.

             (3)  This section does not apply to the performance of a function under Part 12.

117  State authorities may be restrained from dealing with matter that is before the Commission

             (1)  If it appears to a Full Bench that a State industrial authority is dealing or is about to deal with a matter that is the subject of a proceeding before the Commission under this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule, the Full Bench may make an order restraining the State industrial authority from dealing with the matter.

             (2)  The State industrial authority must, in accordance with the order, cease dealing or not deal, as the case may be, with the matter.

             (3)  An order, award, decision or determination of a State industrial authority made in contravention of the order of a Full Bench under this section is, to the extent of the contravention, void.

118  Joint sessions of Commission

                   If:

                     (a)  the President considers that a question is common to 2 or more proceedings before the Commission; and

                     (b)  the Commission is not constituted by the same person or persons for the purposes of each proceeding;

the President may direct that the Commission constituted by all the persons who constitute the Commission for the purposes of the proceedings may take evidence or hear argument, or take evidence and hear argument, as to the question for the purposes of both or all of the proceedings.

119  Revocation and suspension of awards and orders

             (1)  An organisation, a person interested or the Minister may apply to the President, and a member of the Commission or a Registrar may refer a matter to the President, for action by a Full Bench under this section.

             (2)  If an application is made to the President under subsection (1), the President must establish a Full Bench to hear and determine the application.

             (3)  If a matter is referred to the President under subsection (1), the President may establish a Full Bench to hear and determine the matter.

             (4)  If it appears to the Full Bench:

                     (a)  that an organisation has contravened this Act, the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule or an award or order of the Commission; or

                     (b)  that a substantial number of the members of an organisation refuse to accept employment either at all or in accordance with existing awards or orders; or

                     (c)  that for any other reason an award or order should be suspended or revoked in whole or part;

the Full Bench may, subject to such conditions as it thinks appropriate, make an order revoking, or suspending for such period as it thinks appropriate, the award or order or any of the terms of the award or an order.

             (5)  The Full Bench may also make such other orders as it thinks appropriate in relation to the operation of:

                     (a)  if the Full Bench revokes or suspends an award or order on a ground referred to in paragraph (4)(a) or (b)—any other award or order that binds the organisation; or

                     (b)  in any other case—any other award or order that applies in relation to the employment of:

                              (i)  members of an organisation that is bound by the revoked or suspended award or order; or

                             (ii)  persons eligible to be members of such an organisation.

             (6)  The revocation or suspension of all or any of the terms of an award or order may be expressed to apply only in relation to:

                     (a)  a particular organisation or person bound by the award or order; or

                     (b)  a particular branch of an organisation; or

                     (c)  a particular class of members of an organisation; or

                     (d)  a particular locality.

 

Division 5—Appeals to Full Bench and references to Court

120  Appeals to Full Bench relating to matters arising other than under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule

             (1)  Subject to this Act, an appeal lies to a Full Bench, with the leave of the Full Bench, against:

                     (a)  an award or order made by a member of the Commission; and

                     (b)  a decision of a member of the Commission not to make an award or order; and

                     (c)  a decision of a member of the Commission under paragraph 111(1)(e); and

                     (d)  a decision of a member of the Commission to vary, or not to vary, an award under section 812; and

                     (e)  a decision of the Commission to vary, or not to vary, an award or workplace agreement that has been referred to the Commission under section 46PW of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986; and

                      (f)  a decision of a member of the Commission that the member has jurisdiction, or a refusal or failure of a member of the Commission to exercise jurisdiction, in a matter arising under this Act.

             (2)  A Full Bench shall grant leave to appeal under subsection (1) if, in its opinion, the matter is of such importance that, in the public interest, leave should be granted.

             (3)  An appeal under subsection (1) may be instituted:

                     (a)  in the case of an appeal under paragraph (1)(a) that is not covered by paragraph (b) or (c) of this subsection—by an organisation or person bound by the award or order;

                     (b)  in the case of an appeal under paragraph (1)(a) against an order under Part 12—by a person entitled under section 685 to institute the appeal; and

                     (c)  in the case of an appeal under paragraph (1)(a) against an order that was made under subsection 590(1) or subclause 14(1) or 23(1) of Schedule 9—by the person who applied for the order or any person who made submissions to the Commission on whether the order should be made; and

                     (d)  in the case of an appeal under paragraph (1)(b) against a decision not to make an order under subsection 590(1) or subclause 14(1) or 23(1) of Schedule 9—by the person who applied for the order;

                     (e)  in the case of an appeal under paragraph (1)(d) in relation to an award—by:

                              (i)  an employer, employee or organisation bound by the award; or

                             (ii)  the Workplace Authority Director; and

                      (f)  in the case of an appeal under paragraph (1)(e)—by a party to the review of the award or workplace agreement; and

                     (g)  in any other case—by an organisation or person aggrieved by the decision or act concerned.

             (4)  Where an appeal has been instituted under this section, a Full Bench or Presidential Member may, on such terms and conditions as the Full Bench or Presidential Member considers appropriate, order that the operation of the whole or a part of the decision or act concerned be stayed pending the determination of the appeal or until further order of a Full Bench or Presidential Member.

             (5)  A Full Bench may direct that 2 or more appeals be heard together, but an organisation or person who has a right to be heard in relation to one of the appeals may be heard in relation to a matter raised in another of the appeals only with the leave of the Full Bench.

             (6)  For the purposes of an appeal under this section, a Full Bench:

                     (a)  may admit further evidence; and

                     (b)  may direct a member of the Commission to provide a report in relation to a specified matter.

             (7)  On the hearing of the appeal, the Full Bench may do one or more of the following:

                     (a)  confirm, quash or vary the decision or act concerned;

                     (b)  make an award, order or decision dealing with the subject‑matter of the decision or act concerned;

                     (c)  direct the member of the Commission whose decision or act is under appeal, or another member of the Commission, to take further action to deal with the subject‑matter of the decision or act in accordance with the directions of the Full Bench;

                     (d)  in the case of an appeal under paragraph (1)(c)—take any action (including making an award or order) that could have been taken if the decision under paragraph 111(1)(e) had not been made.

             (8)  Where, under paragraph (6)(b), a Full Bench directs a member of the Commission to provide a report, the member shall, after making such investigation (if any) as is necessary, provide the report to the Full Bench.

121  Appeals to Full Bench relating to matters arising under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule etc.

             (1)  Subject to the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and this Act, an appeal lies to a Full Bench, with the leave of the Full Bench, against:

                     (a)  a decision of a member of the Commission by way of a finding in relation to a matter arising under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule; and

                     (b)  an order made by a member of the Commission in proceedings under that Schedule, other than an order made by consent of the parties to the proceeding; and

                     (c)  a decision of a member of the Commission under that Schedule not to make an order; and

                     (d)  a decision of a member of the Commission under paragraph 111(1)(e) of this Act; and

                     (e)  a decision of a member of the Commission that the member has jurisdiction, or a refusal or failure of a member of the Commission to exercise jurisdiction, in a matter arising under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule.

             (2)  A Full Bench must grant leave to appeal under subsection (1) if, in its opinion, the matter is of such importance that, in the public interest, leave should be granted.

             (3)  An appeal under subsection (1) may be instituted by:

                     (a)  a party to the proceeding; or

                     (b)  a person bound by an order; or

                     (c)  a person aggrieved by the decision.

             (4)  Where an appeal has been instituted under this section, a Full Bench or Presidential Member may, on such terms and conditions as the Full Bench or Presidential Member considers appropriate, order that the operation of the whole or a part of the decision or act concerned be stayed pending the determination of the appeal or until further order of a Full Bench or Presidential Member.

             (5)  A Full Bench may direct that 2 or more appeals be heard together, but an organisation or person who has a right to be heard in relation to one of the appeals may be heard in relation to a matter raised in another of the appeals only with the leave of the Full Bench.

             (6)  For the purposes of an appeal under this section, a Full Bench:

                     (a)  may admit further evidence; and

                     (b)  may direct a member of the Commission to provide a report in relation to a specified matter.

             (7)  On the hearing of the appeal, the Full Bench may do one or more of the following:

                     (a)  confirm, quash or vary the decision or act concerned;

                     (b)  make an order or decision dealing with the subject‑matter of the decision or act concerned;

                     (c)  direct the member of the Commission whose decision or act is under appeal, or another member of the Commission, to take further action to deal with the subject‑matter of the decision or act in accordance with the directions of the Full Bench;

                     (d)  in the case of an appeal under paragraph (1)(d)—take any action (including making an order) that could have been taken if the decision under paragraph 111(1)(e) had not been made.

             (8)  If, under paragraph (6)(b), a Full Bench directs a member of the Commission to provide a report, the member must, after making such investigation (if any) as is necessary, provide the report to the Full Bench.

             (9)  Each provision of this Act and the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule relating to the hearing or determination of a matter mentioned in subsection (1) of this section extends to the hearing or determination of an appeal under this section.

122  References to Court by Commission on question of law

             (1)  The Commission may refer a question of law arising in a matter before the Commission for the opinion of the Court.

             (2)  If the question referred to the Court is not whether the Commission may exercise powers in relation to the matter, the Commission may, in spite of the reference, make an award, order or decision in the matter.

             (3)  On the determination of the question by the Court:

                     (a)  if the Commission has not made an award, order or decision in the matter—the Commission may make an award, order or decision not inconsistent with the opinion of the Court; or

                     (b)  if the Commission has made an award, order or decision in the matter—the Commission shall vary the award, order or decision in such a way as will make it consistent with the opinion of the Court.

 

Division 6—Miscellaneous

123  Seals of Commission

             (1)  The Commission shall have a seal on which are inscribed the words “The Seal of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission”.

             (2)  A duplicate of the seal shall be kept at each registry.

             (3)  Such other seals as are required for the business of the Commission shall be kept and used at each registry, and shall be in such form and kept in such custody, as the President directs.

             (4)  A document, or a copy of a document, purporting to be sealed with the seal of the Commission or a duplicate of the seal, or with a seal referred to in subsection (3), is receivable in evidence without further proof of the seal.

124  Rules of Commission

             (1)  The President, after consultation with members of the Commission, may, by signed instrument, make rules, not inconsistent with this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule, with respect to:

                     (a)  the practice and procedure to be followed in the Commission; or

                     (b)  the conduct of business in the Commission;

and, in particular:

                     (c)  the manner in which, and the time within which, applications, submissions and objections may be made to the Commission; and

                     (d)  the manner in which applications, submissions and objections may be dealt with by the Commission; and

                     (e)  the furnishing of security for the payment of costs in respect of an application made under section 643.

             (2)  A Rule of the Commission:

                     (a)  is a disallowable instrument for the purposes of section 46A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901; and

                     (b)  is a statutory rule within the meaning of the Statutory Rules Publication Act 1903.

             (3)  If Rules of the Commission have not been made under this section with respect to the practice and procedure of the Commission, and the regulations do not make provision with respect to the matter, the regulations made under the previous Act (as in force immediately before the commencement of this section) apply, so far as practicable and with all necessary modifications, with respect to the practice and procedure of the Commission in the same manner as they applied immediately before that commencement to the practice and procedure of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission.

125  President must provide certain information etc. to the Minister

             (1)  The President must provide to the Minister information, and copies of documents, of the kinds that are prescribed by the regulations, being:

                     (a)  information that is publicly available, or derived from information that is publicly available, relating to:

                              (i)  the Commission’s orders, decisions or actions under this Act; or

                             (ii)  notifications or applications made or given to the Commission under this Act; or

                     (b)  copies of such orders, decisions, notifications or applications.

             (2)  The President must provide the information or the copies by the time, and in the form, prescribed by the regulations.

126  Annual report of Commission

             (1)  The President shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, prepare and provide to the Minister a report of the operations of the Commission during that year.

             (2)  The Minister shall cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after its receipt by the Minister.

 

Part 4—Australian Industrial Registry

Division 1—Interpretation

127  Definition of State industrial body

                   In this Part:

State industrial body means a court, tribunal, board, authority or other body of a State.

 

Division 2—Establishment and functions of Australian Industrial Registry

128  Australian Industrial Registry

             (1)  There is established a registry to be known as the Australian Industrial Registry.

             (2)  There shall be an Industrial Registrar, and such Deputy Industrial Registrars as are necessary from time to time.

             (3)  The Industrial Registry shall consist of the Industrial Registrar, the Deputy Industrial Registrars and the other staff referred to in section 149.

             (4)  The Industrial Registrar shall direct the business of the Industrial Registry.

129  Functions of the Industrial Registry

             (1)  The functions of the Industrial Registry are:

                     (a)  to act as the registry for the Commission and to provide administrative support to the Commission;

                     (b)  to provide advice and assistance to organisations in relation to their rights and obligations under this Act; and

                     (c)  such other functions as are conferred on the Industrial Registry by this Act, the BCII Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule.

             (2)  If an agreement made by the Minister, after consulting the President, with an appropriate authority of a State:

                     (a)  provides for the Industrial Registrar or a Deputy Industrial Registrar to be appointed under an Act of the State to be the Registrar of a State industrial body; or

                     (b)  provides for the Industrial Registrar or a Deputy Industrial Registrar to perform or exercise any functions, duties or powers of the Registrar of a State industrial body;

subsections (3) and (4) apply subject to the agreement.

             (3)  The Industrial Registry has the following functions:

                     (a)  acting as the registry for the State industrial body;

                     (b)  providing administrative support to the State industrial body.

             (4)  If:

                     (a)  either of the following subparagraphs applies:

                              (i)  the Industrial Registrar or the Deputy Industrial Registrar is appointed under an Act of the State to be the Registrar of another State industrial body that has replaced the State industrial body referred to in the agreement;

                             (ii)  an Act of the State, or the agreement, authorises the Industrial Registrar or the Deputy Industrial Registrar to perform or exercise any functions, duties or powers of another State industrial body that has replaced the State industrial body referred to in the agreement; and

                     (b)  the Minister, after consulting the President, has agreed to the Industrial Registry having the following functions:

                              (i)  acting as the registry for the other State industrial body;

                             (ii)  providing administrative support to the other State industrial body;

the Industrial Registry has those functions.

             (5)  If, after consulting the President, the Minister has made an agreement with an appropriate authority of a State for the Industrial Registry to perform the functions (State Registry functions) of acting as the registry for, and providing administrative support to, a State industrial body referred to in the agreement and:

                     (a)  State Registry functions in relation to the State industrial body referred to in the agreement are expressed to be conferred on the Industrial Registry by or under an Act of the State or the agreement; or

                     (b)  State Registry functions in relation to another State industrial body that has replaced the State industrial body referred to in the agreement are expressed to be conferred on the Industrial Registry by or under an Act of the State or the agreement and the Minister, after consulting the President, has agreed to the Industrial Registry performing those functions in relation to the other State industrial body;

then, subject to the agreement, the Industrial Registry has the State Registry functions in relation to the State industrial body referred to in the agreement or the other State industrial body, as the case may be.

130  Registries

             (1)  The Governor‑General shall cause a Principal Registry of the Industrial Registry to be established.

             (2)  The Governor‑General may cause other registries of the Industrial Registry to be established, but shall cause at least one registry to be established in each State, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

131  Seals of the Registry

             (1)  The Industrial Registry shall have a seal on which are inscribed the words “The Seal of the Australian Industrial Registry”.

             (2)  A duplicate of the seal shall be kept at each registry.

             (3)  Such other seals as are required for the business of the Industrial Registry shall be kept and used at each registry, and shall be in such form and kept in such custody, as the Industrial Registrar directs.

             (4)  A document, or a copy of a document, purporting to be sealed with the seal of the Industrial Registry or a duplicate of that seal, or with a seal referred to in subsection (3), is receivable in evidence without further proof of the seal.

132  Annual report of Industrial Registry

             (1)  The Industrial Registrar shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, prepare and provide to the Minister a report of the operations of the Industrial Registry under this Act, the BCII Act and the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule during that year.

             (2)  The Minister shall cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after its receipt by the Minister.

 

Division 3—Registrars

133  Industrial Registrar

             (1)  The Governor‑General shall appoint a person to be the Industrial Registrar.

             (2)  The Industrial Registrar:

                     (a)  has the powers and functions conferred on the Industrial Registrar, or on a Registrar, by or under this Act, the BCII Act, the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule or an award; and

                     (b)  shall perform the functions conferred on the Industrial Registry by this Act, the BCII Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule, and has such powers as are necessary for the performance of those functions.

             (3)  If an agreement is made between the Minister and the appropriate authority of a State as mentioned in subsection 129(2), then, subject to the agreement:

                     (a)  if the Industrial Registrar is appointed under an Act of the State to be the Registrar of a State industrial body referred to in the agreement, or to be the Registrar of another State industrial body as mentioned in subparagraph 129(4)(a)(i)—the Industrial Registrar has, and must perform, any functions or duties, and may exercise any powers, of the Registrar of the body concerned, whether the functions, duties or powers are conferred by or under that Act or another Act of the State; or

                     (b)  if an Act of the State, or the agreement, is expressed to authorise the Industrial Registrar to perform or exercise any functions, duties or powers of the Registrar of a State industrial body referred to in the agreement or any functions, duties or powers of the Registrar of another State industrial body as mentioned in subparagraph 129(4)(a)(ii)—the Industrial Registrar has, and must perform, those functions or duties, or may exercise those powers, as the case may be.

             (4)  If:

                     (a)  under subsection 129(5) the Industrial Registry has the functions of acting as the registry for, and providing administrative support to, a State industrial body; and

                     (b)  a law of the State is expressed to authorise the Industrial Registrar, or a Registrar, to perform or exercise any functions, duties or powers relevant to the performance of the functions referred to in paragraph (a);

then, subject to the agreement referred to in subsection 129(5), the Industrial Registrar has, and must perform, those functions or duties, or may exercise those powers, as the case may be.

             (5)  The Principal Registry shall be directly controlled by the Industrial Registrar.

             (6)  In exercising the powers and performing the functions of his or her office in relation to the Commission, the Industrial Registrar shall comply with any directions given by the President.

             (7)  In performing or exercising any functions, duties or powers in relation to a State industrial body as mentioned in subsection (3) or (4), the Industrial Registrar must comply with any directions lawfully given by the body.

             (8)  In allocating and managing the resources of the Industrial Registry, the Industrial Registrar shall have regard to the needs of the Commission and the needs of any State industrial body in respect of which the Industrial Registrar or a Deputy Industrial Registrar performs or exercises functions, duties or powers.

134  Tenure of office of Industrial Registrar

             (1)  Subject to this Part, the Industrial Registrar holds office for such term (not exceeding 7 years) as is specified in the instrument of appointment, but is eligible for re‑appointment.

             (2)  The Industrial Registrar holds office on such terms and conditions (if any) in relation to matters not provided for by this Act as are determined by the Governor‑General.

135  Remuneration and allowances of Industrial Registrar

                   Subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973, the Industrial Registrar shall be paid:

                     (a)  such remuneration as is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal; and

                     (b)  such allowances as are prescribed.

136  Outside employment of Industrial Registrar

             (1)  Subject to subsection (2), the Industrial Registrar shall not, except with the consent of the Minister, engage in paid employment outside the duties of the office.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to the holding by the Industrial Registrar of an office or appointment in the Defence Force.

137  Disclosure of interests by Industrial Registrar

             (1)  The Industrial Registrar shall give written notice to the Minister of all direct or indirect pecuniary interests that the Industrial Registrar has or acquires in any business or in any body corporate carrying on any business.

             (2)  Where the Industrial Registrar has or acquires any interest (whether pecuniary or otherwise) that could conflict with the proper exercise of a power, or the proper performance of a function, in relation to a proceeding before the Industrial Registrar:

                     (a)  the Industrial Registrar shall disclose the interest to the parties to the proceeding; and

                     (b)  unless all the parties consent to the Industrial Registrar exercising the power or performing the function in relation to the proceeding—the Industrial Registrar shall nominate a Deputy Industrial Registrar to exercise the power or perform the function.

138  Leave of absence of Industrial Registrar

             (1)  The Industrial Registrar has such recreation leave entitlements as are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.

             (2)  The Minister may grant the Industrial Registrar leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on such terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise as the Minister determines.

139  Resignation by Industrial Registrar

                   The Industrial Registrar may resign by signed instrument delivered to the Governor‑General.

140  Termination of appointment of Industrial Registrar

             (1)  The Governor‑General may terminate the appointment of the Industrial Registrar for misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.

             (2)  The Governor‑General shall terminate the appointment of the Industrial Registrar if the Industrial Registrar:

                     (a)  becomes bankrupt, applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors, compounds with creditors or makes an assignment of remuneration for their benefit;

                     (b)  is absent from duty, except on leave of absence, for 14 consecutive days or for 28 days in any 12 months;

                     (c)  engages in paid employment outside the duties of the office in contravention of section 136; or

                     (d)  fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 137.

141  Deputy Industrial Registrars

             (1)  The Governor‑General shall appoint such number of persons to be Deputy Industrial Registrars as are necessary from time to time.

             (2)  Each Deputy Industrial Registrar:

                     (a)  has the powers and functions conferred on a Registrar by or under this Act, the BCII Act, the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule or an award; and

                     (b)  subject to the directions of the Industrial Registrar, shall perform the functions conferred on the Industrial Registry by this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule, and has such powers as are necessary for the performance of those functions.

             (3)  If an agreement is made between the Minister and the appropriate authority of a State as mentioned in subsection 129(2), then, subject to the agreement:

                     (a)  if a Deputy Industrial Registrar is appointed under an Act of the State to be the Registrar or a Deputy Registrar of a State industrial body referred to in the agreement, or to be the Registrar or a Deputy Registrar of another State industrial body as mentioned in subparagraph 129(4)(a)(i)—the Deputy Industrial Registrar has, and must perform, any functions or duties, and may exercise any powers, of the Registrar or Deputy Registrar, as the case may be, of the body concerned, whether the functions, duties or powers are conferred by or under that Act or another Act of the State; or

                     (b)  if an Act of the State, or the agreement, is expressed to authorise a Deputy Industrial Registrar or a Deputy Registrar to perform or exercise any functions, duties or powers of the Registrar or a Deputy Registrar of a State industrial body referred to in the agreement or any functions, duties or powers of the Registrar or a Deputy Registrar of another State industrial body as mentioned in subparagraph 129(4)(a)(ii)—the Deputy Industrial Registrar has, and must perform, those functions or duties, or may exercise those powers, as the case may be.

             (4)  If:

                     (a)  under subsection 129(5) the Industrial Registry has the functions of acting as the registry for, and providing administrative support to, a State industrial body; and

                     (b)  a law of the State is expressed to authorise the Industrial Registrar, or a Registrar, to perform or exercise any functions, duties or powers relevant to the performance of the functions referred to in paragraph (a);

then, subject to the agreement referred to in subsection 129(5), each Deputy Industrial Registrar:

                     (c)  has the functions, duties or powers referred to in paragraph (b); and

                     (d)  must perform those functions or duties or may exercise those powers, as the case may be, subject to the directions of the Industrial Registrar.

142  Acting Industrial Registrar

             (1)  The Minister may appoint a person to act in the office of Industrial Registrar:

                     (a)  during any vacancy in the office (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office); or

                     (b)  during any period, or during all periods, when the Industrial Registrar is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the functions of the office.

             (2)  Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under subsection (1) is not invalid because:

                     (a)  the occasion for the appointment had not arisen;

                     (b)  there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment;

                     (c)  the appointment had ceased to have effect; or

                     (d)  the occasion for the person to act had not arisen or had ceased.

143  Acting Deputy Industrial Registrars

             (1)  The Industrial Registrar may appoint a person to act in the office of a Deputy Industrial Registrar:

                     (a)  during a vacancy in the office (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office); or

                     (b)  during any period, or during all periods, when the Deputy Industrial Registrar is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.

             (2)  Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under subsection (1) is not invalid because:

                     (a)  the occasion for the appointment had not arisen;

                     (b)  there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment;

                     (c)  the appointment had ceased to have effect; or

                     (d)  the occasion for the person to act had not arisen or had ceased.

144  Oath or affirmation of office of Registrar

                   A Registrar shall, before proceeding to discharge the duties of the office, take before the Governor‑General, a Justice of the High Court, a Judge of the Court or a Judge of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory an oath or affirmation in accordance with the form in Schedule 3.

 

Division 4—References and appeals

145  References by Registrar to Commission

             (1)  A Registrar may refer a matter, or a question (other than a question of law) arising in a matter, before the Registrar to the President for decision by the Commission.

             (2)  The Commission may:

                     (a)  hear and determine the matter or question; or

                     (b)  refer the matter or question back to the Registrar, with such directions or suggestions as the Commission considers appropriate.

             (3)  The powers of the Commission under this section are exercisable by:

                     (a)  the President;

                     (b)  a Presidential Member assigned by the President for the purposes of the matter or question concerned; or

                     (c)  if the President directs—a Full Bench.

146  Removal of matters before Registrar

             (1)  Where a matter is before a Registrar, the President may order that the matter be heard and determined by the Commission.

             (2)  The powers of the Commission under this section are exercisable by:

                     (a)  the President;

                     (b)  a Presidential Member assigned by the President for the purposes of the matter concerned; or

                     (c)  if the President directs—a Full Bench.

147  Appeals from Registrar to Commission

             (1)  Subject to this and any other Act, an appeal lies to the Commission, with the leave of the Commission, against:

                     (a)  the making of any decision, or the doing of any act, by a Registrar in a matter arising under this Act, the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule (to the extent permitted by that Schedule) or any other Act; or

                     (b)  the refusal or failure of a Registrar to make any decision or do any act in a matter arising under this Act, the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule (to the extent permitted by that Schedule) or any other Act.

             (2)  Where an appeal has been instituted under this section, the Commission may, on such terms and conditions as it considers appropriate, order that the operation of the whole or part of the decision or act concerned be stayed pending the determination of the appeal or until further order of the Commission.

             (3)  For the purposes of the appeal, the Commission may take evidence.

             (4)  On the hearing of the appeal, the Commission may do one or more of the following:

                     (a)  confirm, quash or vary the decision or act concerned;

                     (b)  make a decision dealing with the subject‑matter of the decision or act concerned;

                     (c)  direct the Registrar whose decision or act is under appeal, or another Registrar, to take further action to deal with the subject‑matter of the decision or act in accordance with the directions of the Commission.

             (5)  The powers of the Commission under this section are exercisable by:

                     (a)  the President;

                     (b)  a Presidential Member assigned by the President for the purposes of the appeal concerned; or

                     (c)  if the President directs—a Full Bench.

             (6)  An appeal does not lie to a Full Bench against a decision under this section.

148  References to Court by Registrar on question of law

             (1)  A Registrar may refer a question of law arising in a matter before the Registrar under this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule for the opinion of the Court.

             (2)  On the determination of the question by the Court, the Registrar shall not give a decision or do anything in the matter that is inconsistent with the opinion of the Court.

 

Division 5—Staff

149  Staff

             (1)  The staff of the Industrial Registry, including the Deputy Industrial Registrars, shall be persons engaged under the Public Service Act 1999.

             (2)  For the purposes of the Public Service Act 1999:

                     (a)  the Industrial Registrar and the APS employees assisting the Industrial Registrar together constitute a Statutory Agency; and

                     (b)  the Industrial Registrar is the Head of that Statutory Agency.

 

Part 5—Workplace Authority Director

Division 1—Workplace Authority Director

Subdivision A—Establishment and functions

150A  Workplace Authority Director

                   There is to be a Workplace Authority Director.

150B  Functions of Workplace Authority Director

             (1)  The functions of the Workplace Authority Director are as follows:

                     (a)  to promote an understanding of Commonwealth workplace relations legislation, including by making available to the public general information and guidance about the operation of the legislation;

                     (b)  to provide education, assistance and advice to employees, employers and organisations in relation to their rights and obligations under Commonwealth workplace relations legislation;

                     (c)  to promote the making of workplace agreements;

                     (d)  to provide education, assistance and advice to employees, employers (especially employers in small business) and organisations in relation to workplace agreements;

                     (e)  to accept lodgment of:

                              (i)  workplace agreements; and

                             (ii)  notices about transmission of instruments;

                      (f)  to decide under Division 5A of Part 8 whether workplace agreements pass the fairness test;

                     (g)  to authorise multiple‑business agreements in accordance with the regulations;

                     (h)  to analyse workplace agreements;

                      (i)  to refer matters to the Workplace Ombudsman and workplace inspectors;

                      (j)  to perform any other function conferred on the Workplace Authority Director by Commonwealth workplace relations legislation, the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule or another Act.

             (2)  In performing his or her functions relating to workplace agreements, the Workplace Authority Director must have particular regard to:

                     (a)  the needs of workers in disadvantaged bargaining positions, including, for example, women, people from a non‑English speaking background, young people, apprentices, trainees and outworkers; and

                     (b)  encouraging parties to agreement‑making to take account of those needs; and

                     (c)  assisting workers to balance work and family responsibilities; and

                     (d)  the need to prevent and eliminate discrimination because of, or for reasons including, race, colour, sex, sexual preference, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin.

150C  Minister may give directions to Workplace Authority Director

             (1)  The Minister may, by legislative instrument, give written directions to the Workplace Authority Director about the performance of his or her functions.

             (2)  Directions given by the Minister under subsection (1) must be of a general nature only, and cannot relate to a particular case.

             (3)  The Minister must not direct the Workplace Authority Director in relation to the Workplace Authority Director’s performance of functions, or exercise of powers, as an Agency Head under the Public Service Act 1999.

             (4)  The Workplace Authority Director must comply with any direction given by the Minister under subsection (1).

             (5)  Section 42 (Disallowance of legislative instruments) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 applies to a direction given under subsection (1) of this section, despite section 44 of that Act.

Subdivision B—Appointment and terms and conditions

151A  Appointment of Workplace Authority Director

             (1)  The Workplace Authority Director is to be appointed by the Governor‑General by written instrument.

             (2)  The Governor‑General must not appoint a person as the Workplace Authority Director unless the Minister is satisfied that the person:

                     (a)  has suitable qualifications or experience; and

                     (b)  is of good character.

             (3)  The Workplace Authority Director holds office for the period specified in the instrument of appointment. The period must not exceed 5 years.

             (4)  The Workplace Authority Director holds office on a full‑time basis.

151B  Remuneration

             (1)  The Workplace Authority Director is to be paid the remuneration that is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. If no determination of that remuneration by the Tribunal is in operation, the Workplace Authority Director is to be paid the remuneration that is prescribed.

             (2)  The Workplace Authority Director is to be paid the allowances that are prescribed.

             (3)  This section has effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.

151C  Leave of absence

             (1)  The Workplace Authority Director has the recreation leave entitlements that are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.

             (2)  The Minister may grant the Workplace Authority Director leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on the terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise that the Minister determines.

151D  Other terms and conditions

                   The Workplace Authority Director holds office on the terms and conditions (if any) in relation to matters not covered by this Act that are determined by the Governor‑General.

151E  Outside employment

                   The Workplace Authority Director must not engage in paid employment outside the duties of the Workplace Authority Director’s office without the Minister’s approval.

151F  Disclosure of interests

                   The Workplace Authority Director must give written notice to the Minister of all interests, pecuniary or otherwise, that the Workplace Authority Director has or acquires that could conflict with the proper performance of the Workplace Authority Director’s functions.

151G  Acting appointments

             (1)  The Minister may appoint a person to act as the Workplace Authority Director:

                     (a)  during a vacancy in the office of Workplace Authority Director (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office); or

                     (b)  during any period, or during all periods, when the Workplace Authority Director is absent from duty or from Australia, or is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.

             (2)  The Minister must not appoint a person to act as the Workplace Authority Director unless the Minister is satisfied that the person:

                     (a)  has suitable qualifications or experience; and

                     (b)  is of good character.

             (3)  Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under an appointment is not invalid merely because:

                     (a)  the occasion for the appointment had not arisen; or

                     (b)  there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment; or

                     (c)  the appointment had ceased to have effect; or

                     (d)  the occasion to act had not arisen or had ceased.

151H  Resignation

             (1)  The Workplace Authority Director may resign his or her appointment by giving the Governor‑General a written resignation.

             (2)  The resignation takes effect on the day it is received by the Governor‑General or, if a later day is specified in the resignation, on that later day.

151J  Termination of appointment

             (1)  The Governor‑General may terminate the appointment of the Workplace Authority Director for misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.

             (2)  The Governor‑General must terminate the appointment of the Workplace Authority Director if:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Director:

                              (i)  becomes bankrupt; or

                             (ii)  applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors; or

                            (iii)  compounds with his or her creditors; or

                            (iv)  makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for the benefit of his or her creditors; or

                     (b)  the Workplace Authority Director is absent, except on leave of absence, for 14 consecutive days or for 28 days in any 12 months; or

                     (c)  the Workplace Authority Director engages, except with the Minister’s approval, in paid employment outside the duties of his or her office; or

                     (d)  the Workplace Authority Director fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 151F.

 

Division 2—Workplace Authority Deputy Directors

152A  Workplace Authority Deputy Directors

                   The Workplace Authority Director is to be assisted by as many Workplace Authority Deputy Directors as are appointed from time to time.

152B  Appointment of Workplace Authority Deputy Director

             (1)  A Workplace Authority Deputy Director is to be appointed by the Minister by written instrument.

             (2)  The Minister must not appoint a person as a Workplace Authority Deputy Director unless the Minister is satisfied that the person:

                     (a)  has suitable qualifications or experience; and

                     (b)  is of good character.

             (3)  A Workplace Authority Deputy Director holds office for the period specified in the instrument of appointment. The period must not exceed 5 years.

             (4)  A Workplace Authority Deputy Director is to be appointed on a full‑time or part‑time basis.

152C  Remuneration

             (1)  A Workplace Authority Deputy Director is to be paid the remuneration that is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. If no determination of that remuneration by the Tribunal is in operation, a Workplace Authority Deputy Director is to be paid the remuneration that is prescribed.

             (2)  A Workplace Authority Deputy Director is to be paid the allowances that are prescribed.

             (3)  This section has effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.

152D  Leave of absence

             (1)  A full‑time Workplace Authority Deputy Director has the recreation leave entitlements that are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.

             (2)  The Minister may grant a full‑time Workplace Authority Deputy Director leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on the terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise that the Minister determines.

             (3)  The Minister may grant a part‑time Workplace Authority Deputy Director leave of absence on the terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise that the Minister determines.

152E  Other terms and conditions

                   A Workplace Authority Deputy Director holds office on the terms and conditions (if any) in relation to matters not covered by this Act that are determined by the Minister.

152F  Outside employment

             (1)  A full‑time Workplace Authority Deputy Director must not engage in paid employment outside the duties of the Workplace Authority Deputy Director’s office without the Minister’s approval.

             (2)  A part‑time Workplace Authority Deputy Director must not engage in any paid employment that conflicts or may conflict with the proper performance of the Workplace Authority Deputy Director’s duties.

152G  Disclosure of interests

                   A Workplace Authority Deputy Director must give written notice to the Minister of all interests, pecuniary or otherwise, that the Workplace Authority Deputy Director has or acquires that could conflict with the proper performance of the Workplace Authority Deputy Director’s functions.

152H  Resignation

             (1)  A Workplace Authority Deputy Director may resign his or her appointment by giving the Minister a written resignation.

             (2)  The resignation takes effect on the day it is received by the Minister or, if a later day is specified in the resignation, on that later day.

152J  Termination of appointment

             (1)  The Minister may terminate the appointment of a Workplace Authority Deputy Director for misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.

             (2)  The Minister must terminate the appointment of a Workplace Authority Deputy Director if:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Deputy Director:

                              (i)  becomes bankrupt; or

                             (ii)  applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors; or

                            (iii)  compounds with his or her creditors; or

                            (iv)  makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for the benefit of his or her creditors; or

                     (b)  the Workplace Authority Deputy Director is appointed on a full‑time basis and is absent, except on leave of absence, for 14 consecutive days or for 28 days in any 12 months; or

                     (c)  the Workplace Authority Deputy Director is appointed on a full‑time basis and engages, except with the Minister’s approval, in paid employment outside the duties of his or her office; or

                     (d)  the Workplace Authority Deputy Director is appointed on a part‑time basis and engages in paid employment that conflicts or could conflict with the proper performance of the duties of his or her office; or

                     (e)  the Workplace Authority Deputy Director fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 152G.

 

Division 3—Staff, delegations etc.

153A  Staff

                   The staff assisting the Workplace Authority Director in the performance of the Workplace Authority Director’s functions must be persons engaged under the Public Service Act 1999.

153B  Workplace Authority

             (1)  The Workplace Authority is established by this subsection.

             (2)  The Workplace Authority consists of:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Director; and

                     (b)  the Workplace Authority Deputy Directors; and

                     (c)  the staff assisting the Workplace Authority Director.

             (3)  For the purposes of the Public Service Act 1999:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Director and the staff assisting the Workplace Authority Director together constitute a Statutory Agency; and

                     (b)  the Workplace Authority Director is the Head of that Statutory Agency.

153C  Delegation

             (1)  The Workplace Authority Director may, in writing, delegate to a person appointed or employed by the Commonwealth any of the Workplace Authority Director’s powers or functions.

             (2)  In exercising powers or functions under a delegation, the delegate must comply with any directions of the Workplace Authority Director.

 

Division 3A—Workplace Relations Fact Sheet

154A  Workplace Authority Director must issue Workplace Relations Fact Sheet

             (1)  The Workplace Authority Director must, by notice published in the Gazette, issue a document called the Workplace Relations Fact Sheet.

             (2)  The Workplace Relations Fact Sheet must contain the following:

                     (a)  information about the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard;

                     (b)  information about protected award conditions;

                     (c)  information about the fairness test;

                     (d)  information about the role of the Workplace Authority Director and the Workplace Ombudsman.

             (3)  The regulations may prescribe other matters relating to the content, form, or manner of providing the Workplace Relations Fact Sheet.

             (4)  A Workplace Relations Fact Sheet issued under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.

154B  Employer must give a Workplace Relations Fact Sheet to new employees

             (1)  If a person becomes an employee of an employer, the employer must take reasonable steps to ensure that the employee is given a copy of the Workplace Relations Fact Sheet issued under section 154A within the period of 7 days commencing on the day on which the person became an employee of the employer.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

154C  Employer must give a Workplace Relations Fact Sheet to existing employees

             (1)  An employer must take reasonable steps to ensure that each person who is an employee of the employer on the day on which the Workplace Authority Director issues the first Workplace Relations Fact Sheet under section 154A is given a copy of the Workplace Relations Fact Sheet within the period of 3 months commencing on that day.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

154D  Penalties for contravention of civil remedy provisions

             (1)  The Court may make an order imposing a pecuniary penalty on a person who has contravened section 154B or 154C on application by:

                     (a)  a workplace inspector; or

                     (b)  an employee affected by the contravention.

             (2)  The maximum penalty that may be imposed under subsection (1) is 1 penalty unit.

Note:          Division 3 of Part 14 contains other provisions relevant to civil remedies.

 

Division 4—Reporting and disclosing information

Subdivision A—Reporting

163A  Minister may require reports

             (1)  The Minister may, in writing, direct the Workplace Authority Director to give the Minister specified reports relating to the Workplace Authority Director’s functions.

             (2)  The Workplace Authority Director must comply with the direction.

             (3)  A direction made under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.

             (4)  If the report is made in writing, the report is not a legislative instrument.

163B  Annual report

                   The Workplace Authority Director must, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, prepare and give to the Minister, for presentation to the Parliament, a report on the operations of the Workplace Authority during that year.

Note:          See also section 34C of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, which contains extra rules about annual reports.

163C  Reports not to include information relating to an individual’s affairs

             (1)  Information relating to the affairs of an individual must not be included in a report under section 163A or 163B if:

                     (a)  the individual is named, or otherwise specifically identified, in the report as the individual to whom the information relates; or

                     (b)  it is reasonably likely that people generally (other than people to whom the individual has disclosed information relating to the individual’s affairs) would be able to work out the identity of the individual to whom the information relates.

             (2)  For the purposes of applying paragraph (1)(b) to information relating to a particular individual’s affairs, the context in which the information appears, and information that is otherwise publicly available, must be taken into account (as well as any other relevant matter).

Subdivision B—Disclosing information

164A  Disclosure of information by workplace agreement officials

Disclosure that is necessary or appropriate

             (1)  A workplace agreement official may disclose information he or she acquired in the course of exercising powers, or performing functions, as such an official, if he or she considers on reasonable grounds that it is necessary or appropriate to do so in the course of exercising his or her powers, or performing his or her functions, as such an official.

Disclosure to Minister

             (2)  A workplace agreement official may:

                     (a)  provide aggregated statistical information to the Minister; and

                     (b)  give the Minister, in accordance with the regulations, information and copies of documents.

             (3)  Regulations made for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b) may require that documents given to the Minister are given with such deletions as are necessary to prevent the identification of individuals to whom the documents refer.

Disclosure to Workplace Ombudsman and workplace inspectors

             (4)  A workplace agreement official may:

                     (a)  disclose information that relates to the functions of the Workplace Ombudsman to the Workplace Ombudsman in response to requests from the Workplace Ombudsman; and

                     (b)  disclose information that relates to the functions of workplace inspectors to workplace inspectors in response to requests from workplace inspectors; and

                     (c)  disclose information to the Workplace Ombudsman or workplace inspectors that the workplace agreement official considers on reasonable grounds is likely to assist the Workplace Ombudsman or workplace inspectors in performing their functions.

Disclosure authorised by regulations to prescribed persons

             (5)  The regulations may authorise a prescribed workplace agreement official to disclose information of the prescribed kind, to persons of the prescribed kind, for prescribed purposes.

Limits on disclosure

             (6)  Despite subsections (1), (2) and (4), a prescribed workplace agreement official is not authorised by whichever of those subsections is prescribed to disclose information of the prescribed kind, to persons of the prescribed kind, for prescribed purposes.

             (7)  Despite subsections (1), (2) and (5), a workplace agreement official is not authorised by any of those subsections to disclose to the Minister information relating to:

                     (a)  a decision under Division 5A of Part 8 whether a particular workplace agreement passes the fairness test; or

                     (b)  whether that Division requires the Workplace Authority Director to decide whether a particular workplace agreement passes the fairness test.

Relationship with the Privacy Act 1988

             (8)  To avoid doubt, a disclosure in accordance with this section of personal information (within the meaning of the Privacy Act 1988) is taken, for the purposes of that Act, to be authorised by law.

Relationship with section 165

             (9)  To avoid doubt, a disclosure in accordance with this section of protected information (as defined in section 165) is taken, for the purposes of that section, to be permitted by this Act.

165  Identity of parties to AWAs not to be disclosed

             (1)  A person commits an offence if:

                     (a)  the person discloses information; and

                     (b)  the information is protected information; and

                     (c)  the discloser has reasonable grounds to believe that the information will identify another person as being, or having been, a party to an AWA; and

                     (d)  the disclosure is not made by the discloser in the course of performing functions or duties as a workplace agreement official; and

                     (e)  the disclosure is not required or permitted by this Act, by another Act, by regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph or another provision of this Act or by regulations made for the purposes of another Act; and

                      (f)  the person whose identity is disclosed has not, in writing, authorised the disclosure.

Penalty:  Imprisonment for 6 months.

          (1A)  To avoid doubt, a disclosure in accordance with subsection (1) of personal information (within the meaning of the Privacy Act 1988) is taken, for the purposes of that Act, to be authorised by law.

             (2)  In this section:

protected information, in relation to a person, means information that the person acquired:

                     (a)  in the course of performing functions or duties, or exercising powers, as a workplace agreement official; or

                     (b)  from a workplace agreement official who acquired the information as mentioned in paragraph (a).

166  Publication of AWAs etc. by Workplace Authority Director

                   Subject to section 165, the Workplace Authority Director may publish or make available copies of, or extracts from, workplace agreements.

 

Part 5A—Workplace Ombudsman

Division 1—Establishment and functions

166A  Workplace Ombudsman

                   There is to be a Workplace Ombudsman.

166B  Functions of the Workplace Ombudsman

                   The functions of the Workplace Ombudsman are as follows:

                     (a)  to assist employees and employers to understand their rights and obligations under Commonwealth workplace relations legislation;

                     (b)  to promote compliance with Commonwealth workplace relations legislation, including by providing assistance and advice and disseminating information;

                     (c)  to monitor compliance with Commonwealth workplace relations legislation;

                     (d)  to investigate suspected contraventions of Commonwealth workplace relations legislation;

                     (e)  to inquire into any act or practice that may be contrary to Commonwealth workplace relations legislation;

                      (f)  to refer matters to relevant authorities;

                     (g)  to institute proceedings to enforce Commonwealth workplace relations legislation;

                     (h)  to appoint workplace inspectors;

                      (i)  to give, as necessary, directions relating to the exercise or performance of appointed workplace inspectors’ powers or functions;

                      (j)  to represent employees who are, or might become, a party to proceedings under this Act, in situations where the Workplace Ombudsman considers that representing the employees will promote compliance with Commonwealth workplace relations legislation;

                     (k)  any other functions conferred on the Workplace Ombudsman by Commonwealth workplace relations legislation.

Note:          Among other things, the Workplace Ombudsman has the functions of a workplace inspector because section 167 makes the Workplace Ombudsman a workplace inspector.

166C  Minister may give directions to Workplace Ombudsman

             (1)  The Minister may, by legislative instrument, give written directions to the Workplace Ombudsman about the performance of his or her functions.

             (2)  Directions given by the Minister under subsection (1) must be of a general nature only, and cannot relate to a particular case.

             (3)  The Minister must not direct the Workplace Ombudsman in relation to the Workplace Ombudsman’s performance of functions, or exercise of powers, as an Agency Head under the Public Service Act 1999.

             (4)  The Workplace Ombudsman must comply with any direction given by the Minister under subsection (1).

             (5)  Section 42 (Disallowance of legislative instruments) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 applies to a direction given under subsection (1) of this section, despite section 44 of that Act.

 

Division 2—Appointment and terms and conditions

166D  Appointment of Workplace Ombudsman

             (1)  The Workplace Ombudsman is to be appointed by the Governor‑General by written instrument.

             (2)  The Governor‑General must not appoint a person as the Workplace Ombudsman unless the Minister is satisfied that the person:

                     (a)  has suitable qualifications or experience; and

                     (b)  is of good character.

             (3)  The Workplace Ombudsman holds office for the period specified in the instrument of appointment. The period must not exceed 5 years.

             (4)  The Workplace Ombudsman holds office on a full‑time basis.

166E  Remuneration

             (1)  The Workplace Ombudsman is to be paid the remuneration that is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. If no determination of that remuneration by the Tribunal is in operation, the Workplace Ombudsman is to be paid the remuneration that is prescribed.

             (2)  The Workplace Ombudsman is to be paid the allowances that are prescribed.

             (3)  This section has effect subject to the Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973.

166F  Leave of absence

             (1)  The Workplace Ombudsman has the recreation leave entitlements that are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.

             (2)  The Minister may grant the Workplace Ombudsman leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on the terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise that the Minister determines.

166G  Other terms and conditions

                   The Workplace Ombudsman holds office on the terms and conditions (if any) in relation to matters not covered by this Act that are determined by the Governor‑General.

166H  Outside employment

                   The Workplace Ombudsman must not engage in paid employment outside the duties of the Workplace Ombudsman’s office without the Minister’s approval.

166J  Disclosure of interests

                   The Workplace Ombudsman must give written notice to the Minister of all interests, pecuniary or otherwise, that the Workplace Ombudsman has or acquires that could conflict with the proper performance of the Workplace Ombudsman’s functions.

166K  Acting appointments

             (1)  The Minister may appoint a person to act as the Workplace Ombudsman:

                     (a)  during a vacancy in the office of Workplace Ombudsman (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office); or

                     (b)  during any period, or during all periods, when the Workplace Ombudsman is absent from duty or from Australia, or is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.

             (2)  The Minister must not appoint a person to act as the Workplace Ombudsman unless the Minister is satisfied that the person:

                     (a)  has suitable qualifications or experience; and

                     (b)  is of good character.

             (3)  Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act under an appointment is not invalid merely because:

                     (a)  the occasion for the appointment had not arisen; or

                     (b)  there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment; or

                     (c)  the appointment had ceased to have effect; or

                     (d)  the occasion to act had not arisen or had ceased.

166L  Resignation

             (1)  The Workplace Ombudsman may resign his or her appointment by giving the Governor‑General a written resignation.

             (2)  The resignation takes effect on the day it is received by the Governor‑General or, if a later day is specified in the resignation, on that later day.

166M  Termination of appointment

             (1)  The Governor‑General may terminate the appointment of the Workplace Ombudsman for misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.

             (2)  The Governor‑General must terminate the appointment of the Workplace Ombudsman if:

                     (a)  the Workplace Ombudsman:

                              (i)  becomes bankrupt; or

                             (ii)  applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors; or

                            (iii)  compounds with his or her creditors; or

                            (iv)  makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for the benefit of his or her creditors; or

                     (b)  the Workplace Ombudsman is absent, except on leave of absence, for 14 consecutive days or for 28 days in any 12 months; or

                     (c)  the Workplace Ombudsman engages, except with the Minister’s approval, in paid employment outside the duties of his or her office; or

                     (d)  the Workplace Ombudsman fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 166J.

 

Division 3—Staff, delegations etc.

166N  Staff

                   The staff assisting the Workplace Ombudsman in the performance of the Workplace Ombudsman’s functions must be persons engaged under the Public Service Act 1999.

166P  Office of the Workplace Ombudsman

             (1)  The Office of the Workplace Ombudsman is established by this subsection.

             (2)  The Office of the Workplace Ombudsman consists of:

                     (a)  the Workplace Ombudsman; and

                     (b)  the staff assisting the Workplace Ombudsman in the performance of the Workplace Ombudsman’s functions; and

                     (c)  the appointed workplace inspectors.

             (3)  For the purposes of the Public Service Act 1999:

                     (a)  the Workplace Ombudsman and the staff assisting the Workplace Ombudsman in the performance of the Workplace Ombudsman’s functions together constitute a Statutory Agency; and

                     (b)  the Workplace Ombudsman is the Head of that Statutory Agency.

166Q  Delegation

             (1)  The Workplace Ombudsman may, in writing, delegate to an SES employee, or an acting SES employee, in the Office of the Workplace Ombudsman any of the Workplace Ombudsman’s functions and powers under Commonwealth workplace relations legislation.

             (2)  In performing functions or exercising powers under a delegation, the delegate must comply with any directions of the Workplace Ombudsman.

             (3)  Subsection (1) does not apply to the functions and powers of a workplace inspector that the Workplace Ombudsman has because of section 167.

Note:          If the Workplace Ombudsman wants an SES employee, or an acting SES employee, in the Office of the Workplace Ombudsman to have any of the functions or powers of a workplace inspector, the Workplace Ombudsman can appoint the SES employee or acting SES employee as a workplace inspector under section 167.

 

Division 4—Reporting and disclosing information

Subdivision A—Reporting to Minister

166R  Minister may require reports

             (1)  The Minister may, in writing, direct the Workplace Ombudsman to give the Minister specified reports relating to the Workplace Ombudsman’s functions.

Note:          Section 166T restricts the disclosure of personal information in a report.

             (2)  The Workplace Ombudsman must comply with the direction.

             (3)  A direction made under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.

             (4)  If the report is made in writing, the report is not a legislative instrument.

166S  Annual report

                   The Workplace Ombudsman must, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, prepare and give to the Minister, for presentation to the Parliament, a report on the operations of the Office of the Workplace Ombudsman during that year.

Note:          See also section 34C of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, which contains extra rules about annual reports.

166T  Reports not to include information relating to an individual’s affairs

             (1)  Information relating to the affairs of an individual must not be included in a report under section 166R or 166S if:

                     (a)  the individual is named, or otherwise specifically identified, in the report as the individual to whom the information relates; or

                     (b)  it is reasonably likely that people generally (other than people to whom the individual has disclosed information relating to the individual’s affairs) would be able to work out the identity of the individual to whom the information relates.

             (2)  For the purposes of applying paragraph (1)(b) to information relating to a particular individual’s affairs, the context in which the information appears, and information that is otherwise publicly available, must be taken into account (as well as any other relevant matter).

Subdivision B—Disclosing information

166U  Disclosure of information by members of the Office of the Workplace Ombudsman

Disclosure that is necessary or appropriate

             (1)  A member of the Office of the Workplace Ombudsman may disclose information acquired by the member in the course of exercising powers, or performing functions, as such a member (including as a delegate of the Workplace Ombudsman), if the member considers on reasonable grounds that it is necessary or appropriate to do so in the course of exercising his or her powers, or performing his or her functions, as such a member.

Disclosure to migration officer

             (2)  A member of the Office of the Workplace Ombudsman may disclose information to an officer of the Department administered by the Minister who administers the Migration Act 1958 if the member considers on reasonable grounds that the disclosure of the information is likely to assist the officer in the administration of that Act.

Disclosure authorised by regulations to Commonwealth officers

             (3)  The regulations may authorise prescribed members of the Office of the Workplace Ombudsman to disclose information of the prescribed kind, to officers of the Commonwealth of the prescribed kind, for prescribed purposes.

Disclosure to State workplace relations official

             (4)  A member of the Office of the Workplace Ombudsman may disclose information to an officer of a State who has powers, duties or functions that relate to the administration of a workplace relations or other system relating to terms and conditions, or incidents, of employment, if the member considers on reasonable grounds that the disclosure of the information is likely to assist the officer in the administration of that system.

Disclosure to other officials and authorities

             (5)  A member of the Office of the Workplace Ombudsman may disclose information to:

                     (a)  a person employed by, or appointed to an office of, the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or

                     (b)  an authority of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory;

if the member considers on reasonable grounds that the disclosure of the information is likely to assist the person or authority in discharging a responsibility of the person or authority relating to the administration of a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

Relationship with other laws

             (6)  To avoid doubt, a disclosure in accordance with this section of personal information (within the meaning of the Privacy Act 1988) is taken, for the purposes of that Act, to be authorised by law.

166V  Directions about exercise of powers to disclose information

             (1)  The Workplace Ombudsman may, by legislative instrument, give written directions to the members of the Office of Workplace Ombudsman about the disclosure of information under section 166U.

             (2)  Directions given by the Workplace Ombudsman under subsection (1) must be of a general nature only.

             (3)  A member of the Office of Workplace Ombudsman must comply with any direction given by the Workplace Ombudsman under subsection (1).

 

Part 6—Workplace inspectors

  

167  Inspectors

             (1)  There shall be such workplace inspectors as are necessary from time to time.

          (1A)  The Workplace Ombudsman is a workplace inspector by force of this subsection.

             (2)  The Workplace Ombudsman may, by instrument, appoint as a workplace inspector:

                     (a)  a person who has been appointed, or who is employed, by the Commonwealth; or

                     (b)  a person, other than a person mentioned in paragraph (a).

             (3)  A person appointed under paragraph (2)(a) is appointed for the period specified in regulations made for the purposes of this subsection.

             (4)  A person appointed under paragraph (2)(b) is appointed for the period specified in the person’s instrument of appointment, which must not be longer than the period specified in regulations made for the purposes of this subsection.

             (5)  Subject to subsection (6), a workplace inspector has the powers and functions conferred on a workplace inspector by this Act or by the regulations or by another Act.

             (6)  A person appointed under paragraph (2)(b) to be a workplace inspector has only such of the powers and functions mentioned in subsection (5) as are specified in his or her instrument of appointment.

             (7)  In exercising powers or performing functions as a workplace inspector, a workplace inspector appointed under subsection (2) must comply with any directions of the Workplace Ombudsman.

             (8)  If a direction under subsection (7) is of general application, the direction is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

             (9)  If a direction under subsection (7) relates to a particular case, the direction is not a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

168  Identity cards

             (1)  The Workplace Ombudsman may issue to an inspector an identity card in a form approved by the Workplace Ombudsman.

             (2)  An inspector must carry the identity card at all times when exercising powers or performing functions as an inspector.

             (3)  A person commits an offence if:

                     (a)  the person ceases to be a workplace inspector; and

                     (b)  the person does not return the person’s identity card to the Workplace Ombudsman within 14 days of so ceasing.

Penalty:  1 penalty unit.

             (4)  Subsection (3) is an offence of strict liability.

Note:          For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.

169  Powers of inspectors

Purpose for which powers of inspectors can be exercised

             (1)  The powers of a workplace inspector under this section may be exercised:

                     (a)  for the purpose of determining whether any of the following are being, or have been, observed:

                              (i)  workplace agreements;

                             (ii)  awards;

                            (iii)  the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard;

                            (iv)  minimum entitlements and orders under Part 12;

                             (v)  the requirements of this Act and the regulations; or

                     (b)  for the purposes of a provision of the regulations that confers powers or functions on inspectors.

Note:          Workplace determinations are treated for the purposes of the Act as if they were collective agreements (see section 506). Undertakings are treated the same way (see section 394). This means that inspectors also have powers in relation to those instruments.

Powers of inspectors

             (2)  The powers of an inspector are:

                     (a)  to, without force, enter:

                              (i)  premises on which the inspector has reasonable cause to believe that work to which an instrument or entitlement mentioned in subparagraphs (1)(a)(i) to (iv) applies is being or has been performed; or

                             (ii)  a place of business in which the inspector has reasonable cause to believe that there are documents relevant to the purpose set out in subsection (1); and

                     (b)  on premises or in a place referred to in paragraph (a):

                              (i)  to inspect any work, material, machinery, appliance, article or facility; and

                             (ii)  as prescribed, to take samples of any goods or substances; and

                            (iii)  to interview any person; and

                            (iv)  to require a person having the custody of, or access to, a document relevant to that purpose to produce the document to the inspector within a specified period; and

                             (v)  to inspect, and make copies of or take extracts from, a document produced to him or her; and

                            (vi)  to require a person to tell the inspector who has custody of a document; and

                     (c)  to require a person, by notice, to produce a document to the inspector.

Note:          Contravening a requirement under subparagraph (b)(iv) or paragraph (c) may be an offence under section 819.

When may the powers be exercised?

             (3)  An inspector may exercise the powers in subsection (2) at any time during ordinary working hours or at any other time at which it is necessary to do so for the purpose set out in subsection (1).

             (4)  If a person who is required under subparagraph (2)(b)(iv) to produce a document contravenes the requirement, an inspector may, by written notice served on the person, require the person to produce the document at a specified place within a specified period (not being less than 14 days).

Note:          Contravening a requirement under this section to produce a document may be an offence under section 819.

             (5)  Where a document is produced to an inspector under paragraph (2)(c) or subsection (4), the inspector may:

                     (a)  inspect, and make copies of or take extracts from, the document; and

                     (b)  retain the document for such period as is necessary for the purpose of exercising powers or performing functions as an inspector.

             (6)  During the period for which an inspector retains a document, the inspector shall permit the person otherwise entitled to possession of the document, or a person authorised by the person, to inspect, and make copies of or take extracts from, the document at all reasonable times.

Notices under paragraph (2)(c)

             (7)  The notice referred to in paragraph (2)(c) must:

                     (a)  be in writing; and

                     (b)  be served on the person; and

                     (c)  require the person to produce the document at a specified place within a specified period of not less than 14 days.

Service may be effected by sending the notice to the person’s fax number.

Person must produce document even if it may incriminate them

             (8)  A person is not excused from producing a document under this section on the ground that the production of the document may tend to incriminate the person.

Limited use immunity for documents produced

             (9)  If an individual produces a document under this section, the document produced and any information or thing (including any document) obtained as a direct or indirect consequence of the production of the document is not admissible in evidence against the individual in any criminal proceedings unless it is proceedings for an offence against section 819.

           (10)  If an inspector proposing to enter, or being on, premises is required by the occupier to produce evidence of authority, the inspector is not entitled to enter or remain on the premises without producing to the occupier the inspector’s identity card.

In Australia’s exclusive economic zone

           (11)  Subsection (2) extends to premises, and places of business, that:

                     (a)  are in Australia’s exclusive economic zone; and

                     (b)  are owned or occupied by an Australian employer.

This subsection has effect subject to Australia’s obligations under international law concerning jurisdiction over ships that fly the flag of a foreign country and aircraft registered under the law of a foreign country.

On Australia’s continental shelf outside exclusive economic zone

           (12)  Subsection (2) also extends to premises, and places of business, that:

                     (a)  are outside the outer limits of Australia’s exclusive economic zone, but in, on or over a part of Australia’s continental shelf that is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection; and

                     (b)  are connected with the exploration of the continental shelf or the exploitation of its natural resources; and

                     (c)  meet the requirements that are prescribed by the regulations for that part.

Note:          The regulations may prescribe different requirements relating to different parts of Australia’s continental shelf. The regulations may need to do so to give effect to Australia’s international obligations.

 

Part 7—The Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard

Division 1—Preliminary

171  Purpose of Part

             (1)  The purpose of this Part is to set out key minimum entitlements of employment.

             (2)  The key minimum entitlements relate to the following matters:

                     (a)  basic rates of pay and casual loadings (see Division 2);

                     (b)  maximum ordinary hours of work (see Division 3);

                     (c)  annual leave (see Division 4);

                     (d)  personal leave (see Division 5);

                     (e)  parental leave and related entitlements (see Division 6).

             (3)  The provisions of Divisions 2 to 6 constitute the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard.

172  Operation of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard

             (1)  The Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard provides key minimum entitlements of employment for the employees to whom it applies.

             (2)  The Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard prevails over a workplace agreement or a contract of employment that operates in relation to an employee to the extent to which, in a particular respect, the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard provides a more favourable outcome for the employee.

             (3)  A dispute about:

                     (a)  whether the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard provides a more favourable outcome for an employee in a particular respect than a workplace agreement that operates in relation to that employee; or

                     (b)  what the outcome is for an employee in a particular respect under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard, where a workplace agreement operates in relation to that employee;

is to be resolved using the dispute settlement procedure included (or taken to be included) in the agreement.

             (4)  The regulations may prescribe:

                     (a)  what a particular respect is or is not for the purposes of subsection (2) or (3); or

                     (b)  the circumstances in which the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard provides or does not provide a more favourable outcome in a particular respect.

Example 1: The way in which particular amounts of annual leave are accrued could be prescribed as a particular respect under paragraph (4)(a).

Example 2: Both the Standard and a workplace agreement require an employee to attest to certain matters in a statutory declaration made for the purposes of maternity leave. The matters required by the agreement are different in some respects from those set out in the Standard. Regulations made for the purposes of paragraph (4)(b) could prescribe the matters to be attested in a statutory declaration as a circumstance in which the Standard is not taken to provide a more favourable outcome.

173  Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard cannot be excluded

                   A term of a workplace agreement or a contract has no effect to the extent to which it purports to exclude the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard or any part of it.

174  Extraterritorial extension

             (1)  This Part, and the rest of this Act so far as it relates to this Part, extend:

                     (a)  to an employee outside Australia who meets any of the conditions in this section; and

                     (b)  to the employee’s employer (whether the employer is in or outside Australia); and

                     (c)  to acts, omissions, matters and things relating to the employee (whether they are in or outside Australia).

Note:          In this context, Australia includes the Territory of Christmas Island, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the coastal sea. See section 15B and paragraph 17(a) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

In Australia’s exclusive economic zone

             (2)  One condition is that the employee is in Australia’s exclusive economic zone and either:

                     (a)  is an employee of an Australian employer and is not prescribed by the regulations as an employee to whom this subsection does not apply; or

                     (b)  is an employee prescribed by the regulations as an employee to whom this subsection applies.

Note:          The regulations may prescribe the employee by reference to a class. See subsection 13(3) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

On Australia’s continental shelf outside exclusive economic zone

             (3)  Another condition is that the employee:

                     (a)  is outside the outer limits of Australia’s exclusive economic zone, but is in, on or over a part of Australia’s continental shelf that is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection, in connection with the exploration of the continental shelf or the exploitation of its natural resources; and

                     (b)  meets the requirements that are prescribed by the regulations for that part.

Note:          The regulations may prescribe different requirements relating to different parts of Australia’s continental shelf. The regulations may need to do so to give effect to Australia’s international obligations.

Outside Australia’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf

             (4)  Another condition is that the employee:

                     (a)  is neither in Australia’s exclusive economic zone nor in, on or over a part of Australia’s continental shelf described in paragraph (3)(a); and

                     (b)  is an employee of an Australian employer; and

                     (c)  is an Australian‑based employee or bound by a workplace agreement that binds the employer too; and

                     (d)  is not prescribed by the regulations as an employee to whom this subsection does not apply.

             (5)  Another condition is that the employee:

                     (a)  is neither in Australia’s exclusive economic zone nor in, on or over a part of Australia’s continental shelf described in paragraph (3)(a); and

                     (b)  is an Australian‑based employee of an employer that is not an Australian employer; and

                     (c)  is bound by a workplace agreement that binds the employer too; and

                     (d)  is not prescribed by the regulations as an employee to whom this subsection does not apply.

Definition

             (6)  In this section:

this Act includes the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and regulations made under it.

175  Model dispute resolution process

                   The model dispute resolution process applies to a dispute about entitlements under Divisions 3 to 6.

Note:          The model dispute resolution process is set out in Part 13.

 

Division 2—Wages

Subdivision A—Preliminary

176  AFPC’s wage‑setting parameters etc.

                   In exercising any of its powers under this Division, the AFPC must act in accordance with section 23 (AFPC’s wage‑setting parameters).

Note 1:       Any additional considerations or limitations on the exercise of the AFPC’s powers are set out in the various sections of this Division (including sections 177 and 222).

Note 2:       The AFPC must ensure that APCSs do not (after 3 years) continue to contain coverage rules that are described by reference to State or Territory boundaries—see section 206.

177  AFPC to have regard to recommendations of Award Review Taskforce

                   In exercising any of its powers under this Division, the AFPC is to have regard to any relevant recommendations made by the Award Review Taskforce.

178  Definitions

                   In this Division:

APCS means a preserved APCS or a new APCS.

Note:          APCS is short for Australian Pay and Classification Scale.

APCS piece rate employee means an employee in relation to whom the following paragraphs are satisfied:

                     (a)  the employee’s employment is covered by an APCS;

                     (b)  the rate provisions of the APCS determine one or more basic piece rates of pay that apply to the employment of the employee.

basic periodic rate of pay means a rate of pay for a period worked (however the rate is described) that does not include incentive‑based payments and bonuses, loadings, monetary allowances, penalty rates or any other similar separately identifiable entitlements. The meaning of basic periodic rate of pay is also affected by section 210.

Note:          Most of the kinds of entitlement excluded from this definition are allowable award matters (see section 513).

basic piece rate of pay means a piece rate of pay, other than a piece rate of pay that is payable, as an incentive‑based payment or bonus, in addition to a basic periodic rate of pay.

Note:          Incentive‑based payments and bonuses are allowable award matters.

casual loading: the meaning of casual loading is affected by section 210.

casual loading provisions has the meaning given by section 179.

classification has the meaning given by section 180.

coverage provisions means:

                     (a)  for a pre‑reform wage instrument—all provisions (whether of that instrument or of another instrument or law), as in force on the reform comparison day, that would have affected the determination of whether the employment of any particular employee was covered by the instrument on that day; or

                     (b)  for an APCS—provisions of the APCS that determine whether the employment of a particular employee is covered by the APCS.

Note:          For a preserved APCS, the coverage provisions will (at least initially) be the coverage provisions for the pre‑reform wage instrument from which the APCS is derived (see paragraph 208(1)(g)).

covered: for when the employment of a particular employee is covered by a particular APCS, see sections 204 and 205.

current circumstances of employment, in relation to an employee, includes any current circumstance of or relating to the employee’s employment.

default casual loading percentage has the meaning given by subsection 186(1).

derived from: for when a preserved APCS is derived from a particular pre‑reform wage instrument, see subsection 208(2).

employee with a disability means an employee who is qualified for a disability support pension as set out in section 94 or 95 of the Social Security Act 1991, or who would be so qualified but for paragraph 94(1)(e) or 95(1)(c) of that Act.

FMW for an employee: for when there is an FMW for an employee, see section 194.

Note:          FMW is short for Federal Minimum Wage.

frequency of payment provisions means:

                     (a)  for a pre‑reform wage instrument—provisions (whether of that instrument or of another instrument or law), as in force on the reform comparison day, that would have determined the frequency with which an employee covered by the instrument had to be paid; or

                     (b)  for an APCS, a workplace agreement or a contract of employment—provisions of the APCS, workplace agreement or contract that determine the frequency with which an employee covered by the APCS, workplace agreement or contract must be paid.

Note:          For a preserved APCS, the frequency of payment provisions will (at least initially) be the frequency of payment provisions (if any) for the pre‑reform wage instrument from which the APCS is derived (see paragraph 208(1)(f)).

junior employee means an employee who is under the age of 21.

new APCS has the meaning given by subsection 214(1).

piece rate of pay means a rate of pay that is expressed as a rate for a quantifiable output or task (as opposed to being expressed as a rate for a period worked).

Note:          The following are examples of piece rates of pay:

(a)           a rate of pay calculated by reference to number of articles produced;

(b)           a rate of pay calculated by reference to number of kilometres travelled;

(c)           a rate of pay calculated by reference to number of articles delivered;

(d)           a rate of pay calculated by reference to number of articles sold;

(e)           a rate of pay calculated by reference to number of tasks performed.

pre‑reform federal wage instrument means:

                     (a)  an award (as defined in subsection 4(1) of this Act as in force immediately before the reform commencement) as in force immediately before the reform commencement, but not including:

                              (i)  an order under section 120A of this Act as then in force; or

                             (ii)  an award under section 170MX of this Act as then in force; or

                     (b)  sections 552 and 555 of this Act as in force immediately before the reform commencement; or

                     (c)  a law, or a provision of a law, of the Commonwealth, being a law or provision:

                              (i)  as in force immediately before the reform commencement; and

                             (ii)  that is specified, or is of a kind specified, in regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph; or

                     (d)  an instrument made under a law, or a provision of a law, of the Commonwealth, being an instrument:

                              (i)  as in force immediately before the reform commencement; and

                             (ii)  that is specified, or is of a kind specified, in regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph.

Note:          For when regulations made for the purpose of paragraph (c) or (d) may be expressed to take effect, see section 213.

pre‑reform non‑federal wage instrument means a pre‑reform State wage instrument or a pre‑reform Territory wage instrument.

pre‑reform State wage instrument means:

                     (a)  a State award (as defined in subsection 4(1) of this Act as in force immediately before the reform commencement) as in force immediately before the reform commencement; or

                     (b)  a law, or a provision of a law, of a State, being a law or provision:

                              (i)  as in force immediately before the reform commencement; and

                             (ii)  that entitled employees, or a particular class of employees, to payment of a particular rate of pay; or

                     (c)  a law, or a provision of a law, of a State, being a law or provision:

                              (i)  as in force immediately before the reform commencement; and

                             (ii)  that is specified, or is of a kind specified, in regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph; or

                     (d)  an instrument made under a law, or a provision of a law, of a State, being an instrument:

                              (i)  as in force immediately before the reform commencement; and

                             (ii)  that is specified, or is of a kind specified, in regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph.

Note:          For when regulations made for the purpose of paragraph (c) or (d) may be expressed to take effect, see section 213.

pre‑reform Territory wage instrument means:

                     (a)  a law, or a provision of a law, of a Territory, being a law or provision:

                              (i)  as in force immediately before the reform commencement; and

                             (ii)  that entitled employees, or a particular class of employees, to payment of a particular rate of pay; or

                     (b)  a law, or a provision of a law, of a Territory, being a law or provision:

                              (i)  as in force immediately before the reform commencement; and

                             (ii)  that is specified, or is of a kind specified, in regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph; or

                     (c)  an instrument made under a law, or a provision of a law, of a Territory, being an instrument:

                              (i)  as in force immediately before the reform commencement; and

                             (ii)  that is specified, or is of a kind specified, in regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph.

Note:          For when regulations made for the purpose of paragraph (b) or (c) may be expressed to take effect, see section 213.

pre‑reform wage instrument means a pre‑reform federal wage instrument or a pre‑reform non‑federal wage instrument.

preserved APCS has the meaning given by subsection 208(1).

pro‑rata disability pay method means a method for determining a rate of pay for employees with a disability, being a method that determines the rate by reference to the relative capacities of those employees.

rate provisions has the meaning given by section 181.

reform comparison day means the day before the day on which the reform commencement occurs.

special FMW has the meaning given by section 197.

standard FMW has the meaning given by section 195.

179  Meaning of casual loading provisions

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, casual loading provisions, of a pre‑reform wage instrument or an APCS, are provisions of the instrument or APCS that determine a casual loading payable to an employee, or an employee of a particular classification, in addition to a basic periodic rate of pay.

             (2)  The means by which such provisions may determine a casual loading include the following, or any combination of any of the following:

                     (a)  direct specification of the loading;

                     (b)  identification of the loading by reference to other provisions (whether or not of the same instrument or APCS);

                     (c)  direct specification, or identification by reference to other provisions (whether or not of the same instrument or APCS), of a method for calculating the loading.

             (3)  Subject to the regulations, a method referred to in subsection (2) may provide for a person or body to determine a loading in a particular way. For the purposes of this Division, a loading determined by the person or body in that way is taken to be a loading determined by the provisions that specify or identify the method.

180  Meaning of classification

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, a classification of employees is a classification or category of employees, however described in the pre‑reform wage instrument or APCS concerned.

             (2)  A classification or category of employees may be described by reference to matters including (but not limited to) any of the following, or any combination of any of the following:

                     (a)  the nature of work performed by employees;

                     (b)  the skills or qualifications of employees;

                     (c)  the level of responsibility or experience of employees;

                     (d)  whether employees are junior employees, or a particular class of junior employees;

                     (e)  whether employees are employees with a disability, or are a particular class of employees with a disability;

                      (f)  whether employees are employees to whom training arrangements, or are a particular class of employees to whom training arrangements, apply.

181  Meaning of rate provisions

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, rate provisions, of a pre‑reform wage instrument or an APCS, are provisions of the instrument or APCS that determine a basic periodic rate of pay, or basic piece rates of pay, payable to an employee, or an employee of a particular classification.

             (2)  The means by which such provisions may determine a basic periodic rate of pay, or a basic piece rate of pay, include the following, or any combination of any of the following:

                     (a)  direct specification of a rate;

                     (b)  identification of a rate by reference to other provisions (whether or not of the same instrument or APCS);

                     (c)  direct specification, or identification by reference to other provisions (whether or not of the same instrument or APCS), of a method for calculating a rate.

             (3)  Subject to the regulations, a method referred to in subsection (2) may provide for a person or body to determine a rate in a particular way. For the purposes of this Division, a rate determined by the person or body in that way is taken to be a rate determined by the provisions that specify or identify the method.

Subdivision B—Guarantee of basic rates of pay

182  The guarantee

Guarantee of APCS basic periodic rates of pay

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  the employment of an employee is covered by an APCS; and

                     (b)  the employee is not an APCS piece rate employee;

the employee must be paid a basic periodic rate of pay for each of the employee’s guaranteed hours (pro‑rated for part hours) that is at least equal to the basic periodic rate of pay (the guaranteed basic periodic rate of pay) that is payable to the employee under the APCS.

Note:          For what are the employee’s guaranteed hours, see section 183.

Guarantee of APCS piece rates of pay

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  the employment of an employee is covered by an APCS; and

                     (b)  the employee is an APCS piece rate employee;

the employee must be paid basic piece rates of pay for his or her work that are at least equal to the basic piece rates of pay (the guaranteed basic piece rates of pay) that are payable to the employee under the APCS.

Guarantee of standard FMW

             (3)  If:

                     (a)  the employment of an employee is not covered by an APCS; and

                     (b)  the employee is not a junior employee, an employee with a disability, or an employee to whom a training arrangement applies;

the employee must be paid a basic periodic rate of pay for each of the employee’s guaranteed hours (pro‑rated for part hours) that is at least equal to the standard FMW (the guaranteed basic periodic rate of pay).

Note:          For what are the employee’s guaranteed hours, see section 183.

Guarantee of special FMW

             (4)  If:

                     (a)  the employment of an employee is not covered by an APCS; and

                     (b)  the employee is a junior employee, an employee with a disability, or an employee to whom a training arrangement applies; and

                     (c)  there is a special FMW for the employee;

the employee must be paid a basic periodic rate of pay for each of the employee’s guaranteed hours (pro‑rated for part hours) that is at least equal to that special FMW (the guaranteed basic periodic rate of pay).

Note:          For what are the employee’s guaranteed hours, see section 183.

183  An employee’s guaranteed hours for the purpose of section 182

Employees employed to work a specified number of hours

             (1)  For the purposes of section 182, if an employee is employed to work a specified number of hours per week, the guaranteed hours for the employee, for each week, are to be worked out as follows:

                     (a)  start with that specified number of hours (subject to subsection (4));

                     (b)  deduct all of the following:

                              (i)  any hours in the week when the employee is absent from work on deductible authorised leave (as defined in subsection (6));

                             (ii)  any hours in the week in relation to which the employer is prohibited by section 507 from making a payment to the employee;

                            (iii)  any other hours of unauthorised absence from work by the employee in the week;

                            (iv)  any hours in the week when the employee is stood down (but only if the stand down is an authorised stand down);

                     (c)  if, during the week, the employee works, and is required or requested to work, additional hours that are, under the terms and conditions of the employee’s employment, not counted towards the specified number of hours—add on those additional hours.

Note:          The actual hours worked from week to week by an employee who is employed to work a specified number of hours per week may vary, due to averaging as mentioned in section 226 or to some other kind of flexible working hours scheme that applies to the employee’s employment.

             (2)  If an employee is employed on a full‑time basis, but the terms and conditions of the employee’s employment do not determine the number of hours in a period that is to constitute employment on a full‑time basis for the employee, the employee is, for the purpose of subsection (1), taken to be employed to work 38 hours per week.

             (3)  If an employee is employed to work a specified number (the number of non‑week specified hours) of hours per period (the non‑week period), but that period is not a week (for example, it is a fortnight), then, for the purpose of subsection (1), the employee is taken to be employed to work the number of hours per week determined, subject to the regulations (if any), in accordance with the formula:

             (4)  If:

                     (a)  subsection (1) applies to the employment of an employee to whom a training arrangement applies; and

                     (b)  an APCS includes provisions that determine, in relation to the employee’s employment, that hours attending off‑the‑job training (including hours attending an educational institution) are hours for which a basic periodic rate of pay is payable; and

                     (c)  the hours that would otherwise be the specified number of hours referred to in subsection (1) for the employee for a week do not include all the hours (the paid training hours) in the week that the APCS so determines are hours for which a basic periodic rate of pay is payable;

subsection (1) applies as if the specified number of hours were increased to such number of hours as includes all the paid training hours.

Employees not employed to work a specified number of hours

             (5)  For the purpose of section 182, if subsection (1) of this section does not apply to the employment of an employee, the guaranteed hours for the employee are the hours that the employee both is required or requested to work, and does work, for the employer, less any period in relation to which the employer is prohibited by section 507 from making a payment to the employee.

Definitions

             (6)  In this section:

deductible authorised leave means leave, or an absence, whether paid or unpaid, that is authorised:

                     (a)  by an employee’s employer; or

                     (b)  by or under a term or condition of an employee’s employment; or

                     (c)  by or under a law, or an instrument in force under a law, of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory;

but not including any leave or absence:

                     (d)  that is on a public holiday and that is so authorised because the day is a public holiday; or

                     (e)  any leave or absence that is authorised in order for the employee to attend paid training hours (within the meaning of paragraph (4)(c)) of off‑the‑job training.

hour includes a part of an hour.

Note:          An employee’s guaranteed hours may therefore be a number of hours and part of an hour.

public holiday means:

                     (a)  a day declared by or under a law of a State or Territory to be observed generally within the State or Territory, or a region of that State or Territory, as a public holiday by people who work in that State, Territory or region, other than:

                              (i)  a union picnic day; or

                             (ii)  a day, or kind of day, that is excluded by regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph from counting as a public holiday; or

                     (b)  a day that, under (or in accordance with a procedure under) a law of a State or Territory, or an award or workplace agreement, is substituted for a day referred to in paragraph (a).

184  Modified operation of section 182 to continue effect of Supported Wage System for certain employees with a disability

             (1)  This section applies to the employment of an employee with a disability if:

                     (a)  subsection 182(1) applies (disregarding this section) to the employment of the employee; and

                     (b)  the APCS that covers the employee’s employment does not determine the basic periodic rate of pay for the employee as a rate that is specific to employees with disabilities; and

                     (c)  the employee is eligible for the Supported Wage System; and

                     (d)  the employee’s employment is covered by a workplace agreement; and

                     (e)  the workplace agreement provides for the payment of a basic periodic rate of pay to the employee at a rate that is not less than the rate (the SWS‑compliant rate of pay) set in accordance with the Supported Wage System.

Note:          The Supported Wage System was endorsed by the Commission in the Full Bench decision dated 10 October 1994 (print L5723).

             (2)  If this section applies to the employment of the employee, subsection 182(1) has effect as if the guaranteed basic periodic rate of pay under that subsection for the employment of the employee were instead a rate equal to the SWS‑compliant rate of pay.

Subdivision C—Guarantee of casual loadings

185  The guarantee

             (1)  This section applies to a casual employee for whom, under section 182, there is a guaranteed basic periodic rate of pay, other than a casual employee in relation to whom the following paragraphs are satisfied:

                     (a)  subsection 182(1) applies to the employee;

                     (b)  the APCS that covers the employment of the employee does not contain casual loading provisions under which a casual loading is payable to the employee;

                     (c)  the employee’s employment is not covered by a workplace agreement.

             (2)  The casual employee must be paid, in addition to his or her actual basic periodic rate of pay, a casual loading that is at least equal to the guaranteed casual loading percentage of that actual basic periodic rate of pay.

Note:          The employee’s actual basic periodic rate of pay should at least equal the guaranteed basic periodic rate of pay under section 182.

             (3)  The guaranteed casual loading percentage is as set out in the following table:

 

Item	In this situation …	the guaranteed casual loading percentage is …
1	if: (a) subsection 182(1) applies to the employment of the employee; and (b) the employee’s employment is not covered by a workplace agreement; and (c) subsection 399(1) is not operating in relation to the employee’s employment;	the percentage that is the casual loading payable to the employee under casual loading provisions of the APCS referred to in subsection 182(1).
2	if: (a) subsection 182(1) applies to the employment of the employee; and (b) the employee’s employment is not covered by a workplace agreement; and (c) subsection 399(1) is operating in relation to the employee’s employment;	the higher of: (a) the percentage that is the casual loading payable to the employee under casual loading provisions of the APCS referred to in subsection 182(1); and (b) the default casual loading percentage.
3	if: (a) subsection 182(1) applies to the employment of the employee; and (b) the employee’s employment is covered by a workplace agreement;	the default casual loading percentage.
4	if subsection 182(3) or (4) applies to the employment of the employee	the default casual loading percentage.

186  Default casual loading percentage

             (1)  The default casual loading percentage is 20%, subject to the power of the AFPC to adjust the percentage.

             (2)  Any adjustment of the default casual loading percentage must be such that the adjusted rate is still expressed as a percentage.

187  Adjustment of default casual loading percentage

             (1)  The AFPC may adjust the default casual loading percentage.

             (2)  The power to adjust the default casual loading percentage is subject to:

                     (a)  sections 176 and 177; and

                     (b)  subsection 186(2); and

                     (c)  section 188; and

                     (d)  section 192; and

                     (e)  section 222.

188  Only one default casual loading percentage

                   The AFPC must ensure that there is only ever one default casual loading percentage at any one time.

Subdivision D—Guarantee of frequency of payment

189  The guarantee

APCS applies and contains frequency of payment provisions

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  the employment of an employee is covered by an APCS; and

                     (b)  the APCS contains frequency of payment provisions that apply in relation to the employee’s employment;

then:

                     (c)  if a workplace agreement that covers the employment of the employee contains frequency of payment provisions:

                              (i)  that apply in relation to the employee’s employment; and

                             (ii)  that provide for payments in respect of periods of one month or less;

                            the employer must comply with those provisions in relation to the employee; or

                     (d)  if paragraph (c) does not apply, and the employee’s contract of employment contains frequency of payment provisions:

                              (i)  that apply in relation to the employee’s employment; and

                             (ii)  that provide for payments in respect of periods of one month or less;

                            the employer must comply with those provisions in relation to the employee; or

                     (e)  if neither paragraph (c) nor (d) applies—the employer must comply with the frequency of payment provisions of the APCS in relation to the employee.

APCS applies but does not contain frequency of payment provisions

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  the employment of an employee is covered by an APCS; but

                     (b)  the APCS does not contain frequency of payment provisions that apply in relation to the employee’s employment;

then:

                     (c)  if a workplace agreement that covers the employment of the employee contains frequency of payment provisions that apply in relation to the employee’s employment—the employer must comply with those provisions in relation to the employee; or

                     (d)  if paragraph (c) does not apply, and the employee’s contract of employment contains frequency of payment provisions that apply in relation to the employee’s employment—the employer must comply with those provisions in relation to the employee; or

                     (e)  if neither paragraph (c) nor (d) applies—the employer must pay the employee on the basis of fortnightly payments in arrears.

Other situations

             (3)  If the employment of an employee is not covered by an APCS, then:

                     (a)  if a workplace agreement that covers the employment of the employee contains frequency of payment provisions that apply in relation to the employee’s employment—the employer must comply with those provisions in relation to the employee; or

                     (b)  if paragraph (a) does not apply, and the employee’s contract of employment contains frequency of payment provisions that apply in relation to the employee’s employment—the employer must comply with those provisions in relation to the employee; or

                     (c)  if neither paragraph (a) nor (b) applies—the employer must pay the employee on the basis of fortnightly payments in arrears.

Subdivision E—Guarantee against reductions below pre‑reform commencement rates

190  The guarantee where only basic periodic rates of pay are involved

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  the AFPC proposes to exercise any of the following powers (subject to subsection (4)):

                              (i)  adjusting the standard FMW;

                             (ii)  adjusting a preserved APCS;

                            (iii)  determining or adjusting a new APCS;

                            (iv)  revoking a preserved or new APCS; and

                     (b)  immediately after the exercise of the power takes effect, there will, under section 182, be a guaranteed basic periodic rate of pay (the resulting guaranteed basic periodic rate) for a particular employee affected by the exercise of the power; and

                     (c)  immediately after the reform commencement (and after any relevant adjustments mentioned in sections 209 to 212 took effect), there would, under section 182, have been a guaranteed basic periodic rate of pay (the commencement guaranteed basic periodic rate) for the employee if the employee had at that time been in his or her current circumstances of employment.

             (2)  The AFPC must ensure that the result of the exercise of the power, so far as it affects the employee, is such that the resulting guaranteed basic periodic rate of pay for the employee will not be less than the commencement guaranteed basic periodic rate of pay for the employee.

             (3)  In applying this section in relation to a particular exercise of a power by the AFPC, the effect of any other exercise of a power by the AFPC that takes effect at the same time must also be taken into account.

             (4)  This section does not limit the AFPC’s power to make APCSs for the purpose of section 220 or 221, or to adjust APCSs made for the purpose of either of those sections.

191  The guarantee where basic piece rates of pay are involved

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  the AFPC proposes to exercise any of the following powers (subject to subsection (4)):

                              (i)  adjusting the standard FMW;

                             (ii)  adjusting a preserved APCS;

                            (iii)  determining or adjusting a new APCS;

                            (iv)  revoking a preserved or new APCS; and

                     (b)  either or both of the following subparagraphs apply in relation to a particular employee who will be affected by the exercise of the power:

                              (i)  immediately after the exercise of the power takes effect, there will, under section 182, be guaranteed basic piece rates of pay for the employee;

                             (ii)  immediately after the reform commencement (and after any relevant adjustments mentioned in sections 209 to 212 took effect), there would, under section 182, have been guaranteed basic piece rates of pay for the employee if the employee had at that time been in his or her current circumstances of employment.

             (2)  The AFPC must exercise the power in a way that it considers will not result in an employee of average capacity, after the exercise of the power takes effect, being entitled to less basic pay per week than he or she would have been entitled to because of this Division immediately after the reform commencement if the employee had at that time been in his or her current circumstances of employment.

             (3)  In applying this section in relation to a particular exercise of a power by the AFPC, the effect of any other exercise of a power by the AFPC that takes effect at the same time must also be taken into account.

             (4)  This section does not limit the AFPC’s power to make APCSs for the purpose of section 220 or 221, or to adjust APCSs made for the purpose of either of those sections.

192  The guarantee for casual loadings that apply to basic periodic rates of pay

             (1)  This section applies in relation to the exercise by the AFPC of any of the following powers:

                     (a)  adjusting a preserved APCS;

                     (b)  determining or adjusting a new APCS;

                     (c)  revoking a preserved or new APCS;

                     (d)  adjusting the default casual loading percentage.

             (2)  The AFPC must ensure that the result of the exercise of the power, so far as it affects any particular employee to whom this Division applies (other than an employee who will, after the exercise of the power, be an APCS piece rate employee), is such that the resulting guaranteed casual loading percentage for the employee will not be less than the commencement guaranteed casual loading percentage for the employee.

             (3)  For the purposes of subsection (2):

                     (a)  the resulting guaranteed casual loading percentage for the employee is the guaranteed casual loading percentage referred to in section 185 for the employee, as it will be immediately after the exercise of the power takes effect; and

                     (b)  subject to subsection (4), the commencement guaranteed casual loading percentage for the employee is the percentage that, immediately after the reform commencement (and after any relevant adjustments mentioned in sections 209 to 212 took effect), would have been the guaranteed casual loading percentage referred to in section 185 for the employee if the employee had, at that time, been in his or her current circumstances of employment.

             (4)  If:

                     (a)  the employee is a casual employee; and

                     (b)  the resulting guaranteed casual loading percentage is the default casual loading percentage because of item 3 of the table in subsection 185(3);

the commencement guaranteed casual loading percentage for the employee is taken to be the default casual loading percentage, as it was immediately after the reform commencement.

             (5)  In applying this section in relation to a particular exercise of a power by the AFPC, the effect of any other exercise of a power by the AFPC that takes effect at the same time must also be taken into account.

Subdivision F—The guarantee against reductions below Federal Minimum Wages (FMWs)

193  The guarantee

             (1)  Subject to subsection (3), when exercising its power to make an APCS, or to adjust an APCS, the AFPC must ensure that the rate provisions in the APCS are such that the resulting APCS basic periodic rate of pay for each employee:

                     (a)  whose employment will be covered by the APCS immediately after the exercise of the power; and

                     (b)  for whom there will be an FMW immediately after the exercise of the power; and

                     (c)  who will not be an APCS piece rate employee immediately after the exercise of the power;

is not less than that FMW.

Note 1:       This section does not apply to rates determined by rate provisions as initially included in a preserved APCS from a pre‑reform wage instrument as mentioned paragraph 208(1)(a). However, this section does apply to any subsequent adjustment of those rate provisions, or to any new APCS that replaces the preserved APCS.

Note 2:       See also section 207 (deeming APCS rates to at least equal FMW rates after first exercise of powers under this Division by the AFPC).

             (2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), the resulting APCS basic periodic rate of pay for an employee is the basic periodic rate of pay that will be payable to the employee under the APCS immediately after the exercise of the power by the AFPC takes effect.

             (3)  The requirement in subsection (1) does not apply in relation to a special FMW unless the determination of the special FMW includes a statement to the effect that the special FMW is a minimum standard for all APCSs, for a class of APCSs that includes the APCS or for the particular APCS (see section 198).

             (4)  In applying this section in relation to a particular exercise of a power by the AFPC, the effect of any other exercise of a power by the AFPC that takes effect at the same time must also be taken into account.

Subdivision G—Federal Minimum Wages (FMWs)

194  When is there an FMW for an employee?

             (1)  There is an FMW for an employee if the employee is not:

                     (a)  a junior employee; or

                     (b)  an employee with a disability; or

                     (c)  an employee to whom a training arrangement applies; or

                     (d)  an APCS piece rate employee.

The FMW for the employee is the standard FMW.

             (2)  There is an FMW for a junior employee (other than an APCS piece rate employee) if the AFPC has determined a special FMW that applies to all junior employees, or to a class of junior employees that includes the employee. The FMW for the employee is that special FMW.

             (3)  There is an FMW for an employee with a disability (other than an APCS piece rate employee) if the AFPC has determined a special FMW that applies to all employees with a disability, or to a class of employees with a disability that includes the employee. The FMW for the employee is that special FMW.

             (4)  There is an FMW for an employee to whom a training arrangement applies (other than an APCS piece rate employee) if the AFPC has determined a special FMW that applies to all employees to whom training arrangements apply, or to a class of employees to whom training arrangements apply that includes the employee. The FMW for the employee is that special FMW.

195  Standard FMW

             (1)  The standard FMW is $12.75 per hour, subject to the power of the AFPC to adjust the standard FMW.

             (2)  Any adjustment of the standard FMW must be such that the adjusted rate is still expressed as a monetary amount per hour.

196  Adjustment of standard FMW

             (1)  The AFPC may adjust the standard FMW.

             (2)  The power to adjust the standard FMW is subject to:

                     (a)  sections 176 and 177; and

                     (b)  section 190; and

                     (c)  section 191; and

                     (d)  subsection 195(2); and

                     (e)  section 222.

197  Determination of special FMWs

                   The AFPC may determine a special FMW for any of the following:

                     (a)  all junior employees, or a class of junior employees;

                     (b)  all employees with a disability, or a class of employees with a disability;

                     (c)  all employees to whom training arrangements apply, or a class of employees to whom training arrangements apply.

198  AFPC to state whether special FMW is a minimum standard for APCSs

             (1)  When determining a special FMW, the AFPC must consider whether the FMW is to operate as a minimum standard for all, or one or more, APCSs.

             (2)  If the AFPC considers that the special FMW should operate as a minimum standard for all APCSs, the AFPC must, in the instrument determining the special FMW, include a statement to that effect.

             (3)  If the AFPC considers that the special FMW should operate as a minimum standard for one or more (but not all) APCSs, the AFPC must, in the instrument determining the special FMW, include a statement to that effect that identifies those APCSs, whether by description of a class or identification of the particular APCS or APCSs.

             (4)  If the AFPC considers that the special FMW should not operate as a minimum standard for any APCS, the AFPC must, in the instrument determining the special FMW, include a statement to that effect.

199  How a special FMW is to be expressed

             (1)  A special FMW is to be expressed in a way that produces a monetary amount per hour.

             (2)  The means by which a special FMW may be expressed to produce a monetary amount per hour include:

                     (a)  specification of a monetary amount per hour; or

                     (b)  specification of a method for calculating a monetary amount per hour.

             (3)  Any adjustment of a special FMW must be such that the adjusted special FMW still complies with this section.

200  Adjustment of a special FMW

             (1)  The AFPC may adjust a special FMW.

             (2)  The power to adjust a special FMW is subject to:

                     (a)  sections 176 and 177; and

                     (b)  section 199; and

                     (c)  section 222.

             (3)  The AFPC may adjust statements of a kind mentioned in section 198 that are included in the instrument determining the special FMW.

Subdivision H—Australian Pay and Classification Scales (APCSs): general provisions

201  What is an APCS?

             (1)  An APCS is a set of provisions relating to pay and loadings for particular employees that complies with this Subdivision.

             (2)  An APCS is either:

                     (a)  a preserved APCS (see section 208); or

                     (b)  a new APCS (see section 214).

202  What must or may be in an APCS?

             (1)  An APCS must contain:

                     (a)  either or both of the following:

                              (i)  rate provisions determining basic periodic rates of pay for employees whose employment is covered by the APCS;

                             (ii)  rate provisions determining basic piece rates of pay for employees whose employment is covered by the APCS; and

                     (b)  if the rate provisions determine different rates of pay for employees of different classifications—provisions describing those classifications; and

                     (c)  coverage provisions.

             (2)  An APCS may also contain:

                     (a)  casual loading provisions determining casual loadings for employees whose employment is covered by the APCS and for whom there are not basic piece rates of pay; and

                     (b)  if the casual loading provisions determine different casual loadings for employees of different classifications—provisions describing those classifications; and

                     (c)  provisions that determine, in relation to employees to whom training arrangements apply, whether hours attending off‑the‑job training (including hours attending an educational institution) are hours for which a basic periodic rate of pay is payable; and

                     (d)  frequency of payment provisions; and

                     (e)  other incidental provisions.

             (3)  Subject to subsection 208(4), rate provisions or casual loading provisions in an APCS must not include provisions under which a rate or casual loading provided for by the APCS will or may be increased by operation of the provisions and without anyone having to take any other action.

Note:          This does not prevent an APCS, or an adjustment of an APCS, from being expressed to take effect at a future date. However, it does prevent an APCS from containing provisions under which (for example):

(a)           there will be one or more specified increases of a rate or loading at a specified future time or times; or

(b)           rates of pay or loading are indexed periodically.

             (4)  The AFPC must not include in a new APCS, or adjust a preserved or new APCS so that it includes, provisions that:

                     (a)  determine whether an employer who acquires a business (whether by transfer or in some other way) is covered by the APCS; or

                     (b)  give a person or body a power to make a decision that affects whether a person is covered by the APCS; or

                     (c)  give the Commission a direct or indirect role in determining a rate of pay or loading.

Note:          A preserved APCS may contain provisions referred to in subsection (4) that were contained in the pre‑reform wage instrument from which the APCS is derived, but the effect of those provisions is limited by sections 204 and 209.

             (5)  An APCS must not contain any provisions that purport to limit the duration of the APCS.

             (6)  Subject to the regulations, an APCS must not contain any other provisions.

203  How pay rates and loadings are to be expressed in an APCS

             (1)  Rate provisions in an APCS must be such that basic periodic rates of pay determined by the provisions are expressed as a monetary amount per hour.

             (2)  Rate provisions in an APCS must be such that basic piece rates of pay determined by the provisions are expressed as a monetary amount.

             (3)  Casual loading provisions in an APCS must be such that casual loadings determined by the provisions are expressed as percentages to be applied to basic periodic rates of pay.

             (4)  The AFPC must ensure these rules are complied with in exercising its powers to adjust a preserved APCS or make or adjust a new APCS.

204  When is employment covered by an APCS?

             (1)  The question whether the employment of a particular employee is covered by a particular APCS is to be determined by reference to the coverage provisions of the APCS.

             (2)  If coverage provisions of a preserved APCS include provisions that determine whether an employer who acquires a business (whether by transfer or in some other way) is covered by the APCS, those provisions only have effect, for the purpose of determining whether the employment of a particular employee is covered by the APCS, in relation to acquisitions of businesses that occurred before the reform commencement.

             (3)  If coverage provisions of a preserved APCS include provisions that give a person or body a power to make a decision that affects whether a person is covered by the APCS, those provisions only have effect, for the purpose of determining whether the employment of a particular employee is covered by the APCS, in relation to decisions made by the person or body before the reform commencement.

205  What if 2 or more APCSs would otherwise cover an employee?

             (1)  If, but for this section, 2 or more APCSs would cover the employment of the same employee, the employment of the employee is taken to be covered only by the APCS that prevails.

             (2)  Apply the following rules to work out which APCS prevails:

                     (a)  the preserved APCS derived from the pre‑reform federal wage instrument referred to in paragraph (b) of the definition of pre‑reform federal wage instrument in section 178 (as that preserved APCS is adjusted from time to time) prevails over any other APCS;

                     (b)  subject to paragraph (a), an APCS made in accordance with Subdivision M (as that APCS is adjusted from time to time) prevails over any other APCS;

                     (c)  subject to paragraphs (a) and (b):

                              (i)  a new APCS prevails over a preserved APCS; and

                             (ii)  a preserved APCS that is derived from a pre‑reform federal wage instrument prevails over a preserved APCS that is derived from a pre‑reform non‑federal wage instrument;

                     (d)  subject to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c):

                              (i)  as between 2 or more APCSs that are made or adjusted on different days, the APCS that is made or adjusted on the more recent day prevails; and

                             (ii)  as between 2 or more APCSs that are made or adjusted on the same day, the APCS that is more generous to the employee prevails.

             (3)  For the purpose of this section, all preserved APCSs are taken to have been made on the day on which the reform commencement occurs.

206  AFPC to remove coverage rules described by reference to State or Territory boundaries

             (1)  The AFPC must (through exercise of its powers to adjust, revoke and make APCSs) ensure that, by the end of the period of 3 years starting on the reform commencement, all APCSs comply with the following rules:

                     (a)  the question whether the employment of a particular employee is covered by an APCS must not be determined by reference to State or Territory boundaries;

                     (b)  the question whether a particular employee is entitled to a particular basic periodic rate of pay, basic piece rate of pay, or casual loading provided for by an APCS must not be determined by reference to State or Territory boundaries.

             (2)  In complying with this obligation, the AFPC must do so in a way that also complies with the rest of this Division, including (in particular) sections 190, 191, 192 and 193.

207  Deeming APCS rates to at least equal FMW rates after first exercise of AFPC’s powers takes effect

             (1)  This section applies at all times after the first exercise of powers by the AFPC under this Division takes effect. If the first exercise of powers involves the exercise of powers taking effect at different times, this section applies at all times after the earliest of those times.

             (2)  Subject to subsection (3), if:

                     (a)  there is an FMW for an employee at a particular time when this section applies; and

                     (b)  an APCS that covers the employment of the employee determines a basic periodic rate of pay for the employee at that time that is less than that FMW;

the basic periodic rate of pay determined by the APCS for the employee at that time is taken to be equal to the rate that is the FMW for the employee at that time.

Note:          This subsection ensures that the employee will, under subsection 182(1), be guaranteed a rate that equals the FMW rate, rather than the lower APCS rate.

             (3)  Subsection (2) does not apply in relation to a special FMW and a particular APCS unless the determination of the special FMW includes a statement to the effect that the special FMW is a minimum standard for all APCSs, for a class of APCSs that includes the APCS or for the particular APCS (see section 198).

Subdivision I—Australian Pay and Classification Scales: preserved APCSs

208  Deriving preserved APCSs from pre‑reform wage instruments

             (1)  If a pre‑reform wage instrument contains rate provisions determining one or more basic periodic rates of pay, or basic piece rates of pay, payable to employees, then, from the reform commencement, there is taken to be a preserved APCS that includes (subject to this Subdivision):

                     (a)  those rate provisions; and

                     (b)  if those rate provisions determine different basic periodic rates of pay, or different basic piece rates of pay, for employees of different classifications—the provisions of the instrument that describe those classifications; and

                     (c)  any casual loading provisions of the instrument that determine casual loadings payable to employees, other than employees for whom the instrument provides basic piece rates of pay; and

                     (d)  if the casual loading provisions determine different casual loadings for employees of different classifications—the provisions of the instrument that describe those classifications; and

                     (e)  any provisions of the instrument that determine, in relation to employees to whom training arrangements apply, whether hours attending off‑the‑job training (including hours attending an educational institution) count as hours for which a basic periodic rate of pay is payable; and

                      (f)  any frequency of payment provisions for the instrument; and

                     (g)  the coverage provisions for the instrument.

             (2)  The preserved APCS is derived from the pre‑reform wage instrument.

             (3)  Subject to subsection (4) and the regulations, the preserved APCS is taken not to include any provision of the pre‑reform wage instrument which, after the adjustments referred to in sections 209 to 212 take effect, will not comply with the requirements of sections 202 and 203.

Note:          For when regulations made for the purpose of subsection (3) may be expressed to take effect, see section 213.

             (4)  If:

                     (a)  the rate provisions referred to in paragraph (1)(a) include pay increases for particular employees, determined before the reform commencement, that are expressed to take effect at a time or times after the reform commencement; and

                     (b)  those increases were determined by the Commission, or by a State industrial authority, wholly or partly on the ground of work value change or pay equity;

then (despite subsection 202(3)), the preserved APCS is taken to include provisions under which those increases will take effect for those employees at that time or those times.

             (5)  The adjustments referred to in sections 209 to 212 are, subject to the regulations, to be made in the following order:

                     (a)  adjustments referred to in section 209;

                     (b)  adjustments referred to in section 210;

                     (c)  adjustments referred to in section 211;

                     (d)  adjustments referred to in subsection 212(1).

Note:          For when regulations made for the purpose of subsection (5) may be expressed to take effect, see section 213.

209  Notional adjustment: rates and loadings determined as for reform comparison day

Rate provisions

             (1)  Subject to subsections (2) and (3), if rate provisions included in a preserved APCS as mentioned in section 208 would, apart from this subsection, determine a basic periodic rate of pay otherwise than by direct specification of the monetary amount of the rate, then the APCS is taken to be adjusted as necessary immediately after the reform commencement so that those rate provisions instead directly specify, as that rate of pay, the rate as determined by the provisions for the reform comparison day.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not apply to the rate provisions included in the preserved APCS derived from the pre‑reform federal wage instrument referred to in paragraph (b) of the definition of pre‑reform federal wage instrument in section 178.

             (3)  If the rate provisions included in a preserved APCS as mentioned in section 208 determine a basic periodic rate of pay by (or by referring to) a pro‑rata disability pay method, subsection (1) applies to any other rate of pay that the method refers to, but does not otherwise apply to the method.

             (4)  If the rate provisions included in a preserved APCS as mentioned in section 208 determine a basic piece rate of pay by (or by referring to) a method, subsection (1) does not apply to the rate provisions that determine that rate.

             (5)  The regulations may provide for other situations in which subsection (1) is not to apply to rate provisions, or is to apply with specified modifications.

Note:          For when regulations made for the purpose of subsection (5) may be expressed to take effect, see section 213.

Casual loading provisions

             (6)  If casual loading provisions included in a preserved APCS as mentioned in section 208 would, apart from this subsection, determine a loading otherwise than by direct specification of the loading, then the APCS is taken to be adjusted as necessary immediately after the reform commencement so that those loading provisions instead directly specify, as that loading, the loading as determined by the provisions for the reform comparison day.

210  Notional adjustment: deducing basic periodic rate of pay and casual loading from composite rate

                   If:

                     (a)  a particular rate of pay determined by rate provisions included in a preserved APCS as mentioned in section 208 would, apart from this subsection, be a basic periodic rate of pay for a casual employee; and

                     (b)  the rate of pay is, by an amount (the inbuilt casual loading amount), higher than it would have been if the employee had not been a casual employee; and

                     (c)  apart from this subsection, the preserved APCS does not contain casual loading provisions that determine a casual loading for the employee;

the APCS is taken to be adjusted as necessary immediately after the reform commencement so that:

                     (d)  the rate provisions instead determine a basic periodic rate of pay for the employee that equals the rate referred to in paragraph (a), reduced by the inbuilt casual loading amount; and

                     (e)  the preserved APCS contains casual loading provisions that determine a casual loading for the employee that equals the inbuilt casual loading amount.

211  Notional adjustment: how basic periodic rates and loadings are expressed

             (1)  If a particular basic periodic rate of pay determined by rate provisions included in a preserved APCS as mentioned in section 208 would, apart from this subsection, be expressed as a monetary amount for a period other than an hour (for example, it would be expressed as a rate for a week), the rate provisions are taken to be adjusted as necessary immediately after the reform commencement so that they produce the result that the rate is expressed as the equivalent monetary hourly rate.

             (2)  If a particular casual loading determined by casual loading provisions included in a preserved APCS as mentioned in section 208 would, apart from this subsection, be expressed as an amount of money that is to be added to a basic periodic rate of pay, the loading provisions are taken to be adjusted as necessary immediately after the reform commencement so that they produce the result that the loading is expressed as the equivalent percentage of the basic periodic rate of pay.

212  Regulations dealing with notional adjustments

             (1)  The regulations may provide for other adjustments (including by determining methods for working out adjustments) that are to be taken to be made to a preserved APCS.

             (2)  The regulations may determine methods for working out the adjustments mentioned in any of sections 209 to 211, or may otherwise clarify the operation of any aspect of those sections. Those sections have effect accordingly.

Note:          For when regulations made for the purpose of this section may be expressed to take effect, see section 213.

213  Certain regulations relating to preserved APCSs may take effect before registration

             (1)  This section applies to regulations made for the purpose of any of the following provisions:

                     (a)  paragraph (c) or (d) of the definition of pre‑reform federal wage instrument in section 178;

                     (b)  paragraph (c) or (d) of the definition of pre‑reform State wage instrument in section 178;

                     (c)  paragraph (b) or (c) of the definition of pre‑reform Territory wage instrument in section 178;

                     (d)  subsection 208(3) or (5);

                     (e)  subsection 209(5);

                      (f)  section 212.

             (2)  Despite subsection 12(2) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, regulations to which this section applies may be expressed to take effect from a date before the regulations are registered under that Act.

             (3)  If regulations to which this section applies take effect before their registration under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, those regulations are not to be taken into account in determining the effect of sections 182, 185, 190, 191 and 192 in relation to periods of employment before the registration of those regulations.

Subdivision J—Australian Pay and Classification Scales: new APCSs

214  AFPC may determine new APCSs

             (1)  The AFPC may determine an APCS (a new APCS).

             (2)  The power to determine a new APCS is subject to:

                     (a)  sections 176 and 177; and

                     (b)  section 190; and

                     (c)  section 191; and

                     (d)  section 192; and

                     (e)  section 193; and

                      (f)  section 202; and

                     (g)  section 203; and

                     (h)  Subdivision M; and

                      (i)  section 222.

Subdivision K—Australian Pay and Classification Scales: duration, adjustment and revocation of APCSs (preserved or new)

215  Duration of APCSs

                   An APCS continues to have effect indefinitely (subject to revocation or adjustment by the AFPC under this Subdivision, and to the rules in section 205 about when one APCS prevails over another).

216  Adjustment of APCSs

             (1)  The AFPC may adjust an APCS.

             (2)  The power to adjust an APCS is subject to:

                     (a)  sections 176 and 177; and

                     (b)  section 190; and

                     (c)  section 191; and

                     (d)  section 192; and

                     (e)  section 193; and

                      (f)  section 202; and

                     (g)  section 203; and

                     (h)  Subdivision L; and

                      (i)  section 222.

217  Revocation of APCSs

             (1)  The AFPC may revoke an APCS.

             (2)  The power to revoke an APCS is subject to:

                     (a)  sections 176 and 177; and

                     (b)  section 190; and

                     (c)  section 191; and

                     (d)  section 192; and

                     (e)  section 222.

Subdivision L—Adjustments to incorporate 2005 Safety Net Review etc.

218  Adjustments to incorporate 2005 Safety Net Review

             (1)  This section applies in relation to a preserved APCS if:

                     (a)  the APCS is derived from a pre‑reform federal wage instrument referred to in paragraph (a) of the definition of pre‑reform federal wage instrument in section 178; and

                     (b)  either:

                              (i)  in accordance with the Commission’s wage fixing principles that applied at that time, the Commission (before the reform commencement) adjusted the instrument in accordance with the Commission’s 2004 Safety Net Review decision; or

                             (ii)  the instrument took effect after the Commission’s 2004 Safety Net Review decision; and

                     (c)  the Commission did not, before the reform commencement, adjust the instrument in accordance with the Commission’s 2005 Safety Net Review decision.

             (2)  The AFPC must adjust the rate provisions of the preserved APCS to increase rates in accordance with the Commission’s 2005 Safety Net Review decision (if applicable), except to the extent that the AFPC is satisfied it is not appropriate to do so because of the effect of subsection 208(4).

             (3)  The adjustment must be made as part of the first exercise of the powers of the AFPC under this Division.

             (4)  After the adjustment has been made, section 190 has effect in relation to an employee as if the adjustment had been made to the pre‑reform federal wage instrument immediately before the reform commencement.

Note:          This subsection ensures that the post‑adjustment rate is the rate against which compliance with the guarantee in section 190 is measured.

219  Regulations may require adjustments to incorporate other decisions

             (1)  The regulations may require the AFPC to adjust rate provisions in a class of preserved APCSs that are derived from non‑federal pre‑reform wage instruments to increase rates to take account of decisions that were made before the reform commencement but that were not given effect to in those instruments before the reform commencement.

             (2)  Regulations made for the purposes of subsection (1) may also modify how section 190 applies in relation to any APCSs that are so adjusted.

Subdivision M—Special provisions relating to APCSs for employees with disabilities and employees to whom training arrangements apply

220  Employees with disabilities

             (1)  If the AFPC considers that there should be an APCS that applies to all, or a class of, employees with a disability that determines basic periodic rates of pay for those employees, the AFPC must determine an APCS containing rate provisions that determine basic periodic rates of pay for those employees, and that so determines those rates as rates specific to employees with disabilities.

Note:          The usual provisions relating to the content of an APCS apply (see Subdivision H).

             (2)  The determination of the APCS must include a statement to the effect that it is determined for the purpose of this section.

Note:          APCSs determined for the purpose of this section generally prevail over all other APCSs—see section 205.

             (3)  The APCS (the special APCS) is taken not to cover the employment of a particular employee if:

                     (a)  there is another APCS that covers the employment of the employee (disregarding the effect that paragraph 205(2)(b) would otherwise have because of the special APCS); and

                     (b)  that other APCS determines a basic periodic rate of pay specifically for a particular class of employees with disabilities; and

                     (c)  the employee’s employment is covered by that other APCS because the employee is a member of that class; and

                     (d)  that class is the same as, or is a subclass of, the employees whose employment would otherwise be covered by the special APCS.

             (4)  This section does not limit the powers of the AFPC to determine APCSs, or to revoke or adjust APCSs (including APCSs determined for the purpose of this section).

221  Employees to whom training arrangements apply

             (1)  If the AFPC considers that there should be an APCS that applies to all, or a class of, employees to whom training arrangements apply that determines basic periodic rates of pay that are payable to those employees, the AFPC must determine an APCS containing rate provisions that determine basic periodic rates of pay to be payable to those employees, and that so determines those rates as rates specific to employees to whom training arrangements apply.

Note:          The usual provisions relating to the content of an APCS apply (see Subdivision H).

             (2)  The determination of the APCS must include a statement to the effect that it is determined for the purpose of this section.

Note:          APCSs determined for the purpose of this section generally prevail over all other APCSs—see section 205.

             (3)  The APCS (the special APCS) is taken not to cover the employment of a particular employee if:

                     (a)  there is another APCS that covers the employment of the employee (disregarding the effect that paragraph 205(2)(b) would otherwise have because of the special APCS); and

                     (b)  that other APCS determines a basic periodic rate of pay specifically for a particular class of employees to whom training arrangements apply; and

                     (c)  the employee’s employment is covered by that other APCS because the employee is a member of that class; and

                     (d)  that class is the same as, or is a subclass of, the employees whose employment would otherwise be covered by the special APCS.

             (4)  The AFPC must, as part of the first exercise of the powers of the AFPC under this Division, consider whether it should determine APCSs for the purpose of this section. This does not limit the AFPC’s power to consider whether it should determine APCSs for the purpose of this section at other times.

             (5)  This section does not limit the powers of the AFPC to determine APCSs, or to revoke or adjust APCSs (including APCSs determined for the purpose of this section).

Subdivision N—Miscellaneous

222  Anti‑discrimination considerations

             (1)  Without limiting sections 176 and 177, in exercising any of its powers under this Division, the AFPC is to:

                     (a)  apply the principle that men and women should receive equal remuneration for work of equal value; and

                     (b)  have regard to the need to provide pro‑rata disability pay methods for employees with disabilities; and

                     (c)  take account of the principles embodied in the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Age Discrimination Act 2004 relating to discrimination in relation to employment; and

                     (d)  take account of the principles embodied in the Family Responsibilities Convention, in particular those relating to:

                              (i)  preventing discrimination against workers who have family responsibilities; or

                             (ii)  helping workers to reconcile their employment and family responsibilities; and

                     (e)  ensure that its decisions do not contain provisions that discriminate because of, or for reasons including, race, colour, sex, sexual preference, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin.

             (2)  For the purposes of the Acts referred to in paragraph (1)(c), and of paragraph (1)(e), the AFPC does not discriminate against an employee or employees by (in accordance with this Division) determining or adjusting rate provisions in an APCS that determine a basic periodic rate of pay, or by (in accordance with this Division) determining or adjusting a special FMW, for:

                     (a)  all junior employees, or a class of junior employees; or

                     (b)  all employees with a disability, or a class of employees with a disability; or

                     (c)  all employees to whom training arrangements apply, or a class of employees to whom training arrangements apply.

 

Division 3—Maximum ordinary hours of work

Subdivision A—Preliminary

223  Employees to whom Division applies

                   This Division applies to all employees.

224  Definitions

                   In this Division:

authorised leave means leave, or an absence, whether paid or unpaid, that is authorised:

                     (a)  by an employee’s employer; or

                     (b)  by or under a term or condition of an employee’s employment; or

                     (c)  by or under a law, or an instrument in force under a law, of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

employee means an employee to whom this Division applies under section 223.

225  Agreement between employees and employers

Via a workplace agreement

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, an employee and an employer are taken to agree about a particular matter in a particular way if a provision of a workplace agreement binding the employee and the employer specifies that the matter is to be dealt with in that way.

Via an award

             (2)  For the purposes of this Division, an employee and an employer are taken to agree about a particular matter in a particular way if a term of an award that binds the employee and the employer specifies that the matter is to be dealt with in that way.

Via other means

             (3)  To avoid doubt, nothing in this section prevents employees and employers agreeing about matters by other means.

Subdivision B—Guarantee of maximum ordinary hours of work

226  The guarantee

             (1)  An employee must not be required or requested by an employer to work more than:

                     (a)  either:

                              (i)  38 hours per week; or

                             (ii)  subject to subsection (3), if the employee and the employer agree in writing that the employee’s hours of work are to be averaged over a specified averaging period that is no longer than 12 months—an average of 38 hours per week over that averaging period; and

                     (b)  reasonable additional hours.

Note 1:       An employee and an employer may agree that the employee is to work less than 38 hours per week, or less than an average of 38 hours per week over the employee’s averaging period.

Note 2:       A requirement for an employee to work a particular number of hours may come, for example, from an award or a workplace agreement.

          (1A)  An employer only contravenes subsection (1) if the employer requests or requires an employee to work more than the hours mentioned in subsection (1), and the employee works those hours.

Calculating the number of hours worked

             (2)  For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), in calculating the number of hours that an employee has worked in a particular week, or the average number of hours that an employee has worked per week over an averaging period, the hours worked by the employee are taken to include any hours of authorised leave taken by the employee during the week, or during that period.

Start of averaging period

             (3)  For the purpose of subparagraph (1)(a)(ii), if an employee starts to work for an employer after the start of a particular averaging period that applies to the employee, that averaging period is taken, in relation to the employee, not to include the period before the employee started to work for the employer.

Reasonable additional hours

             (4)  For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), in determining whether additional hours that an employee is required or requested by an employer to work are reasonable additional hours, all relevant factors must be taken into account. Those factors may include, but are not limited to, the following:

                     (a)  any risk to the employee’s health and safety that might reasonably be expected to arise if the employee worked the additional hours;

                     (b)  the employee’s personal circumstances (including family responsibilities);

                     (c)  the operational requirements of the workplace, or enterprise, in relation to which the employee is required or requested to work the additional hours;

                     (d)  any notice given by the employer of the requirement or request that the employee work the additional hours;

                     (e)  any notice given by the employee of the employee’s intention to refuse to work the additional hours;

                      (f)  whether any of the additional hours are on a public holiday;

                     (g)  the employee’s hours of work over the 4 weeks ending immediately before the employee is required or requested to work the additional hours.

Note:          An employee and an employer may agree that the employee may take breaks during any additional hours worked by the employee.

Definition

             (5)  In this section:

public holiday means:

                     (a)  a day declared by or under a law of a State or Territory to be observed generally within the State or Territory, or a region of that State or Territory, as a public holiday by people who work in that State, Territory or region, other than:

                              (i)  a union picnic day; or

                             (ii)  a day, or kind of day, that is excluded by regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph from counting as a public holiday; or

                     (b)  a day that, under (or in accordance with a procedure under) a law of a State or Territory, or an award or workplace agreement, is substituted for a day referred to in paragraph (a).

 

Division 4—Annual leave

Subdivision A—Preliminary

227  Employees to whom Division applies

                   This Division applies to all employees other than casual employees.

228  Definitions

             (1)  In this Division:

annual leave has the meaning given by subsection 232(1).

authorised leave means leave, or an absence, whether paid or unpaid, that is authorised:

                     (a)  by an employee’s employer; or

                     (b)  by or under a term or condition of an employee’s employment; or

                     (c)  by or under a law, or an instrument in force under a law, of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

basic periodic rate of pay has the meaning given by section 178.

Note:          See also section 231.

continuous service, in relation to a period of an employee’s service with an employer, means service with the employer as an employee (other than a casual employee) during the whole of the period, including (as a part of the period) any period of authorised leave.

employee means an employee to whom this Division applies under section 227.

nominal hours worked has the meaning given by section 229.

Note:          See also section 231.

piece rate employee means an employee who is paid a piece rate of pay within the meaning of section 178.

public holiday means:

                     (a)  a day declared by or under a law of a State or Territory to be observed generally within the State or Territory, or a region of that State or Territory, as a public holiday by people who work in that State, Territory or region, other than:

                              (i)  a union picnic day; or

                             (ii)  a day, or kind of day, that is excluded by regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph from counting as a public holiday; or

                     (b)  a day that, under (or in accordance with a procedure under) a law of a State or Territory, or an award or workplace agreement, is substituted for a day referred to in paragraph (a).

shift worker means:

                     (a)  an employee who:

                              (i)  is employed in a business in which shifts are continuously rostered 24 hours a day for 7 days a week; and

                             (ii)  is regularly rostered to work those shifts; and

                            (iii)  regularly works on Sundays and public holidays; or

                     (b)  an employee of a type that is prescribed by regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph.

Note:          Subsection (2) enables regulations to be made providing that an employee belonging to a specified class is not a shift worker.

             (2)  The regulations may provide that an employee:

                     (a)  who is covered by paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of shift worker in subsection (1); and

                     (b)  who belongs to a class specified in the regulations;

is not a shift worker for the purposes of this Division.

             (3)  Without limiting the way in which a class of employees may be described for the purposes of regulations made under subsection (2), the class may be described by reference to one or more of the following:

                     (a)  a particular industry;

                     (b)  a particular kind of work;

                     (c)  a particular type of employment;

                     (d)  a particular type of shift work (whether described by reference to the organisation or allocation of shifts or otherwise).

229  Meaning of nominal hours worked

Employees employed to work a specified number of hours

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, if an employee is employed by an employer to work a specified number of hours per week, the number of nominal hours worked, by the employee for the employer during a week, is to be worked out as follows:

                     (a)  start with:

                              (i)  the specified number of hours; or

                             (ii)  if the specified number of hours is more than 38 hours—38 hours;

                     (b)  deduct all of the following:

                              (i)  the number of hours (if any) in the week when the employee is absent from his or her work for the employer on leave which does not count as service;

                             (ii)  the number of hours (if any) in the week (other than hours mentioned in subparagraph (i)) in relation to which the employer is prohibited by section 507 from making a payment to the employee.

Note:          The actual hours worked from week to week by an employee who is employed to work a specified number of hours per week may vary, due to averaging as mentioned in section 226 or to some other kind of flexible working hours scheme that applies to the employee’s employment.

             (2)  If an employee is employed on a full‑time basis, but the terms and conditions of the employee’s employment do not determine the number of hours in a week that is to constitute employment on a full‑time basis for the employee, the employee is, for the purpose of subsection (1), taken to be employed to work 38 hours per week.

             (3)  If an employee is employed to work a specified number (the number of non‑week specified hours) of hours over a period (the non‑week period) that is not a week (for example, a fortnight), then, for the purpose of subsection (1), the employee is taken to be employed to work the number of hours per week determined, subject to the regulations (if any), in accordance with the formula:

Employees not employed to work a specified number of hours

             (4)  For the purposes of this Division, if subsection (1) does not apply to the employment of an employee by an employer, the number of nominal hours worked, by the employee for the employer during a week, is the lesser of the following:

                     (a)  the number worked out as follows:

                              (i)  start with the number of hours (if any) in the week that the employee both works, and is required or requested to work, for the employer;

                             (ii)  add the number of hours (if any) in the week when the employee is absent from his or her work for the employer on leave that counts as service;

                            (iii)  deduct the number of hours (if any) in the week in relation to which the employer is prohibited by section 507 from making a payment to the employee;

                     (b)  the number of nominal hours the employee would be taken to have worked for the employer under subsection (1) during the week if the employee were employed to work 38 hours per week.

Certain types of leave not to count as service

          (4A)  For the purposes of subparagraphs (1)(b)(i) and (4)(a)(ii), a period of authorised unpaid leave or unauthorised leave does not count as service in relation to an employee except:

                     (a)  as expressly provided by:

                              (i)  a term or condition of the employee’s employment; or

                             (ii)  a law, or an instrument in force under a law, of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or

                     (b)  as prescribed by the regulations.

Note:          For whether leave guaranteed under this Part counts as service, see subsections 238(2) (annual leave), 260(2) (paid personal leave), 261(2) (unpaid carer’s leave) and 316(2) (parental leave).

Definition

             (5)  In this section:

hour includes a part of an hour.

Note 1:       The regulations may prescribe a different definition of nominal hours worked for piece rate employees (see section 231).

Note 2:       An employee’s hours of work may be varied (by number or time) in accordance with a workplace agreement, award or contract of employment that binds the employee and his or her employer.

Note 4:       Because of the definition of hour in subsection (5), an employee’s nominal hours worked may be a number of hours and part of an hour.

230  Agreement between employees and employers

Via a workplace agreement

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, an employee and an employer are taken to agree about a particular matter in a particular way if a provision of a workplace agreement binding the employee and the employer specifies that the matter is to be dealt with in that way.

Via other means

             (2)  To avoid doubt, nothing in this section prevents employees and employers agreeing about matters by other means.

231  Regulations may prescribe different definitions for piece rate employees

                   The regulations may prescribe:

                     (a)  a different definition of basic periodic rate of pay for the purpose of the application of this Division in relation to piece rate employees; and

                     (b)  a different definition of nominal hours worked for the purpose of the application of this Division in relation to piece rate employees.

Subdivision B—Guarantee of annual leave

232  The guarantee

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, annual leave means leave to which an employee is entitled under this Subdivision.

All employees to whom this Division applies

             (2)  An employee is entitled to accrue an amount of paid annual leave, for each completed 4 week period of continuous service with an employer, of 1/13 of the number of nominal hours worked by the employee for the employer during that 4 week period.

Example:    An employee whose nominal hours worked for a 12 month period were 38 hours per week would be entitled under this subsection to 152 hours of annual leave (which would be the equivalent of 4 weeks of annual leave if his or her nominal hours worked remained unchanged).

Additional leave entitlement for shift workers

             (3)  An employee is also entitled to accrue an amount of paid annual leave, for each completed 12 month period of continuous service with an employer, of 1/52 of the number of nominal hours worked by the employee, for the employer, as a shift worker during that 12 month period.

Example:    A shift worker whose nominal hours worked for a 12 month period were 38 hours per week, and who worked as a shift worker throughout that period, would be entitled under this subsection to an additional 38 hours of annual leave (which would be the equivalent of one week of annual leave if his or her nominal hours worked remained unchanged).

233  Entitlement to cash out annual leave

             (1)  An employee is entitled to forgo an entitlement to take an amount of annual leave credited to the employee by an employer if:

                     (a)  a provision in a workplace agreement binding the employee and the employer entitles the employee to forgo the entitlement to the amount of annual leave; and

                     (b)  the employee gives the employer a written election to forgo the amount of annual leave; and

                     (c)  a provision in a workplace agreement binding the employee and the employer entitles the employee to receive pay in lieu of the amount of annual leave at a rate that is no less than the rate that, at the time the election is made, is the employee’s basic periodic rate of pay (expressed as an hourly rate); and

                     (d)  the employer authorises the employee to forgo the amount of annual leave.

Note:          If, under this section, an employee forgoes an entitlement to take an amount of annual leave, the employee’s employer may deduct that amount from the amount of accrued annual leave credited to the employee.

             (2)  However, during each 12 month period, an employee is not entitled to forgo an amount of annual leave credited to the employee by an employer that is equal to more than 1/26 of the nominal hours worked by the employee for the employer during the period.

             (3)  An employer must not:

                     (a)  require an employee to forgo an entitlement to take an amount of annual leave; or

                     (b)  exert undue influence or undue pressure on an employee in relation to the making of a decision by the employee whether or not to forgo an entitlement to take an amount of annual leave.

             (4)  If, under this section, an employee forgoes an entitlement to take an amount of annual leave, the employer must, within a reasonable period, give the employee the amount of pay that the employee is entitled to receive in lieu of the amount of annual leave.

Subdivision C—Annual leave rules

234  Annual leave—accrual, crediting and accumulation rules

Accrual

             (1)  Annual leave accrues on a pro‑rata basis.

Crediting

             (2)  Each month an employer must credit to an employee of the employer the amount (if any) of annual leave accrued by the employee under subsection 232(2) since the employer last credited to the employee an amount of annual leave accrued under that subsection.

             (3)  Each year an employer must credit to an employee of the employer the amount (if any) of annual leave accrued by the employee under subsection 232(3) since the employer last credited to the employee an amount of annual leave accrued under that subsection.

Accumulation

             (4)  Annual leave is cumulative.

235  Annual leave—payment rules

             (1)  If an employee takes annual leave during a period, the employee must be paid a rate for each hour (pro‑rated for part hours) of annual leave taken that is no less than the rate that, immediately before the period begins, is the employee’s basic periodic rate of pay (expressed as an hourly rate).

             (2)  If the employment of an employee who has not taken an amount of accrued annual leave ends at a particular time, the employee must be paid a rate for each hour (pro‑rated for part hours) of the employee’s untaken accrued annual leave that is no less than the rate that, immediately before that time, is the employee’s basic periodic rate of pay (expressed as an hourly rate).

236  Rules about taking annual leave

General rules

             (1)  Subject to this section and section 233, an employee is entitled to take an amount of annual leave during a particular period if:

                     (a)  at least that amount of annual leave is credited to the employee; and

                     (b)  the employee’s employer has authorised the employee to take the annual leave during that period.

             (2)  To avoid doubt, there is no maximum or minimum limit on the amount of annual leave that an employer may authorise an employee to take.

             (3)  Any authorisation given by an employer enabling an employee to take annual leave during a particular period is subject to the operational requirements of the workplace or enterprise in respect of which the employee is employed.

             (4)  An employer must not unreasonably:

                     (a)  refuse to authorise an employee to take an amount of annual leave that is credited to the employee; or

                     (b)  revoke an authorisation enabling an employee to take annual leave during a particular period.

Shut downs

             (5)  An employee must take an amount of annual leave during a particular period if:

                     (a)  the employee is directed to do so by the employee’s employer because, during that period, the employer shuts down the business, or any part of the business, in which the employee works; and

                     (b)  at least that amount of annual leave is credited to the employee.

Extensive accumulated annual leave

             (6)  An employee must take an amount of annual leave during a particular period if:

                     (a)  the employee is directed to do so by his or her employer; and

                     (b)  at the time that the direction is given, the employee has annual leave credited to him or her of more than 1/13 of the number of nominal hours worked by the employee for the employer during the period of 104 weeks ending at the time that the direction is given; and

                     (c)  the amount of annual leave that the employee is directed to take is less than, or equal to, 1/4 of the amount of credited annual leave of the employee at the time that the direction is given.

Entitlement to leave for all nominal hours in a day also extends to other hours on that day

             (7)  If:

                     (a)  an employee to whom subparagraph 229(1)(a)(ii) applies is entitled to take annual leave on a particular day; and

                     (b)  the entitlement covers all the hours (or part hours) on that day that would count towards the nominal hours worked by the employee in the week that includes that day;

the employer is taken to have authorised the employee to be absent from work for any other hours (or part hours) on that day that the employee would otherwise have worked.

Example:    Bianca is employed by BBB Bakers Pty Ltd. She works 40 hours per week (consisting of 38 hours plus 2 reasonable additional hours).

                   Under subsection 232(2), Bianca is entitled to accrue paid annual leave of 1/13 of her nominal hours worked for each completed 4 week period of continuous service with BBB Bakers. Because of subparagraph 229(1)(a)(ii), Bianca’s nominal hours worked in a week are capped at 38 hours. If Bianca works her normal hours for a 12 month period, she will accrue 152 hours of paid annual leave.

                   The above subsection ensures that Bianca will be able to be absent from work for 4 full 40 hour weeks. Bianca’s absence for the additional 8 hours will not be paid leave, and will not count as service, but it will not break her continuity of service (see subsection (8)).

             (8)  An absence that is taken by subsection (7) to have been authorised:

                     (a)  is not annual leave; and

                     (b)  does not break the employee’s continuity of service; and

                     (c)  does not otherwise count as service.

             (9)  For the purposes of subsection (7), if a shift (or other period of work) occurs partly on 1 day and partly on the next day, the shift (or other period of work) is taken to be a day and the remaining parts of the days are taken not to be part of the day.

           (10)  For the purposes of subsection (7), the regulations may make provision for either or both of the following:

                     (a)  determining what hours (or part hours) on a particular day would count towards the nominal hours worked by an employee in a week;

                     (b)  determining what other hours (or part hours) on a particular day would be hours (or part hours) that an employee would otherwise have worked.

237  Annual leave and workers’ compensation

                   This Division does not apply to the extent that it is inconsistent with a provision of a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory relating to workers’ compensation if the provision would (apart from this Division):

                     (a)  prevent an employee from taking or accruing annual leave during a period while the employee is receiving compensation under such a law; or

                     (b)  restrict the amount of annual leave an employee may take or accrue during such a period.

Subdivision D—Service: annual leave

238  Annual leave—service

             (1)  A period of annual leave does not break an employee’s continuity of service.

             (2)  Annual leave counts as service for all purposes except as prescribed by the regulations.

 

Division 5—Personal leave

Subdivision A—Preliminary

239  Employees to whom Division applies

             (1)  Subject to this section, this Division applies to all employees other than casual employees.

             (2)  This Subdivision, Subdivision C and sections 255 and 256 apply to all employees.

240  Definitions

                   In this Division:

authorised leave means leave, or an absence, whether paid or unpaid, that is authorised:

                     (a)  by an employee’s employer; or

                     (b)  by or under a term or condition of an employee’s employment; or

                     (c)  by or under a law, or an instrument in force under a law, of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

basic periodic rate of pay has the meaning given by section 178.

Note:          See also section 243.

carer’s leave has the meaning given by paragraph 244(b).

child includes the following:

                     (a)  an adopted child;

                     (b)  a stepchild;

                     (c)  an exnuptial child;

                     (d)  an adult child.

compassionate leave has the meaning given by subsection 257(1).

continuous service, in relation to a period of an employee’s service with an employer, means service with the employer as an employee (other than a casual employee) during the whole of the period, including (as a part of the period) any period of authorised leave.

de facto spouse, of an employee, means a person of the opposite sex to the employee who lives with the employee as the employee’s husband or wife on a genuine domestic basis although not legally married to the employee.

employee, when used in a provision of this Division, means an employee to whom the provision applies under section 239.

immediate family: the following are members of an employee’s immediate family:

                     (a)  a spouse, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild or sibling of the employee;

                     (b)  a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild or sibling of a spouse of the employee.

medical certificate means a certificate signed by a registered health practitioner.

nominal hours worked has the meaning given by section 241.

Note:          See also section 243.

permissible occasion, for unpaid carer’s leave, has the meaning given by subsection 250(1).

personal/carer’s leave has the meaning given by section 244.

piece rate employee means an employee who is paid a piece rate of pay within the meaning of section 178.

registered health practitioner means a health practitioner registered, or licensed, as a health practitioner (or as a health practitioner of a particular type) under a law of a State or Territory that provides for the registration or licensing of health practitioners (or health practitioners of that type).

sick leave has the meaning given by paragraph 244(a).

spouse includes the following:

                     (a)  a former spouse;

                     (b)  a de facto spouse;

                     (c)  a former de facto spouse.

241  Meaning of nominal hours worked

Employees employed to work a specified number of hours

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, if an employee is employed by an employer to work a specified number of hours per week, the number of nominal hours worked, by the employee for the employer during a week, is to be worked out as follows:

                     (a)  start with:

                              (i)  the specified number of hours; or

                             (ii)  if the specified number of hours is more than 38 hours—38 hours;

                     (b)  deduct all of the following:

                              (i)  the number of hours (if any) in the week when the employee is absent from his or her work for the employer on leave which does not count as service;

                             (ii)  the number of hours (if any) in the week (other than hours mentioned in subparagraph (i)) in relation to which the employer is prohibited by section 507 from making a payment to the employee.

Note:          The actual hours worked from week to week by an employee who is employed to work a specified number of hours per week may vary, due to averaging as mentioned in section 226 or to some other kind of flexible working hours scheme that applies to the employee’s employment.

             (2)  If an employee is employed on a full‑time basis, but the terms and conditions of the employee’s employment do not determine the number of hours in a week that is to constitute employment on a full‑time basis for the employee, the employee is, for the purpose of subsection (1), taken to be employed to work 38 hours per week.

             (3)  If an employee is employed to work a specified number (the number of non‑week specified hours) of hours over a period (the non‑week period) that is not a week (for example, a fortnight), then, for the purpose of subsection (1), the employee is taken to be employed to work the number of hours per week determined, subject to the regulations (if any), in accordance with the formula:

Employees not employed to work a specified number of hours

             (4)  For the purposes of this Division, if subsection (1) does not apply to the employment of an employee by an employer, the number of nominal hours worked, by the employee for the employer during a week, is the lesser of the following:

                     (a)  the number worked out as follows:

                              (i)  start with the number of hours (if any) in the week that the employee both works, and is required or requested to work, for the employer;

                             (ii)  add the number of hours (if any) in the week when the employee is absent from his or her work for the employer on leave that counts as service;

                            (iii)  deduct the number of hours (if any) in the week in relation to which the employer is prohibited by section 507 from making a payment to the employee;

                     (b)  the number of nominal hours the employee would be taken to have worked for the employer under subsection (1) during the week if the employee were employed to work 38 hours per week.

Certain types of leave not to count as service

          (4A)  For the purposes of subparagraphs (1)(b)(i) and (4)(a)(ii), a period of authorised unpaid leave or unauthorised leave does not count as service in relation to an employee except:

                     (a)  as expressly provided by:

                              (i)  a term or condition of the employee’s employment; or

                             (ii)  a law, or an instrument in force under a law, of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or

                     (b)  as prescribed by the regulations.

Note:          For whether leave guaranteed under this Part counts as service, see subsections 238(2) (annual leave), 260(2) (paid personal leave), 261(2) (unpaid carer’s leave) and 316(2) (parental leave).

Definition

             (5)  In this section:

hour includes a part of an hour.

Note 1:       The regulations may prescribe a different definition of nominal hours worked for piece rate employees (see section 243).

Note 2:       An employee’s hours of work may be varied (by number or time) in accordance with a workplace agreement, award or contract of employment that binds the employee and his or her employer.

Note 4:       Because of the definition of hour in subsection (5), an employee’s nominal hours worked may be a number of hours and part of an hour.

242  Agreement between employees and employers

Via a workplace agreement

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, an employee and an employer are taken to agree about a particular matter in a particular way if a provision of a workplace agreement binding the employee and the employer specifies that the matter is to be dealt with in that way.

Via other means

             (2)  To avoid doubt, nothing in this section prevents employees and employers agreeing about matters by other means.

243  Regulations may prescribe different definitions for piece rate employees

                   The regulations may prescribe:

                     (a)  a different definition of basic periodic rate of pay for the purposes of the application of this Division in relation to piece rate employees; and

                     (b)  a different definition of nominal hours worked for the purposes of the application of this Division in relation to piece rate employees.

244  Meaning of personal/carer’s leave

                   For the purposes of this Division, personal/carer’s leave is:

                     (a)  paid leave (sick leave) taken by an employee because of a personal illness, or injury, of the employee; or

                     (b)  paid or unpaid leave (carer’s leave) taken by an employee to provide care or support to a member of the employee’s immediate family, or a member of the employee’s household, who requires care or support because of:

                              (i)  a personal illness, or injury, of the member; or

                             (ii)  an unexpected emergency affecting the member.

Subdivision B—Guarantee of paid personal/carer’s leave

245  The guarantee

             (1)  Subject to this Subdivision, an employee is entitled to paid personal/carer’s leave if the employee complies with the notice and documentation requirements under Subdivision D, to the extent to which they apply to the employee.

Note:          The entitlement is subject to the restrictions in sections 246, 248 and 249.

             (2)  An employee is taken not to have been entitled to a period of paid personal/carer’s leave at any time after the start of the period if:

                     (a)  Subdivision D:

                              (i)  required the employee to give notice or a document (the required notice or document) to his or her employer; and

                             (ii)  allowed the employee to give the required notice or document to his or her employer after the start of the leave; and

                     (b)  when the employee started the leave, the employee had not given his or her employer the required notice or document; and

                     (c)  the employee did not later give the required notice or document to his or her employer within the period required under Subdivision D.

Note:          Under Subdivision D, an employee may be required to give his or her employer notice, a medical certificate or a statutory declaration (depending on the circumstances).

245A  Entitlement to cash out an amount of paid personal/carer’s leave

             (1)  This section applies to an employee if more than the protected amount of paid personal/carer’s leave is credited to the employee.

             (2)  The employee is entitled to forgo an entitlement to take any or all of the amount of paid personal/carer’s leave credited to the employee that exceeds the protected amount of paid personal/carer’s leave if:

                     (a)  a provision in a workplace agreement binding the employee and the employer entitles the employee to forgo the entitlement to the amount of paid personal/carer’s leave; and

                     (b)  the employee gives the employer a written election to forgo the amount of paid personal/carer’s leave; and

                     (c)  a provision in a workplace agreement binding the employee and the employer entitles the employee to receive pay in lieu of the amount of paid personal/carer’s leave at a rate that is no less than the rate that, at the time the election is made, is the employee’s basic periodic rate of pay (expressed as an hourly rate); and

                     (d)  the employer authorises the employee to forgo the amount of paid personal/carer’s leave.

Note:          If, under this section, an employee forgoes an entitlement to take an amount of paid personal/carer’s leave, the employee’s employer may deduct that amount from the amount of accrued paid personal/carer’s leave credited to the employee.

             (3)  For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), the protected amount of paid personal/carer’s leave for the employee is 3/52 of the number of nominal hours worked by the employee for the employer during:

                     (a)  a continuous period of 12 months of service with the employer ending immediately before the day on which the employee makes an election under paragraph (2)(b); or

                     (b)  a sequence of periods totalling 12 months of service with the employer, the last of which ends immediately before the day on which the employee makes an election under paragraph (2)(b).

Note:          The protected amount of paid personal/carer’s leave for an employee whose nominal hours worked for an employer each week over a continuous period of 12 months service with the employer are 38 hours would be 114 hours (which would be equivalent to 15 days of paid personal/carer’s leave for that employee).

             (4)  An employer must not:

                     (a)  require an employee to forgo an entitlement to take an amount of paid personal/carer’s leave; or

                     (b)  exert undue influence or undue pressure on an employee in relation to the making of a decision by the employee whether or not to forgo an entitlement to take an amount of paid personal/carer’s leave.

             (5)  If, under this section, an employee forgoes an entitlement to take an amount of paid personal/carer’s leave, the employer must, within a reasonable period, give the employee the amount of pay that the employee is entitled to receive in lieu of the amount of paid personal/carer’s leave.

246  Paid personal/carer’s leave—accrual, crediting and accumulation rules

Entitlement to take credited leave

             (1)  Subject to this Subdivision, an employee is entitled to take an amount of paid personal/carer’s leave if, under this section, that amount of leave is credited to the employee.

Accrual

             (2)  An employee is entitled to accrue an amount of paid personal/carer’s leave, for each completed 4 week period of continuous service with an employer, of 1/26 of the number of nominal hours worked by the employee for the employer during that 4 week period.

Example:    An employee whose nominal hours worked for an employer each week over a 12 month period are 38 hours would be entitled to accrue 76 hours paid personal/carer’s leave (which would amount to 10 days of paid personal/carer’s leave for that employee) over the period.

             (3)  Paid personal/carer’s leave accrues on a pro‑rata basis.

Crediting

             (4)  Each month, an employer must credit to an employee of the employer the amount (if any) of paid personal/carer’s leave accrued by the employee since the employer last credited to the employee an amount of paid personal/carer’s leave accrued under this section.

Accumulation

             (5)  Paid personal/carer’s leave is cumulative.

247  Paid personal/carer’s leave—payment rule

                   If an employee takes paid personal/carer’s leave during a period, the employee must be paid a rate for each hour (pro‑rated for part hours) of paid personal/carer’s leave taken that is no less than the rate that, immediately before the period begins, is the employee’s basic periodic rate of pay (expressed as an hourly rate).

247A  Entitlement to leave for all nominal hours in a day also extends to other hours on that day

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  an employee to whom subparagraph 241(1)(a)(ii) applies is entitled to take paid personal/carer’s leave on a particular day; and

                     (b)  the entitlement covers all the hours (or part hours) on that day that would count towards the nominal hours worked by the employee in the week that includes that day;

the employer is taken to have authorised the employee to be absent from work for any other hours (or part hours) on that day that the employee would otherwise have worked.

Example:    Tina is employed by Terrific Videos Pty Ltd. She works 8 hours a day for 5 days a week, giving a weekly total of 40 hours per week (consisting of 38 hours plus 2 reasonable additional hours).

                   Under subsection 246(2), Tina is entitled to accrue paid personal/carer’s leave of 1/26 of her nominal hours worked for each completed 4 week period of continuous service with Terrific Videos. Because of subparagraph 241(1)(a)(ii), Tina’s nominal hours worked in a week are capped at 38 hours. If Tina works her normal hours for a 12 month period, she will accrue 76 hours of paid personal/carer’s leave.

                   The above subsection ensures that Tina will be able (subject to the requirements of this Division relating to entitlement to paid personal/carer’s leave) to be absent from work for 10 full 8 hour days. Tina’s absence for the additional 4 hours over those 10 days will not be paid leave, and will not count as service, but it will not break her continuity of service (see subsection (2)).

             (2)  An absence that is taken by subsection (1) to have been authorised:

                     (a)  is not paid personal/carer’s leave; and

                     (b)  does not break the employee’s continuity of service; and

                     (c)  does not otherwise count as service.

             (3)  For the purposes of subsection (1), if a shift (or other period of work) occurs partly on 1 day and partly on the next day, the shift (or other period of work) is taken to be a day and the remaining parts of the days are taken not to be part of the day.

             (4)  For the purposes of subsection (1), the regulations may make provision for either or both of the following:

                     (a)  determining what hours (or part hours) on a particular day would count towards the nominal hours worked by an employee in a week;

                     (b)  determining what other hours (or part hours) on a particular day would be hours (or part hours) that an employee would otherwise have worked.

248  Paid personal/carer’s leave—workers’ compensation

             (1)  An employee is not entitled to take paid sick leave for a period during which the employee is absent from work because of a personal illness, or injury, for which the employee is receiving compensation payable under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory relating to workers’ compensation.

             (2)  Subject to subsection (1), this Division does not apply to the extent that it is inconsistent with a provision of a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory relating to workers’ compensation if the provision would (apart from this Division):

                     (a)  prevent an employee from taking or accruing paid personal/carer’s leave during a period while the employee is receiving compensation under such a law; or

                     (b)  restrict the amount of paid personal/carer’s leave an employee may take or accrue during such a period.

249  Paid carer’s leave—annual limit

             (1)  This section applies to an employee if, at a particular time, the employee:

                     (a)  is employed by an employer; and

                     (b)  for a continuous period of at least 12 months immediately before the time, has been in continuous service with the employer.

             (2)  The employee is not entitled to take paid carer’s leave from his or her employment with the employer at the time if, during the period of 12 months ending at the time, the employee has already taken a total amount of paid carer’s leave from that employment of 1/26 of the nominal hours worked by the employee for the employer during that period.

Example:    An employee whose nominal hours worked for an employer each week were 38 hours during a 12 month period of continuous service with the employer would not be entitled to take any paid carer’s leave from his or her employment with the employer if the employee had, during the period, already taken 76 hours paid carer’s leave (which amounted to 10 days paid carer’s leave for that employee) from that employment.

Subdivision C—Guarantee of unpaid carer’s leave

250  The guarantee

             (1)  Subject to this Subdivision, an employee is entitled to a period of up to 2 days unpaid carer’s leave for each occasion (a permissible occasion) when a member of the employee’s immediate family, or a member of the employee’s household, requires care or support during such a period because of:

                     (a)  a personal illness, or injury, of the member; or

                     (b)  an unexpected emergency affecting the member.

Note 1:       This entitlement extends to casual employees (see section 239).

Note 2:       The entitlement is subject to the restrictions in sections 251 and 252.

             (2)  An employee is entitled to unpaid carer’s leave only if the employee complies with the notice and documentation requirements under Subdivision D, to the extent to which they apply to the employee.

             (3)  An employee is taken not to have been entitled to a period of unpaid carer’s leave at any time after the start of the period if:

                     (a)  Subdivision D:

                              (i)  required the employee to give notice or a document (the required notice or document) to his or her employer; and

                             (ii)  allowed the employee to give the required notice or document to his or her employer after the start of the leave; and

                     (b)  when the employee started the leave, the employee had not given his or her employer the required notice or document; and

                     (c)  the employee did not later give the required notice or document to his or her employer within the period required under Subdivision D.

Note:          Under Subdivision D, an employee may be required to give his or her employer notice, a medical certificate or a statutory declaration (depending on the circumstances).

251  Unpaid carer’s leave—how taken

                   An employee who is entitled to a period of unpaid carer’s leave under section 250 for a particular permissible occasion is entitled to take the unpaid carer’s leave as:

                     (a)  a single, unbroken, period of up to 2 days; or

                     (b)  any separate periods to which the employee and his or her employer agree.

252  Unpaid carer’s leave—paid personal leave exhausted

                   An employee is entitled to unpaid carer’s leave for a particular permissible occasion during a particular period only if the employee cannot take an amount of any of the following types of paid leave during the period:

                     (a)  paid personal/carer’s leave;

                     (b)  any other authorised leave of the same type as personal/carer’s leave.

Subdivision D—Notice and evidence requirements: personal/carer’s leave

253  Sick leave—notice

             (1)  To be entitled to sick leave during a period, an employee must give his or her employer notice in accordance with this section that the employee is (or will be) absent from his or her employment during the period because of a personal illness, or injury, of the employee.

             (2)  The notice must be given to the employer as soon as reasonably practicable (which may be at a time before or after the sick leave has started).

             (3)  The notice must be to the effect that the employee requires (or required) leave during the period because of a personal illness, or injury, of the employee.

             (4)  This section does not apply to an employee who could not comply with it because of circumstances beyond the employee’s control.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

254  Sick leave—documentary evidence

             (1)  This section applies if an employer requires an employee of the employer to give the employer documentary evidence in relation to a period of sick leave taken (or to be taken) by the employee.

             (2)  To be entitled to sick leave during the period, the employee must, in accordance with this section, give the employer a document (the required document) of whichever of the following types applies:

                     (a)  if it is reasonably practicable to do so—a medical certificate from a registered health practitioner;

                     (b)  if it is not reasonably practicable for the employee to give the employer a medical certificate—a statutory declaration made by the employee.

             (3)  The required document must be given to the employer as soon as reasonably practicable (which may be at a time before or after the sick leave has started).

             (4)  The required document must include a statement to the effect that:

                     (a)  if the required document is a medical certificate—in the registered health practitioner’s opinion, the employee was, is, or will be unfit for work during the period because of a personal illness or injury; or

                     (b)  if the required document is a statutory declaration—the employee was, is, or will be unfit for work during the period because of a personal illness or injury.

             (5)  This section does not apply to an employee who could not comply with it because of circumstances beyond the employee’s control.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

255  Carer’s leave—notice

             (1)  To be entitled to carer’s leave during a period, an employee must give his or her employer notice in accordance with this section.

             (2)  The notice must be given to the employer as soon as reasonably practicable (which may be at a time before or after the carer’s leave has started).

             (3)  The notice must be to the effect that the employee requires (or required) leave during the period to provide care or support to a member of the employee’s immediate family, or a member of the employee’s household, who requires (or required) care or support because of:

                     (a)  a personal illness, or injury, of the member; or

                     (b)  an unexpected emergency affecting the member.

             (4)  This section does not apply to an employee who could not comply with it because of circumstances beyond the employee’s control.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

256  Carer’s leave—documentary evidence

             (1)  This section applies if an employer requires an employee of the employer to give the employer documentary evidence in relation to a period of carer’s leave taken (or to be taken) by the employee to provide care or support to a member of the employee’s immediate family or a member of the employee’s household.

             (2)  To be entitled to carer’s leave during the period, the employee must, in accordance with this section, give the employer a document (the relevant document) that is:

                     (a)  if the care or support is required because of a personal illness, or injury, of the member—a medical certificate from a registered health practitioner, or a statutory declaration made by the employee; or

                     (b)  if the care or support is required because of an unexpected emergency affecting the member—a statutory declaration made by the employee.

             (3)  The relevant document must be given to the employer as soon as reasonably practicable (which may be at a time before or after the carer’s leave has started).

             (4)  If the relevant document is a medical certificate, it must include a statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the registered health practitioner, the member had, has, or will have a personal illness or injury during the period.

             (5)  If the relevant document is a statutory declaration, it must include a statement to the effect that the employee requires (or required) leave during the period to provide care or support to the member because the member requires (or required) care or support during the period because of:

                     (a)  a personal illness, or injury, of the member; or

                     (b)  an unexpected emergency affecting the member.

             (6)  This section does not apply to an employee who could not comply with it because of circumstances beyond the employee’s control.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

Subdivision E—Guarantee of compassionate leave

257  The guarantee

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, compassionate leave is paid leave taken by an employee:

                     (a)  for the purposes of spending time with a person who:

                              (i)  is a member of the employee’s immediate family or a member of the employee’s household; and

                             (ii)  has a personal illness, or injury, that poses a serious threat to his or her life; or

                     (b)  after the death of a member of the employee’s immediate family or a member of the employee’s household.

             (2)  Subject to this Subdivision, an employee is entitled to a period of 2 days of compassionate leave for each occasion (a permissible occasion) when a member of the employee’s immediate family or a member of the employee’s household:

                     (a)  contracts or develops a personal illness that poses a serious threat to his or her life; or

                     (b)  sustains a personal injury that poses a serious threat to his or her life; or

                     (c)  dies.

             (3)  However, the employee is entitled to compassionate leave only if the employee gives his or her employer any evidence that the employer reasonably requires of the illness, injury or death.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

258  Taking compassionate leave

             (1)  An employee who is entitled to a period of compassionate leave under section 257 for a particular permissible occasion is entitled to take the compassionate leave as:

                     (a)  a single, unbroken period of 2 days; or

                     (b)  2 separate periods of 1 day each; or

                     (c)  any separate periods to which the employee and his or her employer agree.

             (2)  An employee who is entitled to a period of compassionate leave under section 257 because a member of the employee’s immediate family or a member of the employee’s household has contracted or developed a personal illness, or sustained a personal injury, is entitled to start to take the compassionate leave at any time while the illness or injury persists.

259  Compassionate leave—payment rule

                   If an employee takes compassionate leave during a period, the employee must be paid a rate for each hour (pro‑rated for part hours) of compassionate leave taken that is no less than the rate that, immediately before the period begins, is the employee’s basic periodic rate of pay (expressed as an hourly rate).

Subdivision F—Personal leave: service

260  Paid personal leave—service

             (1)  A period of paid personal leave does not break an employee’s continuity of service.

             (2)  Paid personal leave counts as service for all purposes except as prescribed by the regulations.

             (3)  In this section:

paid personal leave means paid personal/carer’s leave or compassionate leave.

261  Unpaid carer’s leave—service

             (1)  A period of unpaid carer’s leave does not break an employee’s continuity of service.

             (2)  However, a period of unpaid carer’s leave does not otherwise count as service except:

                     (a)  as expressly provided by or under:

                              (i)  a term or condition of the employee’s employment; or

                             (ii)  a law, or an instrument in force under a law, of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or

                     (b)  as prescribed by the regulations.

 

Division 6—Parental leave

Subdivision A—Preliminary

262  Employees to whom Division applies

             (1)  This Division applies to all employees, other than casual employees who are not eligible casual employees.

             (2)  This Division establishes minimum entitlements and so is intended to supplement, and not to override, entitlements under other Commonwealth legislation.

263  Definitions

                   In this Division:

adoption agency means an agency, office, court or other entity that is authorised under a law of the Commonwealth, a State, a Territory or a foreign country to perform functions in relation to adoption.

adoption leave has the meaning given by subsection 300(1).

authorised leave means leave, or an absence, whether paid or unpaid, that is authorised:

                     (a)  by an employee’s employer; or

                     (b)  by or under a term or condition of an employee’s employment; or

                     (c)  by or under a law, or an instrument in force under a law, of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

basic periodic rate of pay has the meaning given by section 178.

Note:          See also section 264A.

continuous service, in relation to a period of an employee’s service with an employer, means service with the employer as an employee during the whole of the period, including (as a part of the period) any of the following periods:

                     (a)  a period of authorised leave;

                     (b)  a period (the casual period) during which the employee was a casual employee, if:

                              (i)  during the casual period, the employee was engaged on a regular and systematic basis by the employer; and

                             (ii)  during the casual period, the employee had a reasonable expectation of continuing employment by the employer.

day of placement: the day of placement of a child with an employee for an adoption is:

                     (a)  subject to paragraph (b), the earlier of the following days:

                              (i)  the day on which the employee first takes custody of the child for the adoption;

                             (ii)  the day on which the employee starts any travel that is reasonably necessary to take custody of the child for the adoption; or

                     (b)  if the child’s adoption by an employee is authorised by an adoption agency after the child has started living with the employee (unless the employee has travelled overseas to take custody of the child for an adoption intended to occur in Australia)—the day on which the adoption is authorised by the agency.

de facto spouse, of an employee, means a person of the opposite sex to the employee who lives with the employee as the employee’s husband or wife on a genuine domestic basis although not legally married to the employee.

eligible casual employee has the meaning given by section 264.

eligible child has the meaning given by section 298.

employee means an employee to whom this Division applies under subsection 262(1).

expected date of birth, of a child of an employee who is or was pregnant, means:

                     (a)  if, to comply with a requirement under Subdivision C, the employee has given her employer a medical certificate stating the expected date of birth of the child or a date that would be, or would have been, the expected date of birth of the child—the stated date; or

                     (b)  if the employee could not comply with a requirement mentioned in paragraph (a) because of circumstances beyond her control—the date of birth of the child that could reasonably be expected if the pregnancy were to go to full term.

long adoption leave has the meaning given by paragraph 300(1)(b).

long paternity leave has the meaning given by paragraph 282(1)(b).

maternity leave has the meaning given by subsection 265(1).

medical certificate means a certificate signed by a medical practitioner.

medical practitioner means a person registered, or licensed, as a medical practitioner under a law of a State or Territory that provides for the registration or licensing of medical practitioners.

ordinary maternity leave has the meaning given by paragraph 265(1)(b).

paternity leave has the meaning given by subsection 282(1).

piece rate employee means an employee who is paid a piece rate of pay within the meaning of section 178.

placement, of a child, means:

                     (a)  subject to paragraph (b)—the placement, by an adoption agency, of the child into the custody of an employee for adoption; or

                     (b)  if the child’s adoption by an employee is authorised by an adoption agency after the child has started living with the employee—the authorisation of the adoption by the adoption agency.

Note:          Day of placement is also defined in this section.

pre‑adoption leave has the meaning given by subsection 299(2).

pregnancy‑related illness means an illness related to pregnancy.

primary care‑giver, of a child, means a person who assumes the principal role of providing care and attention to the child.

short adoption leave has the meaning given by paragraph 300(1)(a).

short paternity leave has the meaning given by paragraph 282(1)(a).

special maternity leave has the meaning given by paragraph 265(1)(a).

spouse includes the following:

                     (a)  a former spouse;

                     (b)  a de facto spouse;

                     (c)  a former de facto spouse.

264  Meaning of eligible casual employee

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, an eligible casual employee is a casual employee:

                     (a)  who has been engaged by a particular employer on a regular and systematic basis for a sequence of periods of employment during a period of at least 12 months; and

                     (b)  who, but for an expected birth or an expected placement of a child, would have a reasonable expectation of continuing engagement by the employer on a regular and systematic basis.

             (2)  Without limiting subsection (1), for the purposes of this Division, a casual employee is also an eligible casual employee if:

                     (a)  the employee was engaged by a particular employer on a regular and systematic basis for a sequence of periods during a period (the first period of employment) of less than 12 months; and

                     (b)  at the end of the first period of employment, the employee ceased, on the employer’s initiative, to be so engaged by the employer; and

                     (c)  the employer later again engaged the employee on a regular and systematic basis for a further sequence of periods during a period (the second period of employment) that started not more than 3 months after the end of the first period of employment; and

                     (d)  the combined length of the first period of employment and the second period of employment is at least 12 months; and

                     (e)  the employee, but for an expected birth or an expected placement of a child, would have a reasonable expectation of continuing engagement by the employer on a regular and systematic basis.

264A  Regulations may prescribe different definition for piece rate employees

                   The regulations may prescribe a different definition of basic periodic rate of pay for the purposes of the application of this Division in relation to piece rate employees.

Subdivision B—Guarantee of maternity leave

265  The guarantee

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, maternity leave is:

                     (a)  unpaid leave (special maternity leave) taken by an employee because:

                              (i)  she is pregnant, and has a pregnancy‑related illness; or

                             (ii)  she has been pregnant, and the pregnancy has ended within 28 weeks before the expected date of birth of the child otherwise than by the birth of a living child; or

                     (b)  a single, unbroken period of unpaid leave (ordinary maternity leave) taken in respect of the birth, or the expected birth, of a child of an employee (other than leave taken as special maternity leave).

             (2)  Subject to this Subdivision and Subdivision D, an employee is entitled to maternity leave if:

                     (a)  she complies with the documentation requirements under Subdivision C, to the extent to which they apply to her; and

                     (b)  immediately before the expected date of birth of the child:

                              (i)  she has, or will have, completed at least 12 months continuous service with her employer; or

                             (ii)  she is, or will be, an eligible casual employee.

Note:          Entitlement to maternity leave is subject to the restrictions in sections 266 and 267 and Subdivision D.

             (3)  An employee is taken not to have been entitled to a period of maternity leave at any time after the start of the period if:

                     (a)  Subdivision C:

                              (i)  required the employee to give a document (the required document) to her employer; and

                             (ii)  allowed the employee to give the required document to her employer after the start of the leave; and

                     (b)  when the employee started the leave, the employee had not given her employer the required document; and

                     (c)  the employee did not later give the required document to her employer within the period required under Subdivision C.

Note:          Under Subdivision C, an employee may be required to give her employer a medical certificate, an application or a statutory declaration (depending on the circumstances).

             (4)  Subject to this Division, an employee may take special maternity leave, ordinary maternity leave, or both.

266  Period of maternity leave

             (1)  In this section:

related authorised leave, in relation to maternity leave taken (or to be taken) by an employee, means any of the following types of authorised leave other than the maternity leave:

                     (a)  authorised leave (other than paid leave under subparagraph 268(2)(b)(i) or (ii)) taken by the employee because of any of the following:

                              (i)  her pregnancy;

                             (ii)  the birth of the child;

                            (iii)  the end of her pregnancy otherwise than by the birth of a living child;

                            (iv)  the death of the child;

                     (b)  paternity leave, or any other authorised leave of the same type as paternity leave, taken by the employee’s spouse because of the birth of the child.

             (2)  An employee may take a period of maternity leave as part of a continuous period including any other authorised leave.

             (3)  The maximum total amount of maternity leave (including special maternity leave and ordinary maternity leave) to which an employee is entitled in relation to the birth of a child is 52 weeks, less an amount equal to the total amount of related authorised leave taken:

                     (a)  by the employee before or after the maternity leave; and

                     (b)  by the employee’s spouse before, during or after the maternity leave.

Example:    Rosa is a pregnant employee entitled to maternity leave. She has taken 2 weeks of special maternity leave, but no other authorised leave. Rosa intends to take authorised leave because of the birth consisting of 4 weeks of annual leave and 12 weeks of long service leave, and a period of ordinary maternity leave.

                   Rosa’s spouse Jim intends to take 1 week of short paternity leave.

                   The maximum amount of ordinary maternity leave to which Rosa is entitled is 33 weeks, worked out as follows:

(a)           the maximum entitlement of any employee to maternity leave is 52 weeks;

(b)           the maximum amount of ordinary maternity leave available to Rosa must be reduced by 2 weeks for her special maternity leave;

(c)           the maximum amount must also be reduced by 16 weeks for Rosa’s annual leave and long service leave;

(d)           the maximum amount must be further reduced by 1 week for Jim’s short paternity leave.

267  Period of special maternity leave

             (1)  An employee is not entitled to a period of special maternity leave longer than the period stated in a medical certificate given to the employer for the purposes of section 269.

Note:          Section 269 requires an employee to give her employer a medical certificate (and other documents) in order to be entitled to special maternity leave. However, the section does not apply to an employee who could not comply with the section because of circumstances beyond her control (see subsection 269(5)).

             (2)  In addition, a period of special maternity leave must end before the employee starts any continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) ordinary maternity leave.

268  Transfer to a safe job

             (1)  This section applies to an employee if:

                     (a)  she is entitled to ordinary maternity leave; and

                     (b)  she has already complied with the documentation requirements under sections 270 and 271; and

                     (c)  the employee gives her employer a medical certificate from a medical practitioner containing a statement to the effect that, in the medical practitioner’s opinion, the employee is fit to work, but that it is inadvisable for her to continue in her present position for a stated period because of:

                              (i)  illness, or risks, arising out of her pregnancy; or

                             (ii)  hazards connected with that position.

             (2)  If this section applies to an employee:

                     (a)  if the employee’s employer thinks it to be reasonably practicable to transfer the employee to a safe job—the employer must transfer the employee to the safe job, with no other change to the employee’s terms and conditions of employment; or

                     (b)  if the employee’s employer does not think it to be reasonably practicable to transfer the employee to a safe job:

                              (i)  the employee may take paid leave immediately for a period ending at the time mentioned in paragraph (4)(b); or

                             (ii)  the employer may require the employee to take paid leave immediately for a period ending at the time mentioned in paragraph (4)(b).

Note:          An employer may ask an employee to give the employer a statement from a medical practitioner as to the employee’s fitness to work (see subsections 274(2) and (2A)).

             (3)  If the employee takes paid leave under subparagraph (2)(b)(i) or (ii) during a period, the employee must be paid a rate for each hour (pro‑rated for part hours) of paid leave taken that is no less than the rate that, immediately before the period begins, is the employee’s basic periodic rate of pay (expressed as an hourly rate).

             (4)  If the employee takes paid leave under subparagraph (2)(b)(i) or (ii):

                     (a)  the entitlement to leave is in addition to any other leave entitlement she has; and

                     (b)  the period of leave ends at the earliest of whichever of the following times is applicable:

                              (i)  the end of the period stated in the medical certificate;

                             (ii)  if the employee’s pregnancy results in the birth of a living child—the end of the day before the date of birth;

                            (iii)  if the employee’s pregnancy ends otherwise than with the birth of a living child—the end of the day before the end of the pregnancy.

             (5)  To avoid doubt, this section applies whether the employee gives the medical certificate to the employer because of a request under subsection 274(2) or otherwise.

Subdivision C—Maternity leave: documentation

269  Special maternity leave—documentation

Requirement for application

             (1)  To be entitled to special maternity leave during a period, an employee must give her employer a written application for special maternity leave, in accordance with this section, stating the first and last days of the period.

Pregnancy‑related illness—medical certificate

             (2)  An application for special maternity leave required because of a pregnancy‑related illness must be accompanied by a medical certificate from a medical practitioner containing the following statements of the medical practitioner’s opinion:

                     (a)  a statement that the employee is pregnant;

                     (b)  a statement of the expected date of birth;

                     (c)  a statement to the effect that the employee is, was, or will be unfit to work for a stated period because of a pregnancy‑related illness.

End of pregnancy—medical certificate and statutory declaration

             (3)  An application for special maternity leave required because of the end of the employee’s pregnancy otherwise than by the birth of a living child must be accompanied by:

                     (a)  a medical certificate from a medical practitioner containing the following statements of the medical practitioner’s opinion:

                              (i)  a statement that the employee was pregnant, but that the pregnancy has ended otherwise than by the birth of a living child;

                             (ii)  a statement of what the expected date of birth would have been if the pregnancy had gone to full term;

                            (iii)  a statement that the pregnancy ended on a stated day within 28 weeks before the expected date of birth;

                            (iv)  a statement to the effect that the employee is, was, or will be unfit for work during a stated period; and

                     (b)  a statutory declaration made by the employee stating the following:

                              (i)  the first and last days of the period (or periods) of any other authorised leave taken by the employee because of a pregnancy‑related illness or the end of the pregnancy;

                             (ii)  that the employee will not engage in any conduct inconsistent with her contract of employment while on maternity leave.

Time for giving application to employer

             (4)  The application, medical certificate and statutory declaration (if required) must be given to the employer before, or as soon as reasonably practicable after, starting a continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) the special maternity leave.

Section does not apply if could not be complied with

             (5)  This section does not apply to an employee who could not comply with the section because of circumstances beyond her control.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

270  Ordinary maternity leave—medical certificate

Requirement for medical certificate

             (1)  To be entitled to ordinary maternity leave, an employee must give her employer a medical certificate from a medical practitioner in accordance with this section.

General rules

             (2)  The medical certificate must contain the following statements of the medical practitioner’s opinion:

                     (a)  a statement that the employee is pregnant;

                     (b)  a statement of the expected date of birth.

             (3)  The medical certificate mentioned in subsection (2) must be given to the employer no later than 10 weeks before the expected date of birth (as stated in the certificate).

Premature birth or other compelling reason

             (4)  However, subsections (2) and (3) do not apply if it was not reasonably practicable for a medical certificate mentioned in subsection (2) to be given to the employer by the time required by subsection (3) because of:

                     (a)  the premature birth of the employee’s child; or

                     (b)  any other compelling reason.

             (5)  If subsections (2) and (3) do not apply:

                     (a)  subject to paragraph (b), as soon as reasonably practicable before the birth of the child (which may be at a time before or after the maternity leave has started) the employee must give the employer a medical certificate from a medical practitioner containing the following statements of the medical practitioner’s opinion:

                              (i)  a statement that the employee is pregnant;

                             (ii)  a statement of the expected date of birth if the pregnancy were to go to full term; or

                     (b)  if it was not reasonably practicable for the employee to comply with paragraph (a) before the birth of the child—as soon as reasonably practicable after the birth of the child (which may be at a time before or after the maternity leave has started) the employee must give the employer a medical certificate from a medical practitioner containing the following statements of the medical practitioner’s opinion (or knowledge):

                              (i)  a statement of the actual date of birth;

                             (ii)  a statement of the expected date of birth as at the 70th day before the actual date of birth.

Section does not apply if could not be complied with

             (6)  This section does not apply to an employee who could not comply with the section because of circumstances beyond her control.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

271  Ordinary maternity leave—application

Requirement for application

             (1)  To be entitled to ordinary maternity leave during a period, an employee must give her employer a written application for ordinary maternity leave in accordance with this section stating the first and last days of the period.

General rule

             (2)  The application must be given to the employer no later than 4 weeks before the first day of the intended continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) ordinary maternity leave.

Premature birth or other compelling reason

             (3)  However, subsection (2) does not apply if it was not reasonably practicable for the employee to comply with it because of:

                     (a)  the premature birth of the employee’s child; or

                     (b)  any other compelling reason.

             (4)  If subsection (2) does not apply, the application must be made as soon as reasonably practicable (which may be at a time before or after the maternity leave has started).

Statutory declaration with application

             (5)  The application must be accompanied by a statutory declaration made by the employee stating the following:

                     (a)  the first and last days of the period (or periods) of any other authorised leave (other than paid leave under subparagraph 268(2)(b)(i) or (ii)) intended to be taken (or already taken) by the employee because of her pregnancy or the expected birth;

                     (b)  the first and last days of the period (or periods) of any paternity leave, or any other authorised leave of the same type as paternity leave, intended to be taken (or already taken) by the employee’s spouse because of the expected birth;

                     (c)  that the employee intends to be the child’s primary care‑giver at all times while on maternity leave;

                     (d)  that the employee will not engage in any conduct inconsistent with her contract of employment while on maternity leave.

Section does not apply if could not be complied with

             (6)  This section does not apply to an employee who could not comply with the section because of circumstances beyond her control.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

Subdivision D—Maternity leave: from start to finish

272  Maternity leave—start of leave

                   Subject to section 274, an employee may start a continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) ordinary maternity leave to which she is entitled at any time within 6 weeks before the expected date of birth of the child.

273  Requirement to take leave—for 6 weeks after birth

                   A continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) ordinary maternity leave must include a period of leave of at least 6 weeks starting from the date of birth of the child.

274  Requirement to take leave—within 6 weeks before birth

             (1)  This section applies to an employee if:

                     (a)  she is entitled to ordinary maternity leave; and

                     (b)  she has already complied with the documentation requirements under sections 270 and 271.

             (2)  If the employee continues to work, during the period of 6 weeks before the expected date of birth, the employer may ask the employee to give the employer a medical certificate from a medical practitioner containing the following statement or statements of the medical practitioner’s opinion:

                     (a)  a statement of whether the employee is fit to work;

                     (b)  if, in the opinion of the medical practitioner, the employee is fit to work—a statement of whether it is inadvisable for the employee to continue in her present position for a stated period because of:

                              (i)  illness, or risks, arising out of the pregnancy; or

                             (ii)  hazards connected with the position.

Note:          Under section 268, the employee is entitled to be transferred to a safe job or to paid leave (depending on the circumstances) if the employee gives the employer a medical certificate stating that the employee is fit to work, but that illness or risks arising out of the employee’s pregnancy or hazards connected with the work assigned to the employee make it inadvisable for the employee to continue in her present position.

          (2A)  If the employee takes paid leave under subparagraph 268(2)(b)(i) or (ii) during the period of 6 weeks before the expected date of birth, the employer may, at any time during the period of leave, ask the employee to give the employer a medical certificate from a medical practitioner containing a statement of the medical practitioner’s opinion of whether the employee is fit to work.

             (3)  The employer may require the employee to start a continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) maternity leave as soon as reasonably practicable, if the employee:

                     (a)  does not give the employer the requested certificate within 7 days after the request; or

                     (b)  within 7 days after the request for the certificate, gives the employer a medical certificate stating that the employee is unfit to work.

275  End of pregnancy—effect on ordinary maternity leave entitlement

             (1)  This section applies if the pregnancy of an employee ends otherwise than by the birth of a living child.

             (2)  If, when the pregnancy ended, the employee had not yet started a period of ordinary maternity leave, the employee is not, or is no longer, entitled to ordinary maternity leave in relation to the previously expected birth.

Note:          However, the employee may be entitled to take special maternity leave because of the end of the pregnancy. An application for special maternity leave may be made after the leave has started (see section 269).

             (3)  If, when the pregnancy ended, the employee had started a period of ordinary maternity leave, the employee’s entitlement to ordinary maternity leave in relation to the previously expected birth is not affected by the end of the pregnancy.

Note:          The employee may shorten the period of ordinary maternity leave by agreement with the employer under section 278. However, to take advantage of the return to work guarantee under section 280, the employee must also give the employer at least 4 weeks written notice of the proposed day of her return to work.

276  Death of child—effect on ordinary maternity leave entitlement

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  an employee gives birth to a living child, but the child later dies; and

                     (b)  when the child died, the employee had started a period of ordinary maternity leave in relation to the child’s birth.

             (2)  Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the employee’s entitlement to the ordinary maternity leave is not affected by the death of the child.

Note:          The employee may shorten the period of ordinary maternity leave by agreement with the employer under section 278. However, to take advantage of the return to work guarantee under section 280, the employee must also give the employer at least 4 weeks written notice of the proposed day of her return to work.

             (3)  The employee’s employer may give the employee written notice that, from a stated day, any untaken ordinary maternity leave that the employee remains entitled to at the stated day is cancelled with effect from that day.

             (4)  The day stated in the notice must be no earlier than the later of the following days:

                     (a)  the day that is 4 weeks after the day the notice was given;

                     (b)  the day that is 6 weeks after the date of birth.

             (5)  The employee’s entitlement to any untaken ordinary maternity leave in relation to the birth ends with effect from the day stated in the notice.

277  End of ordinary maternity leave if employee stops being primary care‑giver

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  during a substantial period while an employee is on ordinary maternity leave after the birth of a living child, the employee is not the child’s primary care‑giver; and

                     (b)  having regard to the length of that period and to any other relevant circumstances, it is reasonable to expect that the employee will not again become the child’s primary care‑giver within a reasonable period.

             (2)  The employee’s employer may give the employee written notice that, from a stated day no earlier than 4 weeks after the day the notice is given, any untaken ordinary maternity leave that the employee remains entitled to at the stated day is cancelled with effect from that day.

             (3)  The employee’s entitlement to any untaken ordinary maternity leave in relation to the birth ends with effect from the day stated in the notice.

278  Variation of period of ordinary maternity leave

             (1)  This section applies after an employee has started a continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) ordinary maternity leave.

             (2)  Subject to Subdivision B and sections 276 and 277:

                     (a)  the employee may extend the period of maternity leave once by giving her employer 14 days written notice before the end of the period stating the period by which the leave is extended; and

                     (b)  the period of maternity leave may be further extended by agreement between the employee and her employer.

             (3)  Subject to section 273, the period of maternity leave may be shortened by written agreement between the employee and her employer.

Note:          However, to take advantage of the return to work guarantee under section 280, the employee must also give her employer at least 4 weeks written notice of the proposed day for her return to work.

279  Employee’s right to terminate employment during maternity leave

             (1)  An employee may terminate her employment at any time during a period of maternity leave or leave under subparagraph 268(2)(b)(i) or (ii).

             (2)  The employee’s right to terminate her employment is subject to any notice required to be given by the employee by or under:

                     (a)  a term or condition of her employment; or

                     (b)  a law, or an instrument in force under a law, of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

280  Return to work guarantee—maternity leave

             (1)  This section applies to an employee who returns to work after a period of leave including (or constituted by) maternity leave (the maternity‑related leave period) if:

                     (a)  the employee gives her employer written notice of the proposed day of her return to work no later than 4 weeks before that day; or

                     (b)  the period of leave includes (or is constituted by) special maternity leave, and does not include any ordinary maternity leave; or

                     (c)  the employee’s entitlement to ordinary maternity leave ends under section 276 or 277.

             (2)  This section also applies if an employee returns to work after a period of leave under subparagraph 268(2)(b)(i) or (ii).

             (3)  Subject to subsections (4) and (5), the employee is entitled to return:

                     (a)  unless paragraph (b) or (c) applies—to the position she held immediately before the start of the maternity‑related leave period; or

                     (b)  if she was promoted or voluntarily transferred to a new position (other than to a safe job under paragraph 268(2)(a)) during the maternity‑related leave period—to the new position; or

                     (c)  if paragraph (b) does not apply, and she began working part‑time because of her pregnancy—to the position she held immediately before starting to work part‑time.

             (4)  If subsection (3) would, apart from this subsection, entitle the employee to return to a position that the employee had been transferred to under paragraph 268(2)(a), the employee is instead entitled to return to the position she held immediately before the transfer.

             (5)  If the position (the former position) no longer exists, and the employee is qualified and able to work for her employer in another position, the employee is entitled to return to:

                     (a)  that position; or

                     (b)  if there are 2 or more such positions—whichever position is nearest in status and remuneration to the former position.

281  Replacement employees—maternity leave

             (1)  Before an employer engages an employee (a primary replacement) to do the work of another employee because the other employee is taking a continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) maternity leave, the employer must tell the primary replacement:

                     (a)  that the engagement to do that work is temporary; and

                     (b)  what the rights of the employee taking maternity leave are under section 280 when she returns to work after the period of leave.

             (2)  Before an employer engages an employee (a secondary replacement) to do the work of another employee (the primary replacement) because the primary replacement has been temporarily promoted or transferred to do the work of a third employee while the third employee is taking a continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) maternity leave, the employer must tell the secondary replacement:

                     (a)  that the engagement to do that work is temporary; and

                     (b)  what the rights of the employee taking maternity leave are under section 280 when she returns to work after the period of leave.

             (3)  In this section:

employee has the meaning given by subsection 5(1).

Subdivision E—Guarantee of paternity leave

282  The guarantee

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, paternity leave is:

                     (a)  a single, unbroken period of unpaid leave (short paternity leave) of up to one week taken by a male employee within the week starting on the day his spouse begins to give birth; or

                     (b)  a single, unbroken period of unpaid leave (long paternity leave), other than short paternity leave, taken by a male employee after his spouse gives birth to a living child so that the employee can be the child’s primary care‑giver.

             (2)  Subject to this Subdivision and Subdivision G, an employee is entitled to paternity leave if:

                     (a)  he complies with the documentation requirements under Subdivision F, to the extent to which they apply to him; and

                     (b)  immediately before the first day on which the paternity leave is, or is to be, taken:

                              (i)  he has, or will have, completed at least 12 months continuous service with his employer; or

                             (ii)  he is, or will be, an eligible casual employee.

Note:          Entitlement to paternity leave is subject to the restrictions in sections 283 and 285 and Subdivision G.

             (3)  An employee is taken not to have been entitled to a period of paternity leave at any time after the start of the period if:

                     (a)  Subdivision F:

                              (i)  required the employee to give a document (the required document) to his employer; and

                             (ii)  allowed the employee to give the required document to his employer after the start of the leave; and

                     (b)  when the employee started the leave, the employee had not given his employer the required document; and

                     (c)  the employee did not later give the required document to his employer within the period required under Subdivision F.

Note:          Under Subdivision F, an employee may be required to give his employer a medical certificate, an application or a statutory declaration (depending on the circumstances).

             (4)  Subject to this Division, an employee may take short paternity leave, long paternity leave, or both.

283  Period of paternity leave

             (1)  In this section:

related authorised leave, in relation to paternity leave taken (or to be taken) by an employee because his spouse has given birth to a living child, means any of the following types of authorised leave other than the paternity leave:

                     (a)  authorised leave taken by the employee because of any of the following:

                              (i)  the birth of the child;

                             (ii)  the death of the child;

                     (b)  maternity leave, or any other authorised leave of the same type as maternity leave, taken by the employee’s spouse because of the birth of the child or the pregnancy.

             (2)  An employee may take a period of paternity leave as part of a continuous period including any other authorised leave.

             (3)  The maximum total amount of paternity leave (including short paternity leave and long paternity leave) to which an employee is entitled in relation to the birth of a child by his spouse is 52 weeks, less an amount equal to the total amount of related authorised leave taken:

                     (a)  by the employee before or after the paternity leave; and

                     (b)  by the spouse before, during or after the paternity leave.

Example:    Max’s spouse Rachel is pregnant, and Max is an employee entitled to paternity leave. He intends to take 2 periods of authorised leave because of the birth of the child. The first is to consist of 5 weeks: 1 week of short paternity leave and 4 weeks of annual leave. The second is to consist of a later period of long paternity leave starting 20 weeks after the birth, when Max is to be the primary care‑giver for the child after Rachel returns to work.

                   Rachel has not taken any special maternity leave or other authorised leave during her pregnancy. She intends to take 20 weeks of maternity leave because of the birth of the child.

                   The maximum amount of long paternity leave to which Max is entitled is 27 weeks, worked out as follows:

(a)           the maximum entitlement of any employee to paternity leave is 52 weeks;

(b)           the maximum amount of long paternity leave available to Max must be reduced by 1 week for his short paternity leave;

(c)           the maximum amount must also be reduced by 4 weeks for Max’s annual leave;

(d)           the maximum amount must be further reduced by 20 weeks for Rachel’s maternity leave.

Note:          A period of long paternity leave must end within 12 months after the date of birth of the child (see section 290).

284  Short paternity leave—concurrent leave taken by spouse

                   An employee may take short paternity leave in relation to the birth of a child by his spouse while the spouse is taking any authorised leave, including maternity leave (if any), in relation to the birth.

285  Long paternity leave—not to be concurrent with maternity leave taken by spouse

                   A period of long paternity leave taken by an employee in relation to the birth of a child by his spouse must not include any period during which the spouse is taking maternity leave, or any other authorised leave of the same type as maternity leave, because of the birth.

Subdivision F—Paternity leave: documentation

286  Paternity leave—medical certificate

Requirement for medical certificate

             (1)  To be entitled to paternity leave, an employee must give his employer a medical certificate from a medical practitioner in accordance with this section.

             (2)  The medical certificate must contain the following statements of the medical practitioner’s opinion (or knowledge):

                     (a)  if the child has not yet been born:

                              (i)  the name of the employee’s spouse; and

                             (ii)  that the employee’s spouse is pregnant; and

                            (iii)  the date on which the birth is expected;

                     (b)  if the child has been born:

                              (i)  the name of the employee’s spouse; and

                             (ii)  the actual date of birth of the child.

General rule

             (3)  The medical certificate must be given to the employer no later than 10 weeks before the date stated in the certificate.

Premature birth or other compelling reason

             (4)  However, the medical certificate must be given to the employer as soon as reasonably practicable (which may be at a time before or after the paternity leave has started) if it was not reasonably practicable for the employee to comply with subsection (3) because of:

                     (a)  the premature birth of the child; or

                     (b)  any other compelling reason.

Section does not apply if could not be complied with

             (5)  This section does not apply to an employee who could not comply with the section because of circumstances beyond his control.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

287  Short paternity leave—application

             (1)  To be entitled to short paternity leave during a period, an employee must give his employer a written application for short paternity leave, in accordance with this section, stating the first and last days of the period.

             (2)  The application must be given to the employer as soon as reasonably practicable on or after the first day of the period of leave.

             (3)  This section does not apply to an employee who could not comply with the section because of circumstances beyond his control.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

288  Long paternity leave—documentation

Requirement for application

             (1)  To be entitled to long paternity leave during a period, an employee must give his employer a written application for long paternity leave in accordance with this section stating the first and last days of the period.

General rule

             (2)  The application must be given to the employer no later than 10 weeks before the first day of the intended continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) the long paternity leave.

Premature birth or other compelling reason

             (3)  However, the application must be made as soon as reasonably practicable (which may be at a time before or after the long paternity leave has started) if it was not reasonably practicable for the employee to comply with subsection (2) because of:

                     (a)  the premature birth of the child; or

                     (b)  any other compelling reason.

Statutory declaration with application

             (4)  The application must be accompanied by a statutory declaration made by the employee stating the following:

                     (a)  the first and last days of the period (or periods) of any other authorised leave intended to be taken (or already taken) by the employee because of the birth or the expected birth;

                     (b)  the first and last days of the period (or periods) of any maternity leave, or any other authorised leave of the same type as maternity leave, intended to be taken (or already taken) by the employee’s spouse because of the pregnancy, the birth or the expected birth;

                     (c)  that the employee intends to be the child’s primary care‑giver at all times while on long paternity leave;

                     (d)  that the employee will not engage in any conduct inconsistent with his contract of employment while on long paternity leave.

Section does not apply if could not be complied with

             (5)  This section does not apply to an employee who could not comply with the section because of circumstances beyond his control.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

Subdivision G—Paternity leave: from start to finish

289  Short paternity leave—when taken

                   An employee may take short paternity leave to which he is entitled at any time within the week starting on the day his spouse begins to give birth.

Note:          Short paternity leave must be taken in a single, unbroken period (see section 282). The combined total of paternity leave and related authorised leave taken by the employee and his spouse must be no more than 52 weeks (see section 283). Short paternity leave may be taken concurrently with any authorised leave taken by the employee’s spouse in relation to the birth of the child (see section 284).

290  Long paternity leave—when taken

                   An employee may take long paternity leave to which he is entitled at any time within 12 months after the date of birth of the child.

Note:          Long paternity leave must be taken in a single, unbroken period (see section 282). The combined total of paternity leave and related authorised leave taken by the employee and his spouse must be no more than 52 weeks (see section 283). Long paternity leave must not be taken concurrently with any maternity leave, or any other authorised leave of the same type as maternity leave, taken by the employee’s spouse because of the birth of the child (see section 285).

291  End of pregnancy—effect on paternity leave

             (1)  This section applies if the pregnancy of an employee’s spouse ends otherwise than by the birth of a living child.

             (2)  The employee is not, or is no longer, entitled to paternity leave in relation to the pregnancy.

             (3)  To avoid doubt, this section does not affect any entitlement of an employee to short paternity leave that was taken by the employee in expectation of the birth.

292  Death of child—effect on paternity leave

             (1)  This section applies if an employee’s spouse gives birth to a living child, but the child later dies.

             (2)  If, when the child died, the employee had not yet started a period of paternity leave in relation to the birth, the employee is not, or is no longer, entitled to that leave.

             (3)  Subject to subsections (4) and (5), if, when the child died, the employee had started a period of paternity leave in relation to the birth, the employee’s entitlement to the leave is not affected by the death of the child.

Note:          The employee may shorten a period of long paternity leave by agreement with the employer under section 294. However, if the period of leave including (or constituted by) long paternity leave is longer than 4 weeks, to take advantage of the return to work guarantee under section 296, the employee must also give the employer at least 4 weeks written notice of the proposed day of his return to work.

             (4)  The employee’s employer may give the employee written notice that, from a stated day no earlier than 4 weeks after the day the notice is given, any untaken long paternity leave that the employee remains entitled to at the stated day is cancelled with effect from that day.

             (5)  The employee’s entitlement to any untaken long paternity leave in relation to the birth ends with effect from the day stated in the notice.

293  End of long paternity leave if employee stops being primary care‑giver

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  during a substantial period while an employee is on long paternity leave after the birth of a living child, the employee is not the child’s primary care‑giver; and

                     (b)  having regard to the length of that period and to any other relevant circumstances, it is reasonable to expect that the employee will not again become the child’s primary care‑giver within a reasonable period.

             (2)  The employee’s employer may give the employee written notice that, from a stated day no earlier than 4 weeks after the day the notice is given, any untaken long paternity leave that the employee remains entitled to at the stated day is cancelled with effect from that day.

             (3)  The employee’s entitlement to any untaken long paternity leave in relation to the birth ends with effect from the day stated in the notice.

294  Variation of period of long paternity leave

             (1)  This section applies after an employee has started a continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) long paternity leave.

             (2)  Subject to Subdivision E and sections 290, 292 and 293:

                     (a)  the employee may extend the period of long paternity leave once by giving his employer 14 days written notice before the end of the period stating the period by which the leave is extended; and

                     (b)  the period of long paternity leave may be further extended by agreement between the employee and his employer.

             (3)  The period of long paternity leave may be shortened by written agreement between the employee and his employer.

Note:          However, if the period of leave including (or constituted by) long paternity leave is longer than 4 weeks, to take advantage of the return to work guarantee under section 296, the employee must also give his employer at least 4 weeks written notice of the proposed day of his return to work.

295  Employee’s right to terminate employment during paternity leave

             (1)  An employee may terminate his employment at any time during a period of paternity leave.

             (2)  The employee’s right to terminate his employment is subject to any notice required to be given by the employee by or under:

                     (a)  a term or condition of his employment; or

                     (b)  a law, or an instrument in force under a law, of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

296  Return to work guarantee—paternity leave

             (1)  This section applies to an employee who returns to work after a period of leave including (or constituted by) paternity leave (the paternity‑related leave period) if:

                     (a)  the paternity‑related leave period is 4 weeks or less; or

                     (b)  if the paternity‑related leave period is longer than 4 weeks—the employee has given his employer written notice of the proposed day of his return to work no later than 4 weeks before that day; or

                     (c)  the employee’s entitlement to long paternity leave ends under section 292 or 293.

             (2)  The employee is entitled to return:

                     (a)  unless paragraph (b) or (c) applies—to the position he held immediately before the start of the paternity‑related leave period; or

                     (b)  if he was promoted or voluntarily transferred to a new position during the paternity‑related leave period—to the new position; or

                     (c)  if paragraph (b) does not apply, and he began working part‑time because of his spouse’s pregnancy—to the position he held immediately before starting to work part‑time.

             (3)  However, if the position (the former position) no longer exists, and the employee is qualified and able to work for his employer in another position, the employee is entitled to return to:

                     (a)  that position; or

                     (b)  if there are 2 or more such positions—whichever position is nearest in status and remuneration to the former position.

297  Replacement employees—long paternity leave

             (1)  Before an employer engages an employee (a primary replacement) to do the work of another employee because the other employee is taking a continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) paternity leave, the employer must tell the primary replacement:

                     (a)  that the engagement to do that work is temporary; and

                     (b)  what the rights of the employee taking paternity leave are under section 296 when he returns to work after the period of leave.

             (2)  Before an employer engages an employee (a secondary replacement) to do the work of another employee (the primary replacement) because the primary replacement has been temporarily promoted or transferred to do the work of a third employee while the third employee is taking a continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) paternity leave, the employer must tell the secondary replacement:

                     (a)  that the engagement to do that work is temporary; and

                     (b)  what the rights of the employee taking paternity leave are under section 296 when he returns to work after the period of leave.

             (3)  In this section:

employee has the meaning given by subsection 5(1).

Subdivision H—Guarantee of adoption leave

298  Meaning of eligible child

                   For the purposes of this Division, a child is an eligible child in relation to an employee with whom the child is, or is to be, placed for adoption, if the child:

                     (a)  is (or will be) under the age of 5 years as at the day of placement or the proposed day of placement; and

                     (b)  has not (or will have not) previously lived continuously with the employee for a period of 6 months or more as at the day of placement or the proposed day of placement; and

                     (c)  is not a child or step‑child of the employee or the employee’s spouse.

299  The guarantee—pre‑adoption leave

             (1)  This section applies if an employee is seeking to obtain approval to adopt an eligible child.

Entitlement to leave

             (2)  The employee is entitled to a period of up to 2 days unpaid leave (pre‑adoption leave) to attend any interviews or examinations required to obtain the approval.

             (3)  However, the employee is not entitled to take a period of pre‑adoption leave if:

                     (a)  the employee could take other authorised leave instead for the same period for the purpose mentioned in subsection (2); and

                     (b)  the employee’s employer directs the employee to take such leave for the period.

             (4)  An employee who is entitled to a period of pre‑adoption leave is entitled to take the leave as:

                     (a)  a single, unbroken, period of up to 2 days; or

                     (b)  any separate periods to which the employee and his or her employer agree.

Agreement between employees and employers

             (5)  For the purposes of paragraph (4)(b), an employee and an employer are taken to agree about a particular matter in a particular way if a provision of a workplace agreement binding the employee and the employer specifies that the matter is to be dealt with in that way.

             (6)  To avoid doubt, subsection (5) does not prevent employees and employers agreeing about matters by other means.

300  The guarantee—adoption leave

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, adoption leave is:

                     (a)  a single, unbroken period of unpaid leave (short adoption leave) of up to 3 weeks taken by an employee within the 3 weeks starting on the day of placement of an eligible child with the employee for adoption; or

                     (b)  a single, unbroken period of unpaid leave (long adoption leave), other than short adoption leave, taken by an employee after the day of placement of an eligible child with the employee for adoption so that the employee can be the child’s primary care‑giver.

             (2)  Subject to this Subdivision and Subdivision J, an employee is entitled to adoption leave if:

                     (a)  the employee complies with the applicable documentation requirements under Subdivision I; and

                     (b)  immediately before the first day on which the adoption leave is, or is to be, taken:

                              (i)  the employee has, or will have, completed at least 12 months continuous service with his or her employer; or

                             (ii)  the employee is, or will be, an eligible casual employee.

Note:          Entitlement to adoption leave is subject to the restrictions in sections 301 and 303 and Subdivision J.

             (3)  Subject to this Division, an employee may take short adoption leave, long adoption leave, or both.

301  Period of adoption leave

             (1)  In this section:

related authorised leave, in relation to adoption leave taken (or to be taken) by an employee because of the placement of a child with the employee and the employee’s spouse, means any of the following types of authorised leave other than pre‑adoption leave:

                     (a)  authorised leave, other than adoption leave, taken by the employee because of the placement of the child with the employee;

                     (b)  adoption leave, or any other authorised leave of the same type as adoption leave, taken by the spouse because of the placement of the child with the employee.

             (2)  An employee may take a period of adoption leave as part of a continuous period including any other authorised leave.

             (3)  The maximum total amount of adoption leave (including short adoption leave and long adoption leave) that an employee is entitled to in relation to a placement is 52 weeks, less an amount equal to the total amount of related authorised leave taken:

                     (a)  by the employee before or after the adoption leave; and

                     (b)  by the employee’s spouse before or after the adoption leave.

Example:    Susan and her spouse Ali propose to adopt a child, and both are employees entitled to adoption leave. Because of the placement of the child, Susan intends to take authorised leave consisting of 3 weeks of short adoption leave, 4 weeks of annual leave, 12 weeks of long service leave and a period of long adoption leave.

                   Because of the placement of the child, Ali intends to take 3 weeks of short adoption leave.

                   The maximum amount of long adoption leave to which Susan is entitled is 30 weeks, worked out as follows:

(a)           the maximum entitlement of any employee to adoption leave is 52 weeks;

(b)           the maximum amount of long adoption leave available to Susan must be reduced by 3 weeks for her short adoption leave;

(c)           the maximum amount must also be reduced by 16 weeks for Susan’s annual leave and long service leave;

(d)           the maximum amount must also be further reduced by 3 weeks for Ali’s short adoption leave.

Note:          A period of long adoption leave must end within 12 months after the day of placement of the child (see section 309).

302  Short adoption leave—concurrent leave taken by spouse

                   An employee may take short adoption leave in relation to the placement of a child while his or her spouse is taking any authorised leave, including adoption leave (if any), in relation to the placement.

303  Long adoption leave—not to be concurrent with adoption leave taken by spouse

                   A period of long adoption leave taken by an employee in relation to the placement of a child with the employee and the employee’s spouse must not include any period during which the spouse is taking adoption leave, or any other authorised leave of the same type as adoption leave, because of the placement.

Subdivision I—Adoption leave: documentation

304  Adoption leave—notice

Requirement for notice

             (1)  To be entitled to adoption leave, an employee must give his or her employer notice in accordance with this section.

Note:          After an employee has given his or her employer notice in accordance with this section, the employee will have satisfied the notice requirement in relation to the employee’s entitlement to both short adoption leave and long adoption leave.

Notices to be given to the employer

             (2)  An employee must give written notice to his or her employer of the employee’s intention to apply for adoption leave as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving notice (a placement approval notice) of the approval of the placement of an eligible child with the employee.

             (3)  An employee must give written notice to his or her employer of the day when the placement of an eligible child with the employee is expected to start as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving notice (a placement notice) of the expected day.

             (4)  An employee must give written notice to his or her employer of the first and last days of the periods of short and long adoption leave (or of either type of leave) the employee intends to apply for because of the placement:

                     (a)  if the employee receives a placement notice about the placement within the period of 8 weeks after receiving the placement approval notice—before the end of that 8 week period; or

                     (b)  if the employee receives a placement notice about the placement after the end of the period of 8 weeks after receiving the placement approval notice—as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving the placement notice.

Adoption of a relative of the employee

             (5)  If an eligible child who is to be adopted by an employee is a relative of the employee, and the employee decides to take the child into custody pending the authorisation of the placement of the child with the employee, the employee must:

                     (a)  give notice to his or her employer of the employee’s decision as soon as reasonably practicable after the decision is made; and

                     (b)  give the notices required by subsections (2), (3) and (4) in accordance with those subsections.

Note:          The employee’s entitlement to adoption leave after taking the child into custody starts when the adoption is authorised (this is the day of placement of the child—see definition of day of placement in section 263).

Adoption process started before engagement with the employer

             (6)  If, before starting an employee’s current period of engagement with his or her employer, the employee had already received a placement approval notice or a placement notice, or had made a decision to take a child into custody as mentioned in subsection (5), the employee must give the notices required by this section to the employer as soon as reasonable practicable after starting the period of engagement.

Note:          However, the employee is only entitled to take either short or long adoption leave if the employee will have completed 12 months continuous service with the employer immediately before the first day on which the leave is to be taken, or if the employee is an eligible casual employee (see section 300).

If employee cannot comply

             (7)  A notice under this section must be given to the employee’s employer as soon as reasonably practicable before the first day of adoption leave taken by the employee, if the employee cannot comply with subsection (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) because of:

                     (a)  the day when the placement is expected to start; or

                     (b)  any other compelling reason.

             (8)  In this section:

relative, of an employee, means:

                     (a)  a grandchild, nephew, niece or sibling of the employee; or

                     (b)  a grandchild, nephew, niece or sibling of the employee’s spouse.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

305  Short adoption leave—application

Requirement for application

             (1)  To be entitled to short adoption leave during a period, an employee must give his or her employer a written application for short adoption leave, in accordance with this section, stating the first and last days of the period.

General rule

             (2)  The application must be given to the employer no later than 14 days before the proposed day of placement of the child.

If employee cannot comply with general rule

             (3)  The application must be given to the employer as soon as reasonably practicable before the first day of the short adoption leave applied for if the employee cannot comply with subsection (2) because of:

                     (a)  the day when the placement is expected to start; or

                     (b)  any other compelling reason.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

306  Long adoption leave—application

Requirement for application

             (1)  To be entitled to long adoption leave during a period, an employee must give his or her employer a written application for long adoption leave, in accordance with this section, stating the first and last days of the period.

General rule

             (2)  The application must be given to the employer no later than 10 weeks before the first day of the proposed continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) the long adoption leave applied for.

If employee cannot comply with general rule

             (3)  The application must be given to the employer as soon as reasonably practicable before the first day of the long adoption leave applied for if the employee cannot comply with subsection (2) because of:

                     (a)  the day when the placement is expected to start; or

                     (b)  any other compelling reason.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

307  Adoption leave—additional documents

             (1)  To be entitled to adoption leave, an employee must give his or her employer documents as required by this section.

             (2)  The documents required by this section must be given to the employer:

                     (a)  before the employee begins the period of adoption leave; or

                     (b)  if the employee is taking both short and long adoption leave—before the employee begins the period of short adoption leave.

             (3)  The employee must give his or her employer the following documents:

                     (a)  a statement from an adoption agency of the day when the placement is expected to start;

                     (b)  a statutory declaration in accordance with subsection (4) made by the employee.

             (4)  The statutory declaration must state the following:

                     (a)  whether the employee is taking short adoption leave, long adoption leave, or both;

                     (b)  the first and last days of the period (or periods) of any other authorised leave taken, or intended to be taken, by the employee because of the placement of the child;

                     (c)  the first and last days of the period (or periods) of adoption leave, or any other authorised leave of the same type as adoption leave, taken, or intended to be taken, by the employee’s spouse because of the placement of the child;

                     (d)  that the child is an eligible child;

                     (e)  for any period of long adoption leave to be taken by the employee—that the employee intends to be the child’s primary care‑giver at all times while on the long adoption leave;

                      (f)  that the employee will not engage in any conduct inconsistent with his or her contract of employment while on adoption leave.

Note:          The use of personal information given to an employer under this section may be regulated under the Privacy Act 1988.

Subdivision J—Adoption leave: from start to finish

308  Short adoption leave—when taken

                   An employee may take short adoption leave to which he or she is entitled at any time within the period of 3 weeks starting on the day of placement of the child.

Note:          Short adoption leave must be taken in a single, unbroken period (see section 300). The combined total of adoption leave and related authorised leave taken by the employee and his or her spouse must be no more than 52 weeks (see section 301). Short adoption leave may be taken concurrently with any authorised leave taken by the employee’s spouse (see section 302).

309  Long adoption leave—when taken

                   An employee may take long adoption leave to which he or she is entitled at any time within 12 months after the day of placement of the child.

Note:          Long adoption leave must be taken in a single, unbroken period (see section 300). The combined total of adoption and authorised leave taken by the employee and his or her spouse must be no more than 52 weeks (see section 301). Long adoption leave must not be taken concurrently with any adoption leave, or any other authorised leave of the same type as adoption leave, taken by the employee’s spouse because of the placement (see section 303).

310  Placement does not proceed—effect on adoption leave

             (1)  This section applies if a proposed placement of a child with an employee:

                     (a)  is cancelled before it starts, whether at the initiative of an adoption agency, another body, or the employee; or

                     (b)  starts but is later discontinued for any reason (including the death of the child).

             (2)  If, when this section first applies, the employee had not yet started a period of adoption leave in relation to the placement, the employee is not, or is no longer, entitled to the leave.

             (3)  Subject to subsections (4) and (5), if, when this section applies, the employee had started a period of adoption leave in relation to the placement, the employee’s entitlement to the adoption leave is not affected by the cancellation or discontinuation of the placement.

Note:          The employee may shorten a period of long adoption leave by agreement with the employer under section 312. However, if the period of leave including (or constituted by) long adoption leave is longer than 4 weeks, to take advantage of the return to work guarantee under section 314, the employee must also give the employer at least 4 weeks written notice of the proposed day of his or her return to work.

             (4)  The employee’s employer may give the employee written notice that, from a stated day no earlier than 4 weeks after the day the notice is given, any untaken long adoption leave that the employee remains entitled to at the stated day is cancelled with effect from that day.

             (5)  The employee’s entitlement to any untaken long adoption leave in relation to the placement ends with effect from the day stated in the notice.

311  End of long adoption leave if employee stops being primary care‑giver

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  during a substantial period while an employee is on long adoption leave after the placement of a child with the employee, the employee is not the child’s primary care‑giver; and

                     (b)  having regard to the length of that period and to any other relevant circumstances, it is reasonable to expect that the employee will not again become the child’s primary care‑giver within a reasonable period.

             (2)  The employee’s employer may give the employee written notice that, from a stated day no earlier than 4 weeks after the day the notice is given, any untaken long adoption leave that the employee remains entitled to at the stated day is cancelled with effect from that day.

             (3)  The employee’s entitlement to any untaken long adoption leave in relation to the placement ends with effect from the day stated in the notice.

312  Variation of period of long adoption leave

             (1)  This section applies after an employee has started a continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) long adoption leave.

             (2)  Subject to Subdivision H and sections 309, 310 and 311:

                     (a)  the employee may extend the period of long adoption leave once by giving his or her employer 14 days written notice before the end of the period stating the period by which the leave is extended; and

                     (b)  the period of long adoption leave may be further extended by agreement between the employee and his or her employer.

             (3)  The period of long adoption leave may be shortened by written agreement between the employee and his or her employer.

Note:          However, if the period of leave including (or constituted by) long adoption leave is longer than 4 weeks, to take advantage of the return to work guarantee under section 314, the employee must also give his or her employer at least 4 weeks written notice of the proposed day for his or her return to work.

313  Employee’s right to terminate employment during adoption leave

             (1)  An employee may terminate his or her employment at any time during a period of adoption leave.

             (2)  The employee’s right to terminate his or her employment is subject to any notice required to be given by the employee by or under:

                     (a)  a term or condition of his or her employment; or

                     (b)  a law, or an instrument in force under a law, of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

314  Return to work guarantee—adoption leave

             (1)  This section applies to an employee who returns to work after a period of leave including (or constituted by) adoption leave (the adoption‑related leave period) if:

                     (a)  the adoption‑related leave period is 4 weeks or less; or

                     (b)  if the adoption‑related leave period is longer than 4 weeks—the employee has given his or her employer written notice of the proposed day of his or her return to work no later than 4 weeks before that day; or

                     (c)  the employee’s entitlement to long adoption leave ends under section 310 or 311.

             (2)  The employee is entitled to return:

                     (a)  unless paragraph (b) applies—to the position he or she held immediately before the start of the adoption‑related leave period; or

                     (b)  if he or she was promoted or voluntarily transferred to a new position during the adoption‑related leave period—to the new position.

             (3)  However, if the position (the former position) no longer exists, and the employee is qualified and able to work for his or her employer in another position, the employer must employ the employee in:

                     (a)  that position; or

                     (b)  if there are 2 or more such positions—whichever position is nearest in status and remuneration to the former position.

315  Replacement employees—long adoption leave

             (1)  Before an employer engages an employee (a primary replacement) to do the work of another employee because the other employee is taking a continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) adoption leave, the employer must tell the primary replacement:

                     (a)  that the engagement to do that work is temporary; and

                     (b)  what the rights of the employee taking adoption leave are under section 314 when he or she returns to work after the period of leave.

             (2)  Before an employer engages an employee (a secondary replacement) to do the work of another employee (the primary replacement) because the primary replacement has been temporarily promoted or transferred to do the work of a third employee while the third employee is taking a continuous period of leave including (or constituted by) adoption leave, the employer must tell the secondary replacement:

                     (a)  that the engagement to do that work is temporary; and

                     (b)  what the rights of the employee taking adoption leave are under section 314 when he or she returns to work after the period of leave.

             (3)  In this section:

employee has the meaning given by subsection 5(1).

Subdivision K—Parental leave: service

316  Parental leave and service

             (1)  A period of parental leave does not break an employee’s continuity of service.

             (2)  However, a period of parental leave does not otherwise count as service except:

                     (a)  for the purpose of determining the employee’s entitlement to a later period of leave under this Division; or

                     (b)  as expressly provided by or under:

                              (i)  a term or condition of the employee’s employment; or

                             (ii)  a law, or an instrument in force under a law, of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or

                     (c)  as prescribed by the regulations.

             (3)  In this section:

parental leave means any of the following:

                     (a)  maternity leave;

                     (b)  paid leave under subparagraph 268(2)(b)(i) or (ii);

                     (c)  paternity leave;

                     (d)  pre‑adoption leave;

                     (e)  adoption leave.

 

Division 7—Civil remedies

317  Definition

                   In this Division:

Court means the Federal Court of Australia or the Federal Magistrates Court.

318  Civil remedies

             (1)  An employer must not contravene a term of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard contained in Division 3, 4, 5 or 6 of this Part in relation to an employee of the employer to whom that term applies.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

             (3)  The reference in subsection (1) to Division 6 of this Part includes a reference to that Division as it applies because of section 689.

Note:          For the purposes of subsection (3), employer, employee and employment have their ordinary meaning. See sections 5, 6 and 7 and Schedule 2.

319  Standing for civil remedies

             (1)  Any of the following persons may apply to the Court for an order under this Division in relation to a contravention referred to in subsection 318(1):

                     (a)  the employee concerned;

                     (b)  an organisation of employees (subject to subsection (2));

                     (c)  a workplace inspector.

             (2)  An organisation of employees must not apply on behalf of an employee for a remedy under this Division in relation to a contravention unless:

                     (a)  a member of the organisation is employed by the respondent employer; and

                     (b)  the contravention relates to, or affects, the member of the organisation or work carried on by the member for the employer.

320  Court orders

                   The Court may, on application by a person in accordance with section 319, make one or more of the following orders in relation to an employer who has contravened a relevant term of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard:

                     (a)  an order requiring the employer to pay a specified amount to another person as compensation for damage suffered by the other person as a result of the contravention;

                     (b)  any other orders (including injunctions) that the Court considers necessary to stop the contravention or rectify its effects.

 

Part 8—Workplace agreements

Division 1—Preliminary

321  Definitions

                   In this Part:

Court means the Federal Court of Australia or the Federal Magistrates Court.

new business has the meaning given by section 323.

prohibited content has the meaning given by section 356.

undertakings means undertakings mentioned in section 394.

verified copy, in relation to a document, means a copy that is certified as being a true copy of the document.

322  Single business and single employer

             (1)  For the purposes of this Part, a single business is:

                     (a)  a business, project or undertaking that is carried on by an employer; or

                     (b)  the activities carried on by:

                              (i)  the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or

                             (ii)  a body, association, office or other entity established for a public purpose by or under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or

                            (iii)  any other body in which the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory has a controlling interest.

             (2)  For the purposes of this Part:

                     (a)  if 2 or more employers carry on a business, project or undertaking as a joint venture or common enterprise, the employers are taken to be one employer; and

                     (b)  if 2 or more corporations that are related to each other for the purposes of the Corporations Act 2001 each carry on a single business:

                              (i)  the corporations may be treated as one employer; and

                             (ii)  the single businesses may be treated as one single business.

             (3)  For the purposes of this Part, a part of a single business includes, for example:

                     (a)  a geographically distinct part of the single business; or

                     (b)  a distinct operational or organisational unit within the single business.

323  New business

                   For the purposes of sections 329 and 330, an agreement relates to a new business if:

                     (a)  the agreement relates to:

                              (i)  a new business, new project or new undertaking that the employer in relation to the agreement is proposing to establish; or

                             (ii)  if the employer in relation to the agreement is an entity mentioned in paragraph 322(1)(b)—new activities proposed to be carried on by the employer; and

                     (b)  the business, project or undertaking is, or the activities are, a single business (or a part of a single business).

324  Extended operation of Part in relation to proposed workplace agreements

                   So far as the context permits:

                     (a)  a reference in this Part to a workplace agreement includes a reference to a proposed workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  a reference in this Part to an employer, in relation to a workplace agreement, includes a reference to a person who will be an employer in relation to a proposed agreement when it comes into operation; and

                     (c)  a reference in this Part to an employee, in relation to a workplace agreement, includes a reference to a person who will be an employee in relation to a proposed agreement when it comes into operation.

325  Extraterritorial extension

             (1)  This Part, and the rest of this Act so far as it relates to this Part, extends to persons, acts, omissions, matters and things outside Australia that are connected with a workplace agreement relating to an Australian‑based employee or an Australian employer.

Note:          In this context, Australia includes the Territory of Christmas Island, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the coastal sea. See section 15B and paragraph 17(a) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

             (2)  In this section:

this Act includes the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and regulations made under it.

 

Division 2—Types of workplace agreements

326  Australian workplace agreements (AWAs)

             (1)  An employer may make an agreement (an Australian workplace agreement or AWA) in writing with a person whose employment will be subject to the agreement.

             (2)  An AWA may be made before commencement of the employment.

327  Employee collective agreements

                   An employer may make an agreement (an employee collective agreement) in writing with persons employed at the time in a single business (or part of a single business) of the employer whose employment will be subject to the agreement.

328  Union collective agreements

                   An employer may make an agreement (a union collective agreement) in writing with one or more organisations of employees if, when the agreement is made, each organisation:

                     (a)  has at least one member whose employment in a single business (or part of a single business) of the employer will be subject to the agreement; and

                     (b)  is entitled to represent the industrial interests of the member in relation to work that will be subject to the agreement.

329  Union greenfields agreements

             (1)  An employer may make an agreement (a union greenfields agreement) in writing with one or more organisations of employees if:

                     (a)  the agreement relates to a new business that the employer proposes to establish, or is establishing, when the agreement is made; and

                     (b)  the agreement is made before the employment of any of the persons:

                              (i)  who will be necessary for the normal operation of the business; and

                             (ii)  whose employment will be subject to the agreement; and

                     (c)  each organisation meets the requirements of subsection (2).

             (2)  When the agreement is made, each organisation must be entitled to represent the industrial interests of one or more of the persons, whose employment is likely to be subject to the agreement, in relation to work that will be subject to the agreement.

330  Employer greenfields agreements

                   An employer may make an agreement (an employer greenfields agreement) in writing if:

                     (a)  the agreement relates to a new business that the employer proposes to establish, or is establishing, when the agreement is made; and

                     (b)  the agreement is made before the employment of any of the persons:

                              (i)  who will be necessary for the normal operation of the business; and

                             (ii)  whose employment will be subject to the agreement.

331  Multiple‑business agreements

             (1)  A multiple‑business agreement is an agreement that:

                     (a)  relates to any combination or combinations of the following:

                              (i)  one or more single businesses;

                             (ii)  one or more parts of single businesses;

                            carried on by one or more employers; and

                     (b)  would be a collective agreement of a type mentioned in section 327, 328, 329 or 330 but for the matter in paragraph (a).

Note:          For civil remedy provisions dealing with the making or variation of a multiple‑business agreement, see sections 343 and 376.

             (2)  So far as the context permits, this Part (apart from this Division) has effect in relation to a multiple‑business agreement of a particular type as if the agreement were a collective agreement (other than a multiple‑business agreement) of that type.

             (3)  So far as the context permits, this Part (apart from this Division) has effect in relation to a multiple‑business agreement with more than one employer as if a reference to the employer in relation to an agreement were a reference to an employer in relation to the agreement.

332  Authorisation of multiple‑business agreements

             (1)  An employer may apply to the Workplace Authority Director for an authorisation to make or vary a multiple‑business agreement.

             (2)  The regulations may set out a procedure for applying to the Workplace Authority Director for the authorisation. The Workplace Authority Director need not consider an application if it is not made in accordance with the procedure.

             (3)  The Workplace Authority Director must not grant the authorisation unless he or she is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so, having regard to:

                     (a)  whether the matters dealt with by the agreement (or the agreement as varied) could be more appropriately dealt with by a collective agreement other than a multiple‑business agreement; and

                     (b)  any other matter specified in regulations made for the purposes of this subsection.

333  When a workplace agreement is made

                   For the purposes of this Act, a workplace agreement is made at whichever of the following times is applicable:

                     (a)  for an AWA—the time when the AWA is approved in accordance with section 340;

                     (b)  for an employee collective agreement—the time when the agreement is approved in accordance with section 340;

                     (c)  for a union collective agreement—the time when the employer and the organisation or organisations agree to the terms of the agreement;

                     (d)  for a union greenfields agreement—the time when the employer and the organisation or organisations agree to the terms of the agreement;

                     (e)  for an employer greenfields agreement—the time when the employer lodges the agreement (see section 344).

 

Division 3—Bargaining agents

334  Bargaining agents—AWAs

             (1)  An employer or employee may appoint a person to be his or her bargaining agent in relation to the making, variation or termination of an AWA. The appointment must be made in writing.

Note:          Subsection 400(3) provides a civil remedy for coercion in relation to appointments under this subsection.

             (2)  Subject to subsection (3), an employer or employee must not refuse to recognise a bargaining agent duly appointed by the other party for the purposes of subsection (1).

             (3)  Subsection (2) does not apply if the person refusing has not been given a copy of the bargaining agent’s instrument of appointment before the refusal.

             (4)  Subsection (2) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

335  Bargaining agents—employee collective agreements

             (1)  An employee whose employment is or will be subject to an employee collective agreement may request another person (the bargaining agent) to represent the employee in meeting and conferring with the employer about the making or variation of the agreement.

Note:          Subsection 400(4) provides a civil remedy for coercion in relation to requests under this subsection.

             (2)  An employee whose employment is or will be subject to an employer greenfields agreement may request another person (the bargaining agent) to represent the employee in meeting and conferring with the employer about the variation of the agreement.

Note:          Subsection 400(4) provides a civil remedy for coercion in relation to requests under this subsection.

             (3)  The employer must give the bargaining agent a reasonable opportunity to meet and confer with the employer about the agreement during the period:

                     (a)  beginning 7 days before the agreement or variation is approved in accordance with section 340 or section 373; and

                     (b)  ending when the agreement or variation is approved.

             (4)  Subsection (3) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

             (5)  The requirement in subsection (3) ceases to apply to the employer if at any time after the request is made the employee withdraws the request.

             (6)  The Workplace Authority Director may issue a certificate that he or she is satisfied of one of the following matters if he or she is so satisfied:

                     (a)  on application by a bargaining agent—that the employee has made a request in accordance with subsection (1) or (2) for the bargaining agent to represent the employee in meeting and conferring with the employer;

                     (b)  on application by the employer—that, after the making of the request, the requirement in subsection (3) for the employer to give a reasonable opportunity to the bargaining agent to meet and confer, has, because of subsection (5), ceased to apply to the employer.

             (7)  The certificate must not identify any of the employees concerned. However, it must identify the bargaining agent, the employer and the agreement.

             (8)  The certificate is, for all purposes of this Act, prima facie evidence that the employee or employees made the request or that the requirement has ceased to apply.

 

Division 4—Pre‑lodgment procedure

336  Eligible employee

                   For the purposes of this Division, an eligible employee in relation to a workplace agreement is:

                     (a)  in the case of an AWA—the person whose employment will be subject to the AWA; or

                     (b)  in the case of a collective agreement—a person employed by the employer whose employment will be subject to the agreement.

337  Providing employees with ready access and information statement

             (1)  If an employer intends to have a workplace agreement (other than a greenfields agreement) approved under section 340, the employer must take reasonable steps to ensure that all eligible employees in relation to the agreement either have, or have ready access to, the agreement in writing during the period:

                     (a)  beginning 7 days before the agreement is approved; and

                     (b)  ending when the agreement is approved.

             (2)  The employer must take reasonable steps to ensure that all eligible employees in relation to the agreement are given an information statement at least 7 days before the agreement is approved.

             (3)  Despite subsections (1) and (2), if the agreement is a collective agreement and a person becomes an eligible employee at a time during the period mentioned in subsection (1), the employer must take reasonable steps to ensure that:

                     (a)  the person is given an information statement at or before that time; and

                     (b)  the person either has, or has ready access to, the agreement in writing during the period:

                              (i)  beginning at that time; and

                             (ii)  ending when the agreement is approved under section 340.

             (4)  The information statement mentioned in subsection (2) and paragraph (3)(a) must contain:

                     (a)  information about the time at which and the manner in which the approval will be sought under section 340; and

                     (b)  if the agreement is an AWA—information about the effect of section 334 (which deals with bargaining agents); and

                     (c)  if the agreement is an employee collective agreement—information about the effect of section 335 (which deals with bargaining agents); and

                    (ca)  information about the circumstances in which the Workplace Authority Director is required to decide whether the agreement passes the fairness test set out in section 346M; and

                     (d)  any other information that the Workplace Authority Director requires by notice published in the Gazette.

             (5)  If a waiver has been made under section 338 in relation to the workplace agreement:

                     (a)  subsection (1) and paragraph (3)(b) do not apply if, before the time the waiver was made, the employer had taken reasonable steps to ensure that all eligible employees in relation to the agreement (as at that time) either had, or had ready access to, the agreement in writing; and

                     (b)  subsection (2) does not apply if, before the time the waiver was made, the employer had taken reasonable steps to ensure that all eligible employees in relation to the agreement (as at that time) had been given an information statement in relation to the agreement that complies with subsection (4).

             (6)  For the purposes of this section, if the workplace agreement incorporates terms from an industrial instrument mentioned in subsection 355(2), the eligible employees have ready access to the workplace agreement only if they have ready access to that instrument in writing.

             (7)  To avoid doubt, if the content of the workplace agreement is changed during the period mentioned in subsection (1), the change results in a separate workplace agreement for the purposes of this section.

Note:          If the content of an agreement for which the employer intends to seek approval is changed, the procedural steps set out in subsections (1), (2) and (3) must be repeated for the resulting separate agreement.

Contravention—ready access

             (8)  An employer contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  the employer failed to comply with subsection (1) or (if applicable) paragraph (3)(b) in relation to the agreement.

Contravention—information statement

             (9)  An employer contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  the employer failed to comply with subsection (2) or (if applicable) paragraph (3)(a) in relation to the agreement.

           (10)  Subsections (8) and (9) are civil remedy provisions.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

           (11)  An employer cannot contravene subsection (8) or (9) more than once in relation to the lodgment of a particular workplace agreement.

338  Employees may waive 7‑day period

             (1)  The persons mentioned in subsection (2) may make a waiver under this section in relation to a workplace agreement.

             (2)  The persons are all the eligible employees at the time the waiver is made.

             (3)  The waiver must be in writing and dated.

             (4)  The waiver is made when all the persons mentioned in subsection (2) sign the waiver.

             (5)  The waiver takes effect when it is made.

Note:          For the effect of the waiver, see subsection 337(5).

339  Prohibition on withdrawal from union collective agreement

             (1)  An employer that has made a union collective agreement must take reasonable steps to seek approval for the agreement under section 340, within a reasonable period after the agreement was made.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

340  Approval of a workplace agreement

             (1)  An AWA is approved if:

                     (a)  the AWA is signed and dated by the employee and the employer; and

                     (b)  those signatures are witnessed; and

                     (c)  if the employee is under the age of 18 years:

                              (i)  the AWA is signed and dated by an appropriate person (such as a parent or guardian of the employee, but not the employer) on behalf of the employee, for the purpose of indicating that person’s consent to the employee making the AWA; and

                             (ii)  that person is aged at least 18 years; and

                            (iii)  that person’s signature is witnessed.

             (2)  An employee collective agreement or union collective agreement is approved if:

                     (a)  the employer has given all of the persons employed at the time whose employment will be subject to the agreement a reasonable opportunity to decide whether they want to approve the agreement; and

                     (b)  either:

                              (i)  if the decision is made by a vote—a majority of those persons who cast a valid vote decide that they want to approve the agreement; or

                             (ii)  otherwise—a majority of those persons decide that they want to approve the agreement.

341  Employer must not lodge unapproved agreement

             (1)  An employer contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a workplace agreement (other than a greenfields agreement); and

                     (b)  the agreement has not been approved in accordance with section 340.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

 

Division 5—Lodgment

342  Employer must lodge certain workplace agreements with the Workplace Authority Director

             (1)  If an AWA, an employee collective agreement or a union collective agreement has been approved in accordance with section 340, the employer must lodge the agreement, in accordance with section 344, within 14 days after the approval.

             (2)  If a union greenfields agreement has been made, the employer must lodge the agreement, in accordance with section 344, within 14 days after the agreement was made.

             (3)  Subsections (1) and (2) are civil remedy provisions.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

343  Lodging multiple‑business agreement without authorisation

             (1)  An employer contravenes this section if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a multiple‑business agreement; and

                     (b)  the agreement has not been authorised under section 332.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

344  Lodging of workplace agreement documents with the Workplace Authority Director

             (1)  The employer in relation to a workplace agreement lodges the workplace agreement with the Workplace Authority Director if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a declaration under subsection (2); and

                     (b)  a copy of the workplace agreement is annexed to the declaration.

             (2)  An employer lodges a declaration with the Workplace Authority Director if:

                     (a)  the employer gives it to the Workplace Authority Director; and

                     (b)  it meets the form requirements mentioned in subsection (3).

Note:          Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for providing false or misleading information or documents.

             (3)  The Workplace Authority Director may, by notice published in the Gazette, set out requirements for the form of a declaration for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b).

             (4)  A declaration is given to the Workplace Authority Director for the purposes of subsection (2) only if the declaration is actually received by the Workplace Authority Director.

Note:          This means that section 29 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (to the extent that it deals with the time of service of documents) and section 160 of the Evidence Act 1995 do not apply to lodgment of a declaration.

             (5)  The Workplace Authority Director is not required to consider or determine whether any of the requirements of this Part (other than Division 5A) have been met in relation to the making or content of anything annexed to a declaration lodged in accordance with subsection (2).

345  Workplace Authority Director must issue receipt for lodgment of declaration for workplace agreement

             (1)  If a declaration is lodged under subsection 344(2), the Workplace Authority Director must issue a receipt for the lodgment.

             (2)  The Workplace Authority Director must give a copy of the receipt to:

                     (a)  the employer in relation to the workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  if the workplace agreement is an AWA—the employee; and

                     (c)  if the agreement is a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement—the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement.

346  Employer must notify employees after lodging workplace agreement

             (1)  An employer that has received a receipt under section 345 in relation to a collective agreement must take reasonable steps to ensure that all persons whose employment is subject to the agreement when the employer receives the receipt are given a copy of the receipt within 21 days.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

             (3)  This section does not apply in relation to a greenfields agreement.

346A  Employer to provide copy of lodged AWA to employee

             (1)  As soon as practicable after an employer lodges an AWA with the Workplace Authority Director, the employer must give a copy of the AWA to the employee whose employment is subject to the AWA.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

 

Division 5A—The fairness test

Subdivision A—Preliminary

346B  Definitions

             (1)  In this Division:

business being transferred has the same meaning as in Part 11.

designated award, in relation to an employee or employees whose employment is or may be subject to a workplace agreement, means an award determined by the Workplace Authority Director under section 346L, and includes an award taken to be so designated in relation to the employee or employees under section 346K (unless a different award has been designated in relation to the employee or employees under section 346L).

enterprise award means an award that regulates a term or condition of employment of an employee or employees by an employer in a single business specified in the award.

industrial instrument means any of the following:

                     (a)  a pre‑reform AWA;

                     (b)  a pre‑reform certified agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7);

                     (c)  a workplace determination;

                     (d)  a section 170MX award (within the meaning of Schedule 7);

                     (e)  an old IR agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7).

new employer has the same meaning as in Part 11.

old employer has the same meaning as in Part 11.

protected award conditions has the same meaning as in subsection 354(4), subject to subsection (2) of this section.

reference award, in relation to an employee whose employment is subject to a workplace agreement, means:

                     (a)  a relevant award in relation to the employee; or

                     (b)  if there is no relevant award in relation to the employee—a designated award in relation to the employee.

relevant award, in relation to an employee whose employment is subject to a workplace agreement, means an award:

                     (a)  that regulates, or would but for a workplace agreement or another industrial instrument regulate, any term or condition of employment of persons engaged in the same kind of work as that performed or to be performed by the employee under the workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  that was binding on the employee’s employer immediately before the day on which the workplace agreement was lodged.

salary means gross basic salary and does not include the following:

                     (a)  incentive‑based payments and bonuses;

                     (b)  loadings (other than casual loadings);

                     (c)  monetary allowances;

                     (d)  penalty rates;

                     (e)  employer superannuation contributions;

                      (f)  any other separately identifiable entitlements that are similar to those mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d).

Note:          Section 346G contains provisions relating to this definition.

time of transmission, in relation to a business being transferred, has the same meaning as in Part 11.

transferring employee has the same meaning as in Part 11.

transmission period, in relation to a business being transferred, has the same meaning as in Part 11.

             (2)  For the purposes of the definition of protected award conditions in subsection (1), the definition of protected allowable award matters in subsection 354(4) has effect as if it did not include the matter referred to in paragraph (i) of the latter definition.

Note:          Paragraph (i) relates to outworker conditions. These conditions cannot be excluded or modified by a workplace agreement to provide a less favourable outcome for an employee in a particular respect—see subsection 354(3).

             (3)  Unless the contrary intention appears, this Division applies to a workplace agreement as varied in a corresponding way to the way in which it applies to a workplace agreement.

346C  When protected award conditions apply to an employee

             (1)  For the purposes of this Division, protected award conditions apply to an employee whose employment is subject to a workplace agreement:

                     (a)  if, but for that workplace agreement, a previous workplace agreement or another industrial instrument, the protected award conditions would have effect in relation to the employment of the employee under a relevant award in relation to the employee; or

                     (b)  in a case where there is no relevant award in relation to the employee—if, assuming that the employee’s employer was bound by a designated award in relation to the employee, the protected award conditions would have effect in relation to the employment of the employee but for the workplace agreement, a previous workplace agreement or another industrial instrument.

             (2)  Protected award conditions that apply to an employee because of the operation of paragraph (1)(b) are not taken, for the purposes of paragraph 354(1)(b), to be protected award conditions that would have effect in relation to the employment of the employee.

346CA  Industry or occupation usually regulated by State award before the reform commencement—extended operation of certain provisions

             (1)  For the purposes of a provision mentioned in subsection (2), an industry or occupation in which the terms and conditions of the kind of work performed or to be performed by an employee are usually regulated by an award is taken to include an industry or occupation in which the terms and conditions of the kind of work performed or to be performed by the employee:

                     (a)  were, immediately before the reform commencement, usually regulated by a State award; or

                     (b)  would, but for an industrial instrument or a State employment agreement, usually have been regulated by a State award immediately before the reform commencement.

             (2)  The provisions are as follows:

                     (a)  subparagraph 346E(1)(b)(ii);

                     (b)  subparagraph 346E(2)(b)(ii);

                     (c)  subparagraph 346F(1)(b)(ii);

                     (d)  subparagraph 346F(2)(b)(ii);

                     (e)  paragraph 346K(2)(a);

                      (f)  a provision referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d), as referred to in section 346L.

346D  Application of Division to workplace agreements

             (1)  The obligations imposed on the Workplace Authority Director by this Division in relation to a workplace agreement apply irrespective of whether the workplace agreement is in operation or has ceased to operate.

             (2)  For the purposes of applying this Division to a workplace agreement that has ceased to operate:

                     (a)  a reference to an employee whose employment is subject to the workplace agreement is taken to include a reference to an employee whose employment was at any time subject to the workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  a reference to a person or organisation who is bound by the workplace agreement is taken to include a reference to a person or organisation who was at any time bound by the workplace agreement.

             (3)  For the purposes of applying this Division to a workplace agreement, a reference to an employee whose employment is subject to the workplace agreement is, so far as the context permits, taken to include a reference to an employee whose employment may at a future time be subject to the workplace agreement.

346DA  Transmission of business—where no decision under section 346M at time of transmission

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Director is required to decide under section 346M whether a workplace agreement passes the fairness test; and

                     (b)  before the Workplace Authority Director makes the decision, the workplace agreement becomes binding upon a new employer and a transferring employee or transferring employees because of the operation of section 583 or 585.

             (2)  Subject to subsection (4), for the purposes of deciding under section 346M whether the workplace agreement passes the fairness test, references to the employer in section 346M and in the definition of relevant award are taken to be references to the old employer.

             (3)  If:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Director has been notified that the workplace agreement is binding on the new employer and the transferring employee or transferring employees; and

                     (b)  the Workplace Authority Director is required to give a notice under section 346J, 346P or 346U to the employer in relation to the workplace agreement;

the Workplace Authority Director must give the notice to both the old employer and the new employer.

             (4)  If the Workplace Authority Director decides under section 346M that the workplace agreement does not pass the fairness test:

                     (a)  references in section 346R to the employer bound by the workplace agreement are taken to be references to the new employer; and

                     (b)  to avoid doubt, if the new employer subsequently lodges a variation of the workplace agreement under section 346R then, for the purposes of deciding under section 346U whether the workplace agreement as varied passes the fairness test, references in section 346M to the employer are taken to be references to the old employer.

Note 1:       The employment arrangements that have effect in relation to the new employer and the transferring employee or transferring employees are as set out in section 346YA.

Note 2:       The compensation payable to the transferring employees under section 346ZD by both the old employer and the new employer is as specified in subsections 346ZD(2), (2A) and (2B).

346DB  Transmission of business—where no decision on a varied agreement under section 346U at time of transmission

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Director is required to decide under section 346U whether a workplace agreement as varied passes the fairness test; and

                     (b)  before the Workplace Authority Director makes the decision, the workplace agreement becomes binding upon a new employer and a transferring employee or transferring employees because of the operation of section 583 or 585.

             (2)  For the purposes of deciding under section 346U whether the workplace agreement as varied passes the fairness test, references in section 346M to the employer are taken to be references to the old employer.

             (3)  If:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Director has been notified that the workplace agreement is binding upon the new employer and a transferring employee or transferring employees; and

                     (b)  the Workplace Authority Director is required to give a notice under section 346U to the employer in relation to the workplace agreement;

the Workplace Authority Director must give the notice to both the old employer and the new employer.

346DC  Transmission of business—employees still employed by old employer

                   To avoid doubt, if a workplace agreement becomes binding upon a new employer and a transferring employee or transferring employees because of the operation of section 583 or 585, this Division has effect, to the extent that the workplace agreement continues to bind the old employer, and an employee or employees who are not transferring employees, according to its terms.

Subdivision B—Workplace agreements to which the fairness test applies

346E  Workplace Authority Director must apply the fairness test to certain workplace agreements

             (1)  The Workplace Authority Director must decide under section 346M whether an AWA passes the fairness test if:

                     (a)  the AWA is lodged on or after 7 May 2007; and

                     (b)  on the date of lodgment:

                              (i)  the employer bound by the AWA is bound by an award in respect of the terms and conditions of the kind of work performed or to be performed by the employee; or

                             (ii)  the employee whose employment is subject to the AWA is employed in an industry or occupation in which the terms and conditions of the kind of work performed or to be performed by the employee are usually regulated by an award, or would, but for a workplace agreement or another industrial instrument, usually be regulated by an award; and

                     (c)  on the date of lodgment:

                              (i)  in the case of a full‑time employee, other than a full‑time employee who is paid a piece rate of pay—the annual rate of salary payable to the employee under the AWA is less than $75,000; or

                             (ii)  in the case of a full‑time employee who is paid a piece rate of pay—the annual full‑time salary payable to the employee under the AWA, worked out in accordance with section 346G, is less than $75,000; or

                            (iii)  in the case of an employee not covered by subparagraph (i) or (ii)—the annual full‑time equivalent amount of salary payable to the employee under the AWA, worked out in accordance with section 346G, is less than $75,000; and

                     (d)  the AWA excludes or modifies one or more protected award conditions that apply to the employee under a reference award in relation to the employee.

Note:       Paragraph (d) will not be satisfied if there is no reference award in relation to the employee.

             (2)  The Workplace Authority Director must decide under section 346M whether a collective agreement passes the fairness test if:

                     (a)  the collective agreement is lodged on or after 7 May 2007; and

                     (b)  on the date of lodgment:

                              (i)  the employer bound by the collective agreement is bound by an award in respect of the terms and conditions of the kind of work performed or to be performed by the one or more of the employees; or

                             (ii)  one or more of the employees whose employment is subject to the collective agreement is employed in an industry or occupation in which the terms and conditions of the kind of work performed or to be performed by the employees are usually regulated by an award, or would, but for a workplace agreement or another industrial instrument, usually be regulated by an award; and

                     (c)  the collective agreement excludes or modifies one or more protected award conditions that apply to one or more of those employees under a reference award in relation to the employee or employees.

Note:       Paragraph (c) will not be satisfied if there is no reference award in relation to the employee.

346F  Workplace Authority Director must apply the fairness test to certain workplace agreements as varied

             (1)  The Workplace Authority Director must decide under section 346M whether an AWA as varied under Division 8 passes the fairness test if:

                     (a)  the variation of the AWA is lodged on or after 7 May 2007; and

                     (b)  on the date of lodgment of the variation:

                              (i)  the employer bound by the AWA as varied is bound by an award in respect of the terms and conditions of the kind of work performed or to be performed by the employee; or

                             (ii)  the employee whose employment is subject to the AWA as varied is employed in an industry or occupation in which the terms and conditions of the kind of work performed or to be performed by the employee are usually regulated by an award, or would, but for a workplace agreement or another industrial instrument, usually be regulated by an award; and

                     (c)  on the date of lodgment of the variation:

                              (i)  in the case of a full‑time employee, other than a full‑time employee who is paid a piece rate of pay—the annual rate of salary payable to the employee under the AWA as varied is less than $75,000; or

                             (ii)  in the case of a full‑time employee who is paid a piece rate of pay—the annual full‑time salary payable to the employee under the AWA as varied, worked out in accordance with section 346G, is less than $75,000; or

                            (iii)  in the case of an employee not covered by subparagraph (i) or (ii)—the annual full‑time equivalent amount of salary payable to the employee under the AWA as varied, worked out in accordance with section 346G, is less than $75,000; and

                     (d)  the variation excludes or modifies one or more protected award conditions that apply to the employee under a reference award in relation to the employee.

Note:       Paragraph (d) will not be satisfied if there is no reference award in relation to the employee.

             (2)  The Workplace Authority Director must decide under section 346M whether a collective agreement as varied under Division 8 passes the fairness test if:

                     (a)  the variation of the collective agreement is lodged on or after 7 May 2007; and

                     (b)  on the date of lodgment of the variation:

                              (i)  the employer bound by the collective agreement as varied is bound by an award in respect of the terms and conditions of the kind of work performed or to be performed by the one or more of the employees; or

                             (ii)  one or more of the employees whose employment is subject to the collective agreement as varied is employed in an industry or occupation in which the terms and conditions of the kind of work performed or to be performed by the employees are usually regulated by an award, or would, but for a workplace agreement or another industrial instrument, usually be regulated by an award; and

                     (c)  the variation excludes or modifies one or more protected award conditions that apply to one or more of those employees under a reference award in relation to the employee or employees.

Note:       Paragraph (c) will not be satisfied if there is no reference award in relation to the employee.

346G  Provisions about annual rate of salary

             (1)  The amount mentioned in paragraph 346E(1)(c) or 346F(1)(c) may be increased by the regulations or in the manner prescribed by the regulations.

             (2)  If an employee is paid a periodic rate of pay, the annual full‑time equivalent amount of salary payable to the employee for the purpose of subparagraph 346E(1)(c)(iii) or 346F(1)(c)(iii) is the salary the employee would earn if the employee were employed on a full‑time basis and paid at the employee’s periodic rate of pay.

             (3)  For the purposes of subsection (2), the salary the employee would earn is to be calculated for the 12 month period beginning on the date on which the AWA is lodged.

             (4)  If an employee is paid a piece rate of pay and the employee is a full‑time employee, the annual full‑time salary payable to the employee for the purpose of subparagraph 346E(1)(c)(ii) or 346F(1)(c)(ii) is the salary that the employer reasonably estimates the employee would earn.

             (5)  If an employee is paid a piece rate of pay and the employee is not a full‑time employee, the annual full‑time equivalent amount of salary payable to the employee for the purpose of subparagraph 346E(1)(c)(iii) or 346F(1)(c)(iii) is the salary that the employer reasonably estimates the employee would earn if the employee were employed on a full‑time basis.

             (6)  The regulations may prescribe one or more methods (whether described, in relation to classes of employees paid piece rates of pay, by the kind of work performed by such employees, or otherwise) by which an employer may reasonably estimate the salary the employee would earn for the purposes of subsections (4) and (5).

             (7)  For the purpose of subsections (4) and (5), the salary the employee would earn is to be estimated for the 12 month period beginning on the date on which the AWA is lodged.

             (8)  The regulations may prescribe a different definition of salary for the purposes of paragraph 346E(1)(c) or 346F(1)(c) in relation to employees paid piece rates of pay.

346H  Protected award conditions and designated awards—deemed exclusion or modification

             (1)  For the purposes of paragraphs 346E(1)(d) and 346F(1)(d), an AWA is taken to exclude or modify one or more protected award conditions that apply to an employee under a designated award in relation to the employee if the condition or conditions:

                     (a)  do not have effect in relation to the employee under the AWA; or

                     (b)  have a different effect in relation to the employee than they would have under the designated award.

             (2)  For the purposes of paragraphs 346E(2)(c) and 346F(2)(c), a collective agreement is taken to exclude or modify one or more protected award conditions that apply to an employee or employees under a designated award in relation to the employee or employees if the condition or conditions:

                     (a)  do not have effect in relation to the employee or employees under the collective agreement; or

                     (b)  have a different effect in relation to the employee or employees than they would have under the designated award.

346J  Notice requirements

             (1)  If the Workplace Authority Director is required to decide under section 346M whether a workplace agreement passes the fairness test, the Workplace Authority Director must give a written notice to that effect to:

                     (a)  the employer in relation to the workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  if the workplace agreement is an AWA—the employee whose employment is subject to the AWA; and

                     (c)  if the agreement is a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement—the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement.

             (2)  If the Workplace Authority Director is not required to decide under section 346M whether a workplace agreement passes the fairness test, the Workplace Authority Director must give a written notice to that effect to the persons referred to in paragraphs (1)(a), (b) and (c).

             (3)  A notice under this section is not required to be given at the same time as the copy of the receipt is given under section 345 in respect of the declaration for the workplace agreement concerned.

Note:          Section 346ZE requires the employer to inform the employees concerned of the contents of a notice under this section in relation to a collective agreement.

346K  Designated awards—before a workplace agreement or variation is lodged

             (1)  The Workplace Authority Director may, on application by an employer, determine that an award is a designated award in relation to an employee or employees of the employer.

Note:          For specification by class, see section 46 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

             (2)  The Workplace Authority Director may make a determination under this section only if the Workplace Authority Director is satisfied that:

                     (a)  the employee or employees are or may be employed in an industry or occupation in which the terms and conditions of the kind of work performed or to be performed by the employee or employees:

                              (i)  are usually regulated by an award; or

                             (ii)  would, but for a workplace agreement or another industrial instrument, usually be regulated by an award; and

                     (b)  there is no relevant award in relation to the employee or employees; and

                     (c)  there is an award that satisfies the requirements specified in subsection (3).

             (3)  An award or awards determined by the Workplace Authority Director under this section:

                     (a)  must be an award or awards regulating, or that would, but for a workplace agreement or another industrial instrument, regulate, terms or conditions of employment of employees engaged in the same kind of work as the work performed or to be performed by the employee or employees; and

                     (b)  must, in the opinion of the Workplace Authority Director, be an award or awards that would be appropriate for the purposes referred to in subsection 346L(2) if a workplace agreement or a variation of a workplace agreement were lodged; and

                     (c)  must not be an enterprise award.

             (4)  An award determined under this section in relation to an employee or employees is taken to be the designated award determined by the Workplace Authority Director under section 346L in relation to the employee or employees if the employer later lodges a workplace agreement, or a variation of a workplace agreement, in relation to the employee or the employees.

             (5)  Despite subsection (4), the Workplace Authority Director may determine under section 346L that another award is a designated award in relation to the employee, or in relation to some or all of the employees, if the Workplace Authority Director is satisfied that it is necessary in all the circumstances to do so.

             (6)  The Workplace Authority Director may determine different awards under subsection (2) in relation to different employees.

             (7)  In this section, a reference to an employee or employees of an employer includes a reference to a person or persons who may become an employee or employees of the employer.

             (8)  A determination made under this section is not a legislative instrument.

346L  Designated awards—after a workplace agreement or variation is lodged

             (1)  This section applies to a workplace agreement if:

                     (a)  in the case of an AWA:

                              (i)  the AWA satisfies the requirements set out in paragraphs 346E(1)(a), (b) and (c); and

                             (ii)  there is no relevant award in relation to the employee whose employment is subject to the AWA; or

                     (b)  in the case of a collective agreement:

                              (i)  the collective agreement satisfies the requirements set out in paragraphs 346E(2)(a) and (b); and

                             (ii)  there is no relevant award in relation to one or more employees whose employment is subject to the collective agreement; or

                     (c)  a variation of the workplace agreement was lodged on or after 7 May 2007, and:

                              (i)  if the workplace agreement is an AWA—the AWA as varied satisfies the requirements set out in paragraphs 346F(1)(b) and (c) and subparagraph (a)(ii) of this subsection; or

                             (ii)  if the workplace agreement is a collective agreement—the collective agreement as varied satisfies the requirements set out in paragraph 346F(2)(b) and subparagraph (b)(ii) of this subsection.

             (2)  The Workplace Authority Director must determine that an award is a designated award in relation to the employee or employees whose employment is subject to the agreement:

                     (a)  to ascertain whether or not the Workplace Authority Director is required to decide under section 346M whether the workplace agreement, or the workplace agreement as varied, passes the fairness test; and

                     (b)  if the Workplace Authority Director is so required, for the purpose of deciding whether the workplace agreement, or the workplace agreement as varied, passes the fairness test;

unless the Workplace Authority Director is satisfied that there is no award that satisfies the requirements specified in subsection (3).

Note:          For specification by class, see section 46 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

             (3)  An award or awards determined by the Workplace Authority Director under this section:

                     (a)  must be an award or awards regulating, or that would, but for a workplace agreement or another industrial instrument, regulate, terms or conditions of employment of employees engaged in the same kind of work as the work performed by the employee or employees under the workplace agreement concerned; and

                     (b)  must, in the opinion of the Workplace Authority Director, be appropriate for the purposes referred to in subsection (2); and

                     (c)  must not be an enterprise award.

             (4)  The Workplace Authority Director may determine different awards under subsection (2) in relation to different employees.

             (5)  A determination made under this section is not a legislative instrument.

Subdivision C—The fairness test

346M  When does an agreement pass the fairness test?

             (1)  A workplace agreement passes the fairness test if:

                     (a)  in the case of an AWA—the Workplace Authority Director is satisfied that the AWA provides fair compensation to the employee whose employment is subject to the AWA in lieu of the exclusion or modification of protected award conditions that apply to the employee; or

                     (b)  in the case of a collective agreement—the Workplace Authority Director is satisfied that, on balance, the collective agreement provides fair compensation, in its overall effect on the employees whose employment is subject to the collective agreement, in lieu of the exclusion or modification of protected award conditions that apply to some or all of those employees.

Note:          This section applies to a workplace agreement as varied in a corresponding way to the way in which it applies to a workplace agreement—see subsection 346B(3).

             (2)  In considering whether a workplace agreement provides fair compensation to an employee, or in its overall effect on employees, the Workplace Authority Director must first have regard to:

                     (a)  the monetary and non‑monetary compensation that the employee or employees will receive under the workplace agreement, in lieu of the protected award conditions that apply to the employee or employees under a reference award in relation to the employee or employees; and

                     (b)  the work obligations of the employee or employees under the workplace agreement.

             (3)  In considering whether a workplace agreement provides fair compensation to an employee or in its overall effect on employees, the Workplace Authority Director may also have regard to the personal circumstances of the employee or employees, including in particular the family responsibilities of the employee or employees.

             (4)  In exceptional circumstances, and if the Workplace Authority Director is satisfied that it is not contrary to the public interest to do so, the Workplace Authority Director may, in addition to the matters specified in subsections (2) and (3), also have regard to the industry, location or economic circumstances of the employer and the employment circumstances of the employee or employees when considering whether a workplace agreement provides fair compensation to an employee or in its overall effect on employees.

             (5)  An example of a case where the Workplace Authority Director may be satisfied that it is not contrary to the public interest to have regard to the industry, location or economic circumstances of the employer is where the workplace agreement is part of a reasonable strategy to deal with a short‑term crisis in, and to assist in the revival of, the employer’s business.

             (6)  In deciding whether a workplace agreement passes, or does not pass, the fairness test, the Workplace Authority Director may inform himself or herself in any way he or she considers appropriate including (but not limited to) contacting the employer and the employee, or some or all of the employees, whose employment is subject to the workplace agreement.

             (7)  In this section:

non‑monetary compensation, in relation to an employee, means compensation (other than an entitlement to a payment of money):

                     (a)  for which there is a money value equivalent or to which a money value can reasonably be assigned; and

                     (b)  that confers a benefit or advantage on the employee which is of significant value to the employee.

346N  Agreements to be tested as at lodgment date

             (1)  In deciding whether a workplace agreement passes, or does not pass, the fairness test, the Workplace Authority Director must consider the agreement as in force immediately after lodgment.

             (2)  In deciding whether a workplace agreement as varied passes, or does not pass, the fairness test, the Workplace Authority Director must consider the agreement as in force immediately after the variation was lodged.

             (3)  If:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Director is required by section 346E to decide under section 346M whether a workplace agreement passes the fairness test; and

                     (b)  before the Workplace Authority Director decides whether the workplace agreement passes the fairness test, the Workplace Authority Director is required by section 346F to decide under section 346M whether the workplace agreement as varied passes the fairness test;

then:

                     (c)  the Workplace Authority Director must consider the workplace agreement and the workplace agreement as varied as part of the same process; and

                     (d)  to avoid doubt, the Workplace Authority Director must consider, and make a separate decision in respect of, both the workplace agreement and the workplace agreement as varied.

346P  Workplace Authority Director must notify of decision

             (1)  If the Workplace Authority Director decides under section 346M that a workplace agreement passes the fairness test, the Workplace Authority Director must notify the following of the decision:

                     (a)  the employer in relation to the workplace agreement;

                     (b)  if the workplace agreement is an AWA—the employee whose employment is subject to the AWA;

                     (c)  if the agreement is a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement—the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement.

             (2)  If the Workplace Authority Director decides under section 346M that a workplace agreement does not pass the fairness test, the Workplace Authority Director must notify the persons referred to in paragraphs (1)(a), (b) and (c) of the decision.

             (3)  If the Workplace Authority Director decides under section 346M that a workplace agreement does not pass the fairness test, the notice must also:

                     (a)  in the case of a workplace agreement that is in operation on the date of issue specified in the notice—contain advice as to how the agreement could be varied to pass the fairness test (including by way of an undertaking); and

                     (b)  in any case—state that compensation may be payable by the employer to the employee or employees under section 346ZD.

             (4)  If subsection 346N(3) requires the Workplace Authority Director to consider, and make a separate decision in respect of, both a workplace agreement and the workplace agreement as varied, the notice under this section must deal with both agreements.

             (5)  A notice under this section:

                     (a)  must be in writing; and

                     (b)  must specify the date of issue of the notice.

Note:          Section 346ZE requires the employer to inform the employees concerned of the contents of a notice under this section in relation to a collective agreement.

Subdivision D—Consequences if a workplace agreement does not pass the fairness test

346Q  Agreement does not pass fairness test—agreement not in operation

                   If:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Director decides under section 346M that a workplace agreement does not pass the fairness test; and

                     (b)  the workplace agreement is not in operation in relation to any employee immediately before the date of the decision;

the employee or employees whose employment was at any time subject to the workplace agreement are, on and from the date of issue specified in the notice under section 346P in relation to the workplace agreement, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZD.

346R  Agreement does not pass fairness test—agreement in operation

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Director decides under section 346M that a workplace agreement does not pass the fairness test; and

                     (b)  the workplace agreement is in operation immediately before the date of the decision.

             (2)  The employer who is bound by the workplace agreement may:

                     (a)  in the case of an AWA—lodge a variation of the AWA with the Workplace Authority Director; or

                     (b)  in the case of an AWA or a collective agreement—lodge a variation of the workplace agreement by giving to the Workplace Authority Director a written undertaking in relation to the AWA or collective agreement.

             (3)  If the employer does not take the action referred to in subsection (2) within the relevant period in relation to the workplace agreement, then at the end of that period:

                     (a)  the workplace agreement ceases to operate; and

                     (b)  the employee or employees whose employment was at any time subject to the workplace agreement are, after the end of the relevant period in relation to the workplace agreement, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZD.

             (4)  Despite subsection (3), if:

                     (a)  because of subsection 346N(3), the Workplace Authority Director considered, and made a separate decision in respect of, both a workplace agreement and the workplace agreement as varied; and

                     (b)  the workplace agreement did not pass the fairness test, but the workplace agreement as varied passed the fairness test;

the workplace agreement as varied continues in operation, and the employee or employees whose employment was at any time subject to the workplace agreement, whether before or after the variation was lodged are, after the end of the relevant period in relation to the workplace agreement, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZD.

             (5)  For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a), Division 8 does not apply to the variation of an AWA, except for the following provisions:

                     (a)  subsection 373(1);

                     (b)  section 374.

             (6)  For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), Division 8 does not apply to an undertaking given to the Workplace Authority Director in relation to an AWA or a collective agreement.

             (7)  In this section:

relevant period, in relation to a workplace agreement, means:

                     (a)  the period of 14 days beginning on the date of issue specified in the notice under section 346P in relation to the workplace agreement; or

                     (b)  if a longer period is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph—that period; or

                     (c)  if the period referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) is extended under subsection (8) in relation to the workplace agreement—the period as extended.

             (8)  The Workplace Authority Director may extend the period referred to in paragraph (7)(a) or (b), as the case requires, in relation to a particular workplace agreement in circumstances prescribed by the regulations.

346S  Lodging of variation documents with the Workplace Authority Director

             (1)  An employer lodges a variation with, or gives an undertaking to, the Workplace Authority Director under section 346R if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a declaration under subsection (2); and

                     (b)  a copy of the variation or undertaking is annexed to the declaration.

             (2)  An employer lodges a declaration with the Workplace Authority Director if:

                     (a)  the employer gives it to the Workplace Authority Director; and

                     (b)  it meets the form requirements mentioned in subsection (3).

Note:          Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for providing false or misleading information or documents.

             (3)  The Workplace Authority Director may, by notice published in the Gazette, set out requirements for the form of a declaration for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b). The requirements may be different for variations and undertakings.

             (4)  A declaration is given to the Workplace Authority Director for the purposes of subsection (2) only if the declaration is actually received by the Workplace Authority Director.

Note:          This means that section 29 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (to the extent that it deals with the time of service of documents) and section 160 of the Evidence Act 1995 do not apply to lodgment of a declaration.

346T  Operation of section 346R variations

             (1)  A variation of an AWA under paragraph 346R(2)(a) comes into operation when the variation is lodged with the Workplace Authority Director under that paragraph in accordance with section 346S.

             (2)  A variation of an AWA or a collective agreement by way of an undertaking under paragraph 346R(2)(b) comes into operation when the undertaking is given to the Workplace Authority Director under that paragraph in accordance with section 346S.

             (3)  For the purposes of this Act, an undertaking given by an employer to the Workplace Authority Director in relation to an AWA or a collective agreement is taken to be a variation of the AWA or collective agreement, as the case may be, lodged by the employer under section 346R.

346U  Workplace Authority Director must test varied agreement

             (1)  If an employer lodges a variation of a workplace agreement under section 346R, the Workplace Authority Director must decide under this section whether the workplace agreement as varied passes the fairness test set out in section 346M.

             (2)  If the Workplace Authority Director decides under subsection (1) that a workplace agreement as varied passes the fairness test, the Workplace Authority Director must notify the following of the decision:

                     (a)  the employer in relation to the workplace agreement;

                     (b)  if the workplace agreement is an AWA—the employee whose employment is subject to the AWA;

                     (c)  if the agreement is a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement—the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement.

             (3)  If the Workplace Authority Director decides under subsection (1) that a workplace agreement as varied does not pass the fairness test, the Workplace Authority Director must notify the persons referred to in paragraphs (2)(a), (b) and (c) of the decision.

             (4)  A notice under this section must be in writing and must specify:

                     (a)  the date of issue of the notice; and

                     (b)  if the workplace agreement as varied passes the fairness test:

                              (i)  that the workplace agreement continues in operation; and

                             (ii)  that the workplace agreement was varied by way of a variation or a written undertaking, as the case may be; and

                            (iii)  that the employee or employees whose employment is, or was at any time, subject to the workplace agreement are, on and from the date of issue of the notice, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZD; and

                     (c)  if the workplace agreement as varied does not pass the fairness test:

                              (i)  that, if the workplace agreement was in operation immediately before the date of issue of the notice—the agreement ceases to operate on the date of issue of the notice; and

                             (ii)  that the employee or employees whose employment was at any time subject to the workplace agreement are, on and from the date of issue of the notice, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZD.

Note:          Section 346ZE requires the employer to inform the employees concerned of the contents of a notice under this section in relation to a collective agreement.

             (5)  In deciding under this section whether a workplace agreement passes, or does not pass, the fairness test, the Workplace Authority Director may inform himself or herself in any way he or she considers appropriate including (but not limited to) contacting the employer and the employee, or some or all of the employees, whose employment is subject to the workplace agreement.

346V  Effect if varied agreement does not pass fairness test—agreement not in operation

                   If:

                     (a)  the Workplace Authority Director decides under subsection 346U(1) that a workplace agreement as varied does not pass the fairness test; and

                     (b)  the workplace agreement is not in operation in relation to any employee immediately before the date of the decision;

the employee or employees whose employment was at any time subject to the workplace agreement are, on and from the date of issue specified in the notice under section 346U in relation to the workplace agreement, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZD.

346W  Effect if varied agreement does not pass fairness test—agreement in operation

                   If the Workplace Authority Director decides under subsection 346U(1) that a workplace agreement as varied does not pass the fairness test:

                     (a)  the workplace agreement ceases to operate on the date of issue specified in the notice under that section in respect of the workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  the employee or employees whose employment was at any time subject to the workplace agreement are, on and from the date of issue specified in the notice under section 346U in relation to the workplace agreement, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZD.

346X  Effect if varied agreement passes fairness test—agreement in operation

                   If the Workplace Authority Director decides under subsection 346U(1) that a workplace agreement as varied passes the fairness test:

                     (a)  the workplace agreement continues in operation; and

                     (b)  the employee or employees whose employment is, or was at any time, subject to the workplace agreement are, on and from the date of issue specified in the notice under section 346U in relation to the workplace agreement, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZD.

Note:          Even though the workplace agreement has been varied so that it passes the fairness test, compensation may be payable in respect of the period when the agreement did not pass the fairness test.

346Y  Employment arrangements that apply if a workplace agreement ceases to operate because it does not pass fairness test

             (1)  This section applies if, on a particular day (the cessation day), a workplace agreement (the original agreement) ceases to operate under section 346R or 346W because the original agreement does not pass the fairness test.

             (2)  The employer and the employee or employees who were bound by the original agreement immediately before the cessation day are taken, on and from the cessation day, to be bound by:

                     (a)  the instrument or instruments that, but for the original agreement having come into operation, would have bound the employer and the employee or employees on and from the cessation day; or

                     (b)  if there is no instrument of a kind referred to in paragraph (a) in relation to the employer and one or more of the employees—the designated award in relation to that employee or those employees, to the extent that the designated award contains protected award conditions.

Note:          A workplace agreement binds all persons whose employment is, at any time when the agreement is in operation, subject to the agreement (see paragraph 351(b)). A collective agreement may therefore bind an employer in relation to existing and future employees.

             (3)  If the original agreement is a workplace agreement as varied under Division 8, the workplace agreement as in force before the variation was lodged is, despite section 346ZB, capable of being an instrument described in paragraph (2)(a).

             (4)  An instrument that has ceased to operate in relation to an employee or employees is capable of being an instrument described in paragraph (2)(a) only if the reason it ceased to operate was because the original agreement came into operation in relation to the employee or employees.

          (4A)  Despite subsection (2), if the original agreement is a workplace agreement that, after lodgment, becomes binding upon a new employer and a transferring employee or transferring employees because of the operation of section 583 or 585, this section does not have the effect of binding the new employer and the transferring employee or transferring employees to an instrument or to a designated award.

Note:          The employment arrangements that have effect in relation to the new employer and the transferring employee or transferring employees are as set out in section 346YA.

             (5)  In this section:

instrument means any of the following:

                     (a)  a workplace agreement;

                     (b)  an award;

                     (c)  a workplace determination;

                     (d)  an employment agreement (within the meaning of section 887);

                     (e)  a pre‑reform certified agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7);

                      (f)  a pre‑reform AWA;

                     (g)  a section 170MX award (within the meaning of Schedule 7);

                     (h)  an exceptional matters order (within the meaning of Schedule 7);

                      (i)  an old IR agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7).

Note:          Preserved State agreements and notional agreements preserving State awards are dealt with in Schedule 8.

346YA  Employment arrangements if a workplace agreement ceases to operate because it does not pass fairness test—transmission of business

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  on a particular day (the cessation day), a workplace agreement (the original agreement) ceases to operate under section 346R or 346W because the original agreement does not pass the fairness test; and

                     (b)  during the period beginning when the original agreement was lodged and ending on the cessation day, the original agreement became binding upon a new employer and a transferring employee or transferring employees because of the operation of section 583 or 585 in relation to a business being transferred; and

                     (c)  the cessation day occurs during the transmission period in relation to the business being transferred.

Note:          If the cessation day occurs after the transmission period ends, the rules in Part 11 will have effect according to their terms.

             (2)  The new employer and the transferring employee or transferring employees who were bound by the original agreement immediately before the cessation day are taken, on and from the cessation day, to be bound by:

                     (a)  the instrument:

                              (i)  that, but for the original agreement having come into operation, would have bound the old employer and the transferring employee or transferring employees immediately before the time of transmission; and

                             (ii)  that was capable of binding the new employer after the time of transmission under Part 11, Schedule 6 or Schedule 9; or

                     (b)  if there is no instrument of a kind referred to in paragraph (a) in relation to the old employer and one or more of the transferring employees—the designated award in relation to that employee or those employees, to the extent that the designated award contains protected award conditions.

             (3)  If, but for the original agreement having come into operation, the old employer would have been bound, immediately before the time of transmission, under a designated provision by a redundancy provision in relation to a transferring employee or transferring employees whose employment was subject to the original agreement, the new employer is taken:

                     (a)  to be bound under section 598A or clause 27A of Schedule 9, as the case requires, on and from the cessation day, by the redundancy provision in relation to the transferring employee or transferring employees; and

                     (b)  to continue to be so bound until the earliest of the following:

                              (i)  the end of the period of 24 months beginning on the first day on which the old employer became bound under a designated provision by the redundancy provision;

                             (ii)  the time when the employee ceases to be employed by the new employer;

                            (iii)  the time when another workplace agreement comes into operation in relation to the transferring employee or the transferring employees and the new employer.

             (4)  If the original agreement is a workplace agreement as varied under Division 8, the workplace agreement as in force before the variation was lodged is, despite section 346ZB, capable of being an instrument described in paragraph (2)(a).

             (5)  In this section:

designated provision has the same meaning as in section 346ZA.

instrument means any of the following:

                     (a)  a workplace agreement;

                     (b)  an award;

                     (c)  a pre‑reform certified agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7);

                     (d)  a pre‑reform AWA.

Note:          Preserved State agreements and notional agreements preserving State awards are dealt with in Schedule 8.

346Z  Effect of sections 346Y and 346YA in relation to instruments

             (1)  If, because of the operation of section 346Y, an employer and an employee or employees, as the case requires, are taken to be bound by an instrument, the instrument is taken, despite any other provision of this Act, to operate again, or to have effect again, as the case requires, in relation to the employer and the employee or employees, on and from the cessation day.

Note 1:       Subsections 347(7A), (8A) and (9A) modify the rule that an AWA or a collective agreement that has ceased to operate can never operate again.

Note 2:       The following provisions operate in a similar way for other instruments:

(a)           subsection 506(5) (workplace determinations);

(b)           subsection 890(3) (employment agreements within the meaning of section 887);

(c)           subclause 3(5A) of Schedule 7 (pre‑reform certified agreements);

(d)           subclause 18(5) of Schedule 7 (pre‑reform AWAs);

(e)           subclause 25(4) of Schedule 7 (section 170MX awards);

(f)            subclause 27(2) of Schedule 7 (exceptional matters orders);

(g)           subclause 28(5) of Schedule 7 (old IR agreements).

Note 3:       An award has no effect in relation to an employee while a workplace agreement operates in relation to the employee (see section 349), but once the workplace agreement has ceased to operate, the award is capable of operating again.

             (2)  If, because of the operation of section 346YA, a new employer and a transferring employee or transferring employees are taken to be bound by an instrument, the instrument is taken, despite any other provision of this Act, to have effect in relation to the new employer and the transferring employee or employees throughout the period:

                     (a)  beginning on the cessation day; and

                     (b)  ending at the end of the transmission period in relation to the business being transferred;

as if the new employer and the transferring employee or transferring employees had become bound by the instrument under Part 11, Schedule 6 or Schedule 9, as the case requires.

346ZA  Redundancy provisions and section 394 undertakings

             (1)  This section applies if, on a particular day (the cessation day), a workplace agreement (the original agreement) ceases to operate under section 346R or 346W because the original agreement does not pass the fairness test.

             (2)  If, immediately before the day on which the original agreement was lodged, the employer was bound under a designated provision by a redundancy provision in relation to an employee whose employment was subject to the original agreement, the employer is taken:

                     (a)  to be bound under the designated provision by the redundancy provision in relation to the employee on and from the cessation day; and

                     (b)  to continue to be so bound until the earliest of the following:

                              (i)  the end of the period of 24 months beginning on the first day on which the employer became bound under the designated provision by the redundancy provision;

                             (ii)  the time when the employee ceases to be employed by the employer;

                            (iii)  the time when another workplace agreement comes into operation in relation to the employee and the employer.

             (3)  If, immediately before the day on which the original agreement was lodged, the employer was bound by an undertaking under subsection 394(1) in relation to an employee whose employment was subject to the original agreement, the employer is taken:

                     (a)  to be bound under section 394 by the undertaking in relation to the employee on and from the cessation day; and

                     (b)  to continue to be so bound until the earlier of the following:

                              (i)  the time when the employee ceases to be employed by the employer;

                             (ii)  the time when another workplace agreement comes into operation in relation to the employee and the employer.

             (4)  In this section:

designated provision means a redundancy provision within the meaning of any of the following:

                     (a)  section 399A;

                     (b)  clause 6A of Schedule 7;

                     (c)  clause 20A of Schedule 7.

346ZB  Operation of workplace agreements

                   A workplace agreement that has ceased to operate because it does not pass the fairness test can never operate again.

Note:          This rule is subject to subsection 346Y(3), which deals with the situation where a workplace agreement as varied under Division 8 does not pass the fairness test.

346ZC  Regulations may make provision for operation of provisions of revived instruments

                   The regulations may make provision for and in relation to the operation of instruments that are taken to bind an employer and the employees because of the operation of section 346Y or 346YA.

Subdivision E—Entitlement to compensation

346ZD  Employee is entitled to compensation in respect of fairness test period

             (1)  This section applies to an employee who is entitled to compensation under this section on and from a particular day because a workplace agreement binding on the employee’s employer did not pass the fairness test.

Note 1:       Sections 346Q, 346R, 346V, 346W and 346X specify the day on which an employee’s entitlement to compensation takes effect.

Note 2:       An employee may be able to recover compensation even where a workplace agreement that initially does not pass the fairness test is varied so that it subsequently passes the fairness test—see section 346X.

             (2)  If the amount worked out under paragraph (a) is less than the amount worked out under paragraph (b), the employer must pay to the employee the amount of the shortfall:

                     (a)  the total value of the entitlements to which the employee was entitled, under the workplace agreement, and under any other applicable law, agreement or arrangement that operated in conjunction with the workplace agreement, in respect of one or more periods of employment during the fairness test period for the workplace agreement;

                     (b)  the total value of the entitlements to which the employee would have been entitled, in respect of one or more periods of employment of the employee during the fairness test period, worked out in accordance with the assumptions set out in subsection (2A).

          (2A)  For the purposes of working out the total value of the entitlements to which the employee would have been entitled, in respect of one or more periods of employment of the employee during the fairness test period, it is to be assumed that, during that period or those periods of employment:

                     (a)  the employee’s employment was subject to:

                              (i)  the instrument or instruments that, but for the workplace agreement, would have bound the employer in relation to that period or those periods of employment of the employee; or

                             (ii)  if there is no such instrument—the designated award in relation to the employee, to the extent that it contains protected award conditions; and

                     (b)  the employer was bound, under a designated provision, by any redundancy provision that, but for the workplace agreement having come into operation, would have bound the employer in relation to the employee; and

                     (c)  the employer was bound under section 394 by any undertaking that, but for the workplace agreement having come into operation, would have bound the employer in relation to the employee; and

                     (d)  the employee’s employment was subject to any other applicable law, agreement or arrangement that would have operated in conjunction with the instrument or instruments referred to in subparagraph (a)(i), or the designated award referred to in subparagraph (a)(ii), as the case requires.

          (2B)  If, because of the operation of section 583 or 585, the workplace agreement bound an old employer and a new employer in relation to the employment of a transferring employee during the fairness test period:

                     (a)  the transferring employee is entitled to be paid compensation by the old employer in respect of the period or periods during which the employee was employed by the old employer, worked out in accordance with the assumptions set out in subsection (2A); and

                     (b)  the transferring employee is entitled to be paid compensation by the new employer in respect of the period or periods during which the employee was employed by the new employer, worked out in accordance with the assumptions set out in subsection (2A), subject to the following modifications:

                              (i)  subparagraph (2A)(a)(i) is taken to refer to the instrument described in paragraph 346YA(2)(a); and

                             (ii)  a reference in paragraph (2A)(b) to a designated provision is taken to be a reference to section 598A or clause 27A of Schedule 9, as the case requires.

             (3)  An employer breaches this section if the employer does not pay to the employee the amount of the shortfall calculated under subsection (2) within whichever of the following periods is applicable:

                     (a)  if the employee is entitled to compensation because of the operation of section 346Q in respect of the workplace agreement—the period of 14 days beginning on the date of issue specified in the notice under section 346P in relation to the workplace agreement;

                     (b)  if the employee is entitled to compensation because of the operation of section 346R in respect of the workplace agreement—the period of 14 days beginning at the end of the relevant period (within the meaning of section 346R) in relation to the workplace agreement;

                     (c)  if the employee is entitled to compensation because of the operation of section 346V, 346W or 346X in respect of the workplace agreement—the period of 14 days beginning on the date of issue specified in the notice under section 346U in relation to the workplace agreement.

Note:          Compliance with this section is dealt with in Part 14—this section is an applicable provision within the meaning of section 717.

             (4)  In this section:

designated provision has the same meaning as in section 346ZA.

fairness test period, in relation to a workplace agreement, means:

                     (a)  the period:

                              (i)  beginning on the day on which the workplace agreement was lodged; and

                             (ii)  ending on the day on which the workplace agreement ceased to operate (whether because of the operation of this Division or otherwise); or

                     (b)  if the workplace agreement is continued in effect because of the operation of subsection 346R(4) or section 346X—the period:

                              (i)  beginning on the day on which the workplace agreement was lodged; and

                             (ii)  ending on the day on which the variation of the workplace agreement was lodged under section 346R or, if the workplace agreement had been varied before that day in such a way as to pass the fairness test, on that earlier day.

instrument has the same meaning as in section 346Y.

Subdivision F—Civil remedy provisions

346ZE  Employer must notify employees

             (1)  An employer that has received a notice under section 346J, 346P or 346U in relation to a collective agreement must take reasonable steps to ensure that all persons whose employment is subject to the agreement when the employer receives the notice are given a copy of the notice as soon as practicable.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

346ZEA  Notice requirements in relation to transmission of business

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  a new employer is bound by a workplace agreement (the transmitted workplace agreement) in relation to a transferring employee because of section 583 or 585; and

                     (b)  before the time of transmission in relation to the business being transferred, the Workplace Authority Director gave notice to the old employer under section 346J that the Workplace Authority Director must decide under section 346M or 346U whether the transmitted workplace agreement passes the fairness test; and

                     (c)  as at the time of transmission, the Workplace Authority Director has not yet decided whether the transmitted workplace agreement passes the fairness test under whichever of those sections is applicable.

             (2)  The old employer must take reasonable steps to give a written notice to the Workplace Authority Director that:

                     (a)  identifies the transmitted workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  states whether or not the old employer remains bound by the transmitted workplace agreement in relation to the employment of any employees; and

                     (c)  specifies the date on which the transmission period in relation to the business being transferred ends; and

                     (d)  specifies the name and address of the new employer.

             (3)  Subsection (2) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

346ZF  Employer not to dismiss etc. employee because agreement does not pass the fairness test

             (1)  An employer must not:

                     (a)  dismiss an employee; or

                     (b)  threaten to dismiss an employee;

if the sole or dominant reason for the employer dismissing, or threatening to dismiss, the employee is that a workplace agreement does not, or may not, pass the fairness test.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note 1:       An employee may still be entitled to compensation under section 346ZD if his or her workplace agreement does not pass the fairness test.

Note 2:       A breach of this provision is enforceable by a workplace inspector—see Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

             (3)  In proceedings alleging a contravention of subsection (1) it is presumed that the employer’s sole or dominant reason was that the workplace agreement did not, or may not, pass the fairness test, unless the employer proves otherwise.

Note:          Division 3 of Part 14 contains other provisions relevant to civil remedies.

346ZG  Other remedies for the contravention of section 346ZF

             (1)  The Court, on application by an eligible person, may make one or more of the following orders in relation to an employer who has contravened subsection 346ZF(1):

                     (a)  an order requiring the employer to pay a specified amount to the employee as compensation for damage suffered by the employee as a result of the contravention;

                     (b)  any other order that the Court considers appropriate.

Note:          The employee may still be entitled to compensation under section 346ZD if his or her workplace agreement does not pass the fairness test.

             (2)  The orders that may be made under paragraph (1)(b) include:

                     (a)  injunctions; and

                     (b)  any other orders that the Court considers necessary to stop the conduct or remedy its effects.

             (3)  In this section:

eligible person means any of the following:

                     (a)  a workplace inspector;

                     (b)  an employee affected by the contravention;

                     (c)  an organisation of employees that:

                              (i)  has been requested in writing, by the employee concerned, to apply on the employee’s behalf; and

                             (ii)  has a member employed by the employee’s employer; and

                            (iii)  is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of the employee in relation to work carried on by the employee for the employer;

                     (d)  a person prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph.

             (4)  A regulation prescribing persons for the purposes of paragraph (d) of the definition of eligible person may provide that a person is prescribed only in relation to circumstances specified in the regulation.

346ZH  Employer not to require employee to agree to exclude or modify a protected award condition

             (1)  An employer must not, in relation to a workplace agreement:

                     (a)  take, or threaten to take, any action; or

                     (b)  refrain, or threaten to refrain, from taking any action;

with intent to coerce an existing employee to agree, or not to agree, to excluding or modifying a protected award condition.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not apply to protected action (within the meaning of section 435).

             (3)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          A breach of this provision is enforceable by a workplace inspector—see Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

 

Division 6—Operation of workplace agreements and persons bound

347  When a workplace agreement is in operation

             (1)  A workplace agreement comes into operation on the day the agreement is lodged.

             (2)  A workplace agreement comes into operation even if the requirements in Divisions 3 and 4 and section 342 have not been met in relation to the agreement.

          (2A)  If:

                     (a)  an employer and an employee or employees of the employer, or an organisation of employees, make a workplace agreement (within the meaning of section 333); and

                     (b)  the employer does not lodge that workplace agreement (the unlodged agreement), but subsequently lodges a declaration under subsection 344(2); and

                     (c)  the declaration purports to identify as parties to a workplace agreement:

                              (i)  the employer who lodged the declaration; and

                             (ii)  at least one employee, class of employees or organisation; and

                     (d)  the employer and the other parties identified in the declaration are parties to the unlodged agreement; and

                     (e)  a document that is different from the unlodged agreement is attached to the declaration;

then:

                      (f)  the unlodged agreement comes into operation as a workplace agreement at the time the declaration is lodged; and

                     (g)  the document that is attached to the declaration does not come into operation as a workplace agreement.

             (3)  A multiple‑business agreement comes into operation only if it has been authorised under section 332.

             (4)  A workplace agreement ceases to be in operation if:

                     (a)  it is terminated in accordance with Division 9; or

                     (b)  in the case of an AWA—it is replaced by another AWA; or

                    (ba)  the Workplace Authority Director decides under section 346M that the agreement does not pass the fairness test and the employer who is bound by the agreement does not take the action referred to in subsection 346R(2) within the relevant period (as defined in subsection 346R(7)) in relation to the agreement; or

                    (bb)  the Workplace Authority Director decides under section 346U that the agreement as varied does not pass the fairness test; or

                     (c)  the Court declares it to be void under paragraph 409(a).

             (5)  A collective agreement ceases to be in operation in relation to an employee if it has:

                     (a)  passed its nominal expiry date; and

                     (b)  been replaced by another collective agreement in relation to that employee.

Note:          Part 11 sets out the circumstances in which a workplace agreement binding an employer because of transmission of business will cease to operate.

             (6)  A multiple‑business agreement ceases to operate in relation to a single business (or a part of a single business) if:

                     (a)  the multiple‑business agreement came into operation on a particular day; and

                     (b)  a collective agreement (other than a multiple‑business agreement) was lodged on a later day; and

                     (c)  the multiple‑business agreement and the collective agreement apply in relation to the same single business (or the same part of the single business).

Example:    Employers A, B and C lodge a multiple‑business agreement which has a nominal expiry date 5 years after it is lodged. Six months later employer B lodges a collective agreement that applies in relation to its single business. This means that the multiple‑business agreement ceases to operate in relation to that single business.

             (7)  If a workplace agreement has ceased operating under subsection (4), it can never operate again.

Note:          However, a redundancy provision that was included in a workplace agreement that has ceased operating might be preserved for a period of up to 24 months (see section 399A).

          (7A)  Despite subsection (7), an AWA that has ceased to operate can operate again if:

                     (a)  the AWA ceased to operate because it was replaced by another AWA (the replacement AWA); and

                     (b)  the replacement AWA later ceased to operate because it did not pass the fairness test.

Note:          See sections 346Y, 346YA and 346Z.

             (8)  If a workplace agreement has ceased operating in relation to an employee because of subsection (5), the agreement can never operate again in relation to that employee.

          (8A)  Despite subsection (8), a collective agreement that has ceased to operate can operate again if:

                     (a)  the collective agreement ceased to operate because it was replaced after its nominal expiry date by another collective agreement (the replacement collective agreement); and

                     (b)  the replacement collective agreement later ceased to operate because it did not pass the fairness test.

Note:          See sections 346Y, 346YA and 346Z.

             (9)  If a multiple‑business agreement has ceased operating in relation to a single business (or a part of a single business), the agreement can never operate again in relation to that single business (or part of a business).

          (9A)  Despite subsection (9), a multiple‑business agreement that has ceased to operate in relation to a single business (or part of a single business) can operate again if:

                     (a)  the multiple‑business agreement ceased to operate because it was replaced by another collective agreement (the replacement collective agreement) in accordance with subsection (6); and

                     (b)  the replacement collective agreement later ceased to operate because it did not pass the fairness test.

Note:          See sections 346Y, 346YA and 346Z.

           (10)  If:

                     (a)  a person or entity is the employer bound by a workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  the person or entity ceases to be an employer within the meaning of subsection 6(1);

the agreement ceases to be in operation.

           (11)  Despite subsection (10), if the agreement mentioned in that subsection is a multiple‑business agreement, it ceases to be in operation only in relation to a single business or part of a single business carried on by the person or entity.

348  Relationship between overlapping workplace agreements

             (1)  Only one workplace agreement can have effect at a particular time in relation to a particular employee.

             (2)  A collective agreement has no effect in relation to an employee while an AWA operates in relation to the employee.

             (3)  If:

                     (a)  a collective agreement (the first agreement) binding an employee is in operation; and

                     (b)  another collective agreement (the later agreement) binding the employee is lodged before the nominal expiry date of the first agreement;

the later agreement has no effect in relation to the employee until the nominal expiry date of the first agreement.

Note:          After that date, the first agreement ceases operating in relation to the employee (see subsection 347(5)), and the later agreement takes effect in relation to the employee.

349  Effect of awards while workplace agreement is in operation

                   An award has no effect in relation to an employee while a workplace agreement operates in relation to the employee.

350  Workplace agreement displaces certain Commonwealth laws

             (1)  To the extent of any inconsistency, a workplace agreement displaces prescribed conditions of employment specified in a Commonwealth law that is prescribed by the regulations.

             (2)  In this section:

Commonwealth law means an Act or any regulations or other instrument made under an Act.

prescribed conditions means conditions that are identified by the regulations.

351  Persons bound by workplace agreements

                   A workplace agreement that is in operation binds:

                     (a)  the employer in relation to the agreement; and

                     (b)  all persons whose employment is, at any time when the agreement is in operation, subject to the agreement; and

                     (c)  if the agreement is a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement—the organisation or organisations of employees with which the employer made the agreement.

Note:          A person can be bound by a workplace agreement because of Part 11 (which deals with transmission of business).

 

Division 7—Content of workplace agreements

Subdivision A—Required content

Note:       For the operation of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard, see Part 7.

352  Nominal expiry date

             (1)  The nominal expiry date of a workplace agreement is:

                     (a)  in the case of an employer greenfields agreement:

                              (i)  if a date is specified in the agreement as its nominal expiry date, and that date is no later than the first anniversary of the date on which the agreement was lodged—that specified date; or

                             (ii)  otherwise—the first anniversary of the date on which the agreement was lodged; or

                     (b)  otherwise:

                              (i)  if a date is specified in the agreement as its nominal expiry date, and that date is no later than the fifth anniversary of the date on which the agreement was lodged—that specified date; or

                             (ii)  otherwise—the fifth anniversary of the date on which the agreement was lodged.

             (2)  However, if the agreement has been varied to extend its nominal expiry date, the nominal expiry date of the agreement is:

                     (a)  in the case of an employer greenfields agreement—the earlier of the following dates:

                              (i)  the date specified in the agreement as varied as its nominal expiry date;

                             (ii)  the first anniversary of the date on which the agreement was lodged; or

                     (b)  otherwise—the earlier of the following dates:

                              (i)  the date specified in the agreement as varied as its nominal expiry date;

                             (ii)  the fifth anniversary of the date on which the agreement was lodged.

353  Workplace agreement to include dispute settlement procedures

             (1)  A workplace agreement must include procedures for settling disputes (dispute settlement procedures) about matters arising under the agreement between:

                     (a)  the employer; and

                     (b)  the employees whose employment will be subject to the agreement.

             (2)  If a workplace agreement does not include dispute settlement procedures, the agreement is taken to include the model dispute resolution process mentioned in Part 13.

354  Protected award conditions

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  a person’s employment is subject to a workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  protected award conditions would have effect (but for the agreement, a previous workplace agreement or another industrial instrument) in relation to the employment of the person.

             (2)  Those protected award conditions:

                     (a)  are taken to be included in the workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  have effect in relation to the employment of that person; and

                     (c)  have that effect subject to any terms of the workplace agreement that expressly exclude or modify all or part of them.

Note:          A workplace agreement that excludes or modifies certain protected award conditions is subject to Division 5A (which relates to the fairness test).

             (3)  Despite paragraph (2)(c), those protected award conditions have effect in relation to the employment of that person to the extent that those protected award conditions are about outworker conditions, despite any terms of the workplace agreement that provide, in a particular respect, a less favourable outcome for that person.

             (4)  In this section:

industrial instrument means any of the following:

                     (a)  a pre‑reform AWA;

                     (b)  a pre‑reform certified agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7);

                     (c)  a workplace determination;

                     (d)  a section 170MX award (within the meaning of Schedule 7);

                     (e)  an old IR agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7).

outworker means an employee who, for the purposes of the business of the employer, performs work at private residential premises or at other premises that are not business or commercial premises of the employer.

outworker conditions means conditions (other than pay) for outworkers, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that their overall conditions of employment are fair and reasonable in comparison with the conditions of employment specified in a relevant award or awards for employees who perform the same kind of work at an employer’s business or commercial premises.

protected allowable award matters means the following matters:

                     (a)  rest breaks;

                     (b)  incentive‑based payments and bonuses;

                     (c)  annual leave loadings;

                     (d)  observance of days declared by or under a law of a State or Territory to be observed generally within that State or Territory, or a region of that State or Territory, as public holidays by employees who work in that State, Territory or region, and entitlements of employees to payment in respect of those days;

                     (e)  days to be substituted for, or a procedure for substituting, days referred to in paragraph (d);

                      (f)  monetary allowances for:

                              (i)  expenses incurred in the course of employment; or

                             (ii)  responsibilities or skills that are not taken into account in rates of pay for employees; or

                            (iii)  disabilities associated with the performance of particular tasks or work in particular conditions or locations;

                     (g)  loadings for working overtime or for shift work;

                     (h)  penalty rates;

                      (i)  outworker conditions;

                      (j)  any other matter specified in the regulations.

Note:          These matters are the same as certain allowable award matters mentioned in section 513.

protected award conditions means the terms of an award, as in force from time to time, to the extent that those terms:

                     (a)  are:

                              (i)  about protected allowable award matters; or

                             (ii)  terms that are incidental to protected allowable award matters and that may be included in an award as permitted by section 522; or

                            (iii)  machinery provisions that are in respect of protected allowable award matters and that may be included in an award as permitted by section 522; and

                     (b)  are not about:

                              (i)  matters that are not allowable award matters because of section 515; or

                             (ii)  any other matters specified in the regulations.

355  Calling up content of other documents

             (1)  A workplace agreement may incorporate by reference terms from an industrial instrument mentioned in subsection (2) only if the requirements in subsection (3) are satisfied.

             (2)  The industrial instruments are as follows:

                     (a)  a workplace agreement;

                     (b)  an award.

Note:          For pre‑reform certified agreements, see clause 9 in Schedule 7.

             (3)  The requirements are as follows:

                     (a)  if the industrial instrument is an award:

                              (i)  just before the agreement is made the award regulates any term or condition of employment of persons engaged in a particular kind of work; and

                             (ii)  the employment of a person engaged in that kind of work will be subject to the agreement when the agreement comes into operation; and

                            (iii)  the award is binding on the employer in relation to the agreement just before the agreement is made;

                     (b)  if the industrial instrument is a workplace agreement—the instrument is binding on the employer in relation to the agreement mentioned in subsection (1) just before that agreement is made.

             (4)  If those requirements are satisfied, the workplace agreement may incorporate terms by reference from the industrial instrument:

                     (a)  as in operation just before the agreement is made; or

                     (b)  as varied from time to time.

             (5)  A term of a workplace agreement is void to the extent that:

                     (a)  it incorporates by reference terms from an industrial instrument mentioned in subsection (2); and

                     (b)  the requirements in subsection (3) are not satisfied.

             (6)  A term of a workplace agreement is void to the extent that it incorporates by reference terms from any of the following instruments (other than an instrument mentioned in subsection (2)):

                     (a)  an award or agreement regulating terms and conditions of employment that is in force under a law of a State (other than a contract of employment);

                     (b)  an agreement, arrangement, deed or memorandum of understanding, that:

                              (i)  regulates terms and conditions of employment; and

                             (ii)  was created by a process of collective negotiation;

                     (c)  an industrial instrument specified in the regulations.

             (7)  A term of a workplace agreement is void to the extent that it applies or adopts terms from an instrument mentioned in subsection (2) or (6), without incorporating those terms by reference in accordance with this section.

Subdivision B—Prohibited content

356  Prohibited content

             (1)  For the purposes of this Act, each of the following is prohibited content:

                     (a)  a provision that requires or permits any conduct that would contravene Part 16, or that would contravene that Part if Division 2 of that Part were disregarded;

                     (b)  a provision that directly or indirectly requires a person:

                              (i)  to encourage another person to become, or remain, a member of an industrial association; or

                             (ii)  to discourage another person from becoming, or remaining, a member of an industrial association;

                     (c)  a provision that indicates support for persons being members of an industrial association;

                     (d)  a provision that indicates opposition to persons being members of an industrial association;

                     (e)  a provision that requires or permits payment of a bargaining services fee;

                      (f)  a matter specified in the regulations.

             (2)  An expression used in paragraph (1)(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) that is also used in section 810 has the same meaning in that paragraph as it has in that section.

357  Employer must not lodge agreement containing prohibited content

             (1)  An employer contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a workplace agreement (or a variation to a workplace agreement); and

                     (b)  the agreement (or the agreement as varied) contains prohibited content; and

                     (c)  the employer was reckless as to whether the agreement (or the agreement as varied) contains prohibited content.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not apply if:

                     (a)  before the agreement (or variation) was lodged, the Workplace Authority Director advised the employer that the agreement (or the agreement as varied) did not contain prohibited content; and

                     (b)  that advice was in the form specified in regulations made for the purposes of this subsection.

             (3)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

358  Prohibited content in workplace agreement is void

                   A term of a workplace agreement is void to the extent that it contains prohibited content.

Note 1:       The Workplace Authority Director can vary the workplace agreement to remove prohibited content (see section 363).

Note 2:       For civil remedy provisions relating to including prohibited content in a workplace agreement, see sections 357, 365 and 366.

359  Initiating consideration of removal of prohibited content

             (1)  The Workplace Authority Director may exercise his or her power under section 363 to vary a workplace agreement to remove prohibited content:

                     (a)  on his or her own initiative; or

                     (b)  on application by any person.

             (2)  This section and sections 360, 361 and 363 are taken to be an exhaustive statement of the requirements of the natural justice hearing rule in relation to the Workplace Authority Director’s decision whether to make a variation under section 363.

360  Workplace Authority Director must give notice that he or she is considering variation

             (1)  If the Workplace Authority Director is considering making a variation to a workplace agreement under section 363, the Workplace Authority Director must give the persons mentioned in subsection (2) a written notice meeting the requirements in subsection 361(1).

             (2)  The persons are:

                     (a)  the employer in relation to the workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  if the workplace agreement is an AWA—the employee; and

                     (c)  if the agreement is a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement—the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement.

361  Matters to be contained in notice

             (1)  The requirements mentioned in subsection 360(1) are that the notice must:

                     (a)  be dated; and

                     (b)  state that the Workplace Authority Director is considering making the variation; and

                     (c)  state the reasons why the Workplace Authority Director is considering making the variation; and

                     (d)  set out the terms of the variation; and

                     (e)  invite each person mentioned in subsection (2) to make a written submission to the Workplace Authority Director about whether the Workplace Authority Director should make the variation; and

                      (f)  state that any submission must be made within the period (the objection period) of 28 days after the date of the notice.

             (2)  The persons are:

                     (a)  the employer in relation to the workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  each person whose employment is subject to the agreement at the date of the notice; and

                     (c)  if the agreement is a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement—the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement.

362  Employer must ensure employees have ready access to notice

             (1)  An employer that has received a notice under section 360 in relation to a collective agreement must take reasonable steps to ensure that all persons whose employment is subject to the agreement at a time during the objection period are given a copy of the notice as soon as practicable.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

363  Workplace Authority Director must remove prohibited content from agreement

             (1)  If the Workplace Authority Director is satisfied that a term of the workplace agreement contains prohibited content, the Workplace Authority Director must vary the agreement so as to remove that content.

             (2)  In making a decision under subsection (1), the Workplace Authority Director must consider all written submissions (if any) received within the objection period from persons mentioned in subsection 361(2).

             (3)  The Workplace Authority Director must not make the variation before the end of the objection period.

             (4)  If the Workplace Authority Director decides to make the variation, he or she must:

                     (a)  give the persons mentioned in subsection 360(2) written notice of the decision, including the terms of the variation; and

                     (b)  if the workplace agreement is a collective agreement—publish a notice in the Gazette stating that the variation has been made and setting out particulars of the variation.

364  Employer must give employees notice of removal of prohibited content

             (1)  An employer that has received a notice under subsection 363(4) in relation to a collective agreement must take reasonable steps to ensure that all persons whose employment is subject to the agreement when the employer receives the notice are given a copy of the notice within 21 days.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

365  Seeking to include prohibited content in an agreement

             (1)  A person contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the person seeks to include a term:

                              (i)  in a workplace agreement in the course of negotiations for the agreement; or

                             (ii)  in a variation to a workplace agreement in the course of negotiations for the variation; and

                     (b)  that term contains prohibited content; and

                     (c)  the person is reckless as to whether the term contains prohibited content.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

366  Misrepresentations about prohibited content

             (1)  A person contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the person makes a misrepresentation in relation to a workplace agreement (or a variation to a workplace agreement) that a particular term does not contain prohibited content; and

                     (b)  the person is reckless as to whether the term contains prohibited content.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

 

Division 8—Varying a workplace agreement

Subdivision A—General

367  Varying a workplace agreement

             (1)  The following persons may make a variation, in writing, to a workplace agreement that is in operation:

                     (a)  in the case of an AWA—the employer and the employee;

                     (b)  in the case of an employee collective agreement or an employer greenfields agreement—the employer and the persons whose employment will be subject to the agreement as varied;

                     (c)  in the case of a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement—the employer and the one or more organisations of employees that are bound by the agreement.

Example:    A workplace agreement may be varied to provide additional pay.

             (2)  A workplace agreement cannot be varied except in accordance with:

                     (a)  this Division; or

                    (aa)  section 346R (which deals with agreements that do not pass the fairness test); or

                     (b)  section 363 (which deals with prohibited content); or

                     (c)  section 831 (which deals with discriminatory agreements); or

                     (d)  an order of the Court under section 410.

Note:          Subsection (2) would not apply where the obligations under the agreement can change because of the terms of the agreement itself.

368  When a variation to a workplace agreement is made

                   For the purposes of this Act, a variation to a workplace agreement is made at whichever of the following times is applicable:

                     (a)  for an AWA—the time when the variation is approved in accordance with section 373;

                     (b)  for an employee collective agreement—the time when the variation is approved in accordance with section 373;

                     (c)  for a union collective agreement—the time when the employer and the organisation or organisations agree to the terms of the variation;

                     (d)  for a union greenfields agreement—the time when the employer and the organisation or organisations agree to the terms of the variation;

                     (e)  for an employer greenfields agreement—the time when the variation is approved in accordance with section 373.

Subdivision B—Pre‑lodgment procedure for variations

369  Eligible employee in relation to variation of workplace agreement

                   For the purposes of this Subdivision, an eligible employee in relation to a variation to a workplace agreement is:

                     (a)  in the case of an AWA—the employee; or

                     (b)  in the case of a collective agreement:

                              (i)  a person whose employment is subject to the agreement; or

                             (ii)  a person employed by the employer whose employment will be subject to the agreement as varied.

370  Providing employees with ready access and information statement

             (1)  If an employer intends to have a variation to a workplace agreement approved under section 373, the employer must take reasonable steps to ensure that all eligible employees in relation to the variation either have, or have ready access to, the variation in writing during the period:

                     (a)  beginning 7 days before the variation is approved; and

                     (b)  ending when the variation is approved.

             (2)  The employer must take reasonable steps to ensure that all eligible employees in relation to the variation are given an information statement at least 7 days before the variation is approved.

             (3)  Despite subsections (1) and (2), if the variation is to a collective agreement and a person becomes an eligible employee at a time during the period mentioned in subsection (1), the employer must take reasonable steps to ensure that:

                     (a)  the person is given an information statement at or before that time; and

                     (b)  the person either has, or has ready access to, the variation in writing during the period:

                              (i)  beginning at that time; and

                             (ii)  ending when the variation is approved under section 373.

             (4)  The information statement mentioned in subsection (2) and paragraph (3)(a) must contain:

                     (a)  information about the time at which and the manner in which the approval will be sought under section 373; and

                     (b)  if the relevant workplace agreement is an AWA—information about the effect of section 334 (which deals with bargaining agents); and

                     (c)  if the relevant workplace agreement is an employee collective agreement or employer greenfields agreement—information about the effect of section 335 (which deals with bargaining agents); and

                     (d)  any other information that the Workplace Authority Director requires by notice published in the Gazette.

             (5)  If a waiver has been made under section 371 in relation to the variation to the workplace agreement:

                     (a)  subsection (1) and paragraph (3)(b) do not apply if, before the time the waiver was made, the employer had taken reasonable steps to ensure that all eligible employees in relation to the agreement (as at that time) either had, or had ready access to, the variation in writing; and

                     (b)  subsection (2) does not apply if, before the time the waiver was made, the employer had taken reasonable steps to ensure that all eligible employees in relation to the agreement (as at that time) had been given an information statement in relation to the variation that complies with subsection (4).

             (6)  For the purposes of this section, if because of the variation, the agreement as varied would incorporate terms from an industrial instrument mentioned in subsection 355(2), the eligible employees have ready access to the variation only if they have ready access to that instrument in writing.

             (7)  To avoid doubt, if the content of the variation is changed during the period mentioned in subsection (1), the change results in a separate variation for the purposes of this section.

Note:          If the content of a variation for which the employer intends to seek approval is changed, the procedural steps set out in subsections (1), (2) and (3) must be repeated for the resulting separate variation.

Contravention—ready access

             (8)  An employer contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a variation to a workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  the employer failed to comply with subsection (1) or (if applicable) paragraph (3)(b) in relation to the variation.

Contravention—information statement

             (9)  An employer contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a variation to a workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  the employer failed to comply with subsection (2) or (if applicable) paragraph (3)(a) in relation to the variation.

           (10)  Subsections (8) and (9) are civil remedy provisions.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

           (11)  An employer cannot contravene subsection (8) or (9) more than once in relation to the lodgment of a particular variation.

371  Employees may waive 7‑day period

             (1)  The persons mentioned in subsection (2) may make a waiver under this section in relation to a variation to a workplace agreement.

             (2)  The persons are all the eligible employees at the time the waiver is made.

             (3)  The waiver must be in writing and dated.

             (4)  The waiver is made when all the persons mentioned in subsection (2) sign the waiver.

             (5)  The waiver takes effect when it is made.

Note:          For the effect of the waiver, see subsection 370(5).

372  Prohibition on withdrawal from variation to union collective agreement or union greenfields agreement

             (1)  An employer that has made a variation to a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement must take reasonable steps to seek approval for the variation under section 373, within a reasonable period after the variation was made.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

373  Approval of a variation to a workplace agreement

             (1)  A variation to an AWA is approved if:

                     (a)  the variation is signed and dated by the employee and the employer; and

                     (b)  those signatures are witnessed; and

                     (c)  if the employee is under the age of 18 years:

                              (i)  the variation is signed and dated by an appropriate person (such as a parent or guardian of the employee, but not the employer) on behalf of the employee, for the purpose of indicating that person’s consent to the employee making the variation; and

                             (ii)  that person is aged at least 18 years; and

                            (iii)  that person’s signature is witnessed.

             (2)  A variation to a collective agreement is approved if:

                     (a)  the employer has given all of the persons employed at the time whose employment:

                              (i)  is subject to the agreement; or

                             (ii)  will be subject to the agreement as varied;

                            a reasonable opportunity to decide whether they want to approve the variation; and

                     (b)  either:

                              (i)  if the decision is made by a vote—a majority of those persons who cast a valid vote decide that they want to approve the variation; or

                             (ii)  otherwise—a majority of those persons decide that they want to approve the variation.

374  Employer must not lodge unapproved variation

             (1)  An employer contravenes this section if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a variation to a workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  the variation has not been approved in accordance with section 373.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

Subdivision C—Lodgment of variations

375  Employer must lodge variations with the Workplace Authority Director

             (1)  If a variation has been approved in accordance with section 373, the employer must lodge the variation, in accordance with section 377, within 14 days after the variation was approved.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

376  Lodging variation to multiple‑business agreement without authorisation

             (1)  An employer contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a variation to a multiple‑business agreement; and

                     (b)  the variation has not been authorised under section 332.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

377  Lodging of variation documents with the Workplace Authority Director

             (1)  The employer in relation to a variation to a workplace agreement lodges the variation with the Workplace Authority Director if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a declaration under subsection (2); and

                     (b)  a copy of the variation is annexed to the declaration.

             (2)  An employer lodges a declaration with the Workplace Authority Director if:

                     (a)  the employer gives it to the Workplace Authority Director; and

                     (b)  it meets the form requirements mentioned in subsection (3).

Note:          Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for providing false or misleading information or documents.

             (3)  The Workplace Authority Director may, by notice published in the Gazette, set out requirements for the form of a declaration for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b).

             (4)  A declaration is given to the Workplace Authority Director for the purposes of subsection (2) only if the declaration is actually received by the Workplace Authority Director.

Note:          This means that section 29 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (to the extent that it deals with the time of service of documents) and section 160 of the Evidence Act 1995 do not apply to lodgment of a declaration.

             (5)  The Workplace Authority Director is not required to consider or determine whether any of the requirements of this Part (other than Division 5A) have been met in relation to the making or content of anything annexed to a declaration lodged in accordance with subsection (2).

378  Workplace Authority Director must issue receipt for lodgment of declaration for variation

             (1)  If a declaration is lodged under subsection 377(2), the Workplace Authority Director must issue a receipt for the lodgment.

             (2)  The Workplace Authority Director must give a copy of the receipt to:

                     (a)  the employer in relation to the relevant workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  if the relevant workplace agreement is an AWA—the employee; and

                     (c)  if the relevant workplace agreement is a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement—the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement.

379  Employer must notify employees after lodging variation

             (1)  An employer that has received a receipt under section 378 in relation to a collective agreement must take reasonable steps to ensure that all persons whose employment is subject to the agreement when the employer receives the receipt are given a copy of the receipt within 21 days.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

Subdivision D—When a variation comes into operation

380  When a variation comes into operation

             (1)  A variation to a workplace agreement comes into operation when the variation is lodged with the Workplace Authority Director in accordance with section 377.

             (2)  The variation comes into operation even if the requirements in Division 3, Subdivision B of this Division and section 375 have not been met in relation to the variation.

             (3)  A variation to a multiple‑business agreement comes into operation only if the variation has been authorised under section 332.

 

Division 9—Terminating a workplace agreement

Subdivision A—General

381  Types of termination

             (1)  A workplace agreement may be terminated:

                     (a)  by approval (see Subdivisions B and C); or

                     (b)  unilaterally (see Subdivision D).

             (2)  A workplace agreement is terminated when:

                     (a)  a termination of the agreement is lodged with the Workplace Authority Director in accordance with section 389; or

                     (b)  a declaration to terminate the agreement in accordance with subsection 392(2) is lodged with the Workplace Authority Director in accordance with section 395; or

                     (c)  a declaration to terminate the agreement in accordance with subsection 393(2) is lodged with the Workplace Authority Director in accordance with section 395.

Subdivision B—Termination by approval (pre‑lodgment procedure)

382  Terminating a workplace agreement by approval

                   A workplace agreement may be terminated in accordance with this Subdivision by the following:

                     (a)  in the case of an AWA—the employer and the employee;

                     (b)  in the case of an employee collective agreement or an employer greenfields agreement—the employer and the employees whose employment is subject to the agreement;

                     (c)  in the case of a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement—the employer and the one or more organisations of employees that are bound by the agreement.

383  Eligible employee in relation to termination of workplace agreement

                   For the purposes of this Subdivision, an eligible employee in relation to a termination of a workplace agreement in accordance with this Subdivision is:

                     (a)  in the case of an AWA—the employee; or

                     (b)  in the case of a collective agreement—a person employed at the time whose employment is subject to the agreement.

384  Providing employees with information statement

             (1)  If an employer intends to have the termination of a workplace agreement approved under section 386, the employer must take reasonable steps to ensure that all eligible employees in relation to the termination are given an information statement at or before the start of the period of 7 days ending when the termination is approved.

             (2)  Despite subsection (1), if the relevant workplace agreement is a collective agreement and a person becomes an eligible employee at a time during the period mentioned in subsection (1), the employer must take reasonable steps to ensure that the person is given an information statement at or before that time.

             (3)  The information statement mentioned in subsections (1) and (2) must contain:

                     (a)  information about the time at which and the manner in which the approval will be sought under section 386; and

                     (b)  if the relevant workplace agreement is an AWA—information about the effect of section 334 (which deals with bargaining agents); and

                     (c)  any other information that the Workplace Authority Director requires by notice published in the Gazette.

Contravention—information statement

             (4)  An employer contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a declaration to terminate a workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  the employer failed to comply with subsection (1) or (if applicable) subsection (2) in relation to the termination.

             (5)  Subsection (4) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

             (6)  An employer cannot contravene subsection (4) more than once in relation to the lodgment of a particular termination.

385  Prohibition on withdrawal from termination of union collective agreement or union greenfields agreement

             (1)  An employer that has agreed to terminate a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement with the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement must take reasonable steps to seek approval for the termination under section 386, within a reasonable period after agreeing to do so.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

386  Approval of a termination

             (1)  A termination of an AWA is approved if:

                     (a)  the employer and employee make a written termination agreement to terminate the AWA; and

                     (b)  the termination agreement is signed and dated by the employee and the employer; and

                     (c)  those signatures are witnessed; and

                     (d)  if the employee is under the age of 18 years:

                              (i)  the termination agreement is signed and dated by an appropriate person (such as a parent or guardian of the employee, but not the employer) on behalf of the employee, for the purpose of indicating that person’s consent to the employee terminating the AWA; and

                             (ii)  that person is aged at least 18 years; and

                            (iii)  that person’s signature is witnessed.

             (2)  A termination of a collective agreement is approved if:

                     (a)  the employer has given all of the persons employed at the time whose employment is subject to the agreement a reasonable opportunity to decide whether they want to approve the termination; and

                     (b)  either:

                              (i)  if the decision is made by a vote—a majority of those persons who cast a valid vote decide that they want to approve the termination; or

                             (ii)  otherwise—a majority of those persons decide that they want to approve the termination.

387  Employer must not lodge unapproved termination

             (1)  An employer contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a termination of a workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  the termination has not been approved in accordance with section 386.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

Subdivision C—Termination by approval (lodgment)

388  Employer must lodge termination with the Workplace Authority Director

             (1)  If a termination has been approved in accordance with section 386, the employer must lodge the termination, in accordance with section 389, within 14 days after the termination was approved.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

389  Lodging termination documents with the Workplace Authority Director

             (1)  The employer in relation to a workplace agreement to be terminated lodges the termination with the Workplace Authority Director if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges a declaration under subsection (2) for the termination of the workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  if the workplace agreement is an AWA—a copy of the termination agreement is annexed to the declaration.

             (2)  An employer lodges a declaration with the Workplace Authority Director if:

                     (a)  the employer gives it to the Workplace Authority Director; and

                     (b)  it meets the form requirements mentioned in subsection (3).

Note:          Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for providing false or misleading information or documents.

             (3)  The Workplace Authority Director may, by notice published in the Gazette, set out requirements for the form of a declaration for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b).

             (4)  A declaration is given to the Workplace Authority Director for the purposes of subsection (2) only if the declaration is actually received by the Workplace Authority Director.

Note:          This means that section 29 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (to the extent that it deals with the time of service of documents) and section 160 of the Evidence Act 1995 do not apply to lodgment of a declaration.

             (5)  The Workplace Authority Director is not required to consider or determine whether any of the requirements of this Division (other than this section) have been met in relation to the termination.

390  Workplace Authority Director must issue receipt for lodgment of declaration for termination

             (1)  If a declaration is lodged under subsection 389(2), the Workplace Authority Director must issue a receipt for the lodgment.

             (2)  The Workplace Authority Director must give a copy of the receipt to:

                     (a)  the employer in relation to the relevant workplace agreement; and

                     (b)  if the relevant workplace agreement is an AWA—the employee; and

                     (c)  if the relevant workplace agreement is a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement—the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement.

391  Employer must notify employees after lodging termination

             (1)  An employer that has received a receipt under section 390 in relation to a collective agreement must take reasonable steps to ensure that all persons whose employment was subject to the agreement just before the declaration was lodged are given a copy of the receipt within 21 days.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

Subdivision D—Unilateral termination after nominal expiry date

392  Unilateral termination in a manner provided for in workplace agreement

             (1)  This section applies if a workplace agreement provides for a manner of terminating the agreement after its nominal expiry date.

             (2)  Any of the following persons may terminate the agreement by lodging a declaration in accordance with section 395:

                     (a)  the employer in relation to the agreement;

                     (b)  a majority of the employees whose employment is subject to the agreement when the notice mentioned in subsection (4) is given;

                    (ba)  in the case of an AWA—the employee whose employment is subject to the agreement;

                     (c)  in the case of an AWA—a bargaining agent at the request of the employer or the employee;

                     (d)  an organisation of employees that is bound by the agreement.

Note:          Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for providing false or misleading information or documents.

             (3)  However, this may be done only if:

                     (a)  the nominal expiry date of the workplace agreement has passed; and

                     (b)  all the requirements in the agreement for terminating the agreement are met.

             (4)  At least 14 days before the lodgment, and after the nominal expiry date of the agreement has passed, the person or persons intending to lodge the declaration must take reasonable steps to ensure that the following are given written notice of the termination:

                     (a)  the employer in relation to the agreement;

                     (b)  each employee whose employment is subject to the agreement when the notice is given;

                     (c)  an organisation of employees that is bound by the agreement.

             (5)  The notice must:

                     (a)  state that the workplace agreement is to be terminated in the manner provided for by the agreement; and

                     (b)  be in the form (if any) that the Workplace Authority Director requires by notice published in the Gazette; and

                     (c)  contain the information (if any) that the Workplace Authority Director requires by notice published in the Gazette.

             (6)  A person contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the person lodges a declaration to terminate a workplace agreement under subsection (2); and

                     (b)  the person failed to comply with subsection (4) or (5).

             (7)  Subsection (6) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

             (8)  This section does not apply in relation to a multiple‑business agreement.

393  Unilateral termination with 90 days written notice

             (1)  This section applies whether or not a workplace agreement provides for a manner of terminating the agreement after its nominal expiry date.

             (2)  Any of the following persons may terminate the agreement by lodging a declaration in accordance with section 395:

                     (a)  the employer in relation to the agreement;

                     (b)  a majority of the employees whose employment is subject to the agreement when the notice mentioned in subsection (4) is given;

                    (ba)  in the case of an AWA—the employee whose employment is subject to the agreement;

                     (c)  in the case of an AWA—a bargaining agent at the request of the employer or the employee;

                     (d)  an organisation of employees that is bound by the agreement.

Note:          Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for providing false or misleading information or documents.

             (3)  However, this may be done only if the nominal expiry date of the workplace agreement has passed.

             (4)  At least 90 days before the lodgment, and after the nominal expiry date of the agreement has passed, the person or persons intending to lodge the declaration must take reasonable steps to ensure that:

                     (a)  the following are given written notice of the termination:

                              (i)  the employer in relation to the agreement;

                             (ii)  each employee whose employment is subject to the agreement when the notice is given;

                            (iii)  an organisation of employees that is bound by the agreement; and

                     (b)  if the person giving the notice is the employer bound by the agreement, or is a bargaining agent doing so at the request of the employer bound by the agreement—a written copy of the undertakings (if any) made by the employer under section 394.

             (5)  The notice must:

                     (a)  state that the workplace agreement is to be terminated; and

                     (b)  specify the day on which the person or persons propose to lodge the notice; and

                     (c)  be in the form (if any) that the Workplace Authority Director requires by notice published in the Gazette; and

                     (d)  contain the information (if any) that the Workplace Authority Director requires by notice published in the Gazette; and

                     (e)  if the person giving the notice is the employer bound by the agreement, or is a bargaining agent doing so at the request of the employer bound by the agreement—state whether the parties to the workplace agreement will, under section 399A, continue to be bound by one or more redundancy provisions included in the workplace agreement; and

                      (f)  if the parties to the workplace agreement will continue to be so bound—include an annexed copy of the provision or the provisions.

             (6)  A person contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the person lodges a declaration to terminate a workplace agreement under subsection (2); and

                     (b)  the person failed to comply with subsection (4) or (5).

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

             (7)  Subsection (6) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

             (8)  This section does not apply in relation to a multiple‑business agreement.

394  Undertakings about post‑termination conditions

             (1)  An employer intending to terminate a workplace agreement under subsection 393(2) may make undertakings as to the terms and conditions of employment of employees who were bound by the workplace agreement just before it was terminated.

             (2)  The undertakings come into operation on the day that the workplace agreement is terminated.

             (3)  The undertakings cease to operate in relation to an employee when the employee’s employment becomes subject to a later workplace agreement.

             (4)  Subject to this section, the following provisions apply to the undertakings as if they were a workplace agreement in operation:

                     (a)  Part 14;

                     (b)  Part 6;

                     (c)  any other provision of this Act specified in the regulations.

             (5)  An employer contravenes this subsection if:

                     (a)  the employer lodges, or a bargaining agent lodges at the request of the employer, a declaration to terminate a workplace agreement under subsection (2); and

                     (b)  the employer has made undertakings in relation to that termination; and

                     (c)  a copy of the undertakings was not annexed to the declaration.

             (6)  Subsection (5) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

             (7)  If undertakings have ceased operating in relation to an employee because of subsection (3), they can never operate again in relation to that employee.

             (8)  Despite subsection (7), undertakings that have ceased to operate can operate again under this section if:

                     (a)  the undertakings ceased to operate because they were replaced by a workplace agreement (the replacement workplace agreement); and

                     (b)  the replacement workplace agreement later ceased to operate because it did not pass the fairness test.

Note:          See section 346ZA.

395  Lodging unilateral termination documents with the Workplace Authority Director

             (1)  A person lodges a declaration to terminate a workplace agreement under section 392 or 393 with the Workplace Authority Director if:

                     (a)  the person gives it to the Workplace Authority Director; and

                     (b)  it meets the form requirements mentioned in subsection (3); and

                     (c)  if the employer in relation to the agreement, or a bargaining agent at the request of the employer in relation to the agreement, lodges the declaration to terminate the agreement under section 393—the declaration states whether the parties to the agreement will, under section 399A, continue to be bound by one or more redundancy provisions included in the agreement.

Note:          Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for providing false or misleading information or documents.

             (2)  If the employer in relation to the agreement, or a bargaining agent at the request of the employer in relation to the agreement, lodges the declaration to terminate the agreement under section 393, undertakings are lodged in relation to the termination if a copy of the undertakings is annexed to the declaration.

             (3)  The Workplace Authority Director may, by notice published in the Gazette, set out requirements for the form of a declaration for the purposes of paragraph (1)(b).

             (4)  A declaration is given to the Workplace Authority Director for the purposes of subsection (1) only if the declaration is actually received by the Workplace Authority Director.

Note:          This means that section 29 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (to the extent that it deals with the time of service of documents) and section 160 of the Evidence Act 1995 do not apply to lodgment of a declaration.

             (5)  The Workplace Authority Director is not required to consider or determine whether any of the requirements of this Subdivision (apart from this section) have been met in relation to the termination.

396  Workplace Authority Director must issue receipt for lodgment of declaration for notice of termination

             (1)  If a declaration is lodged under subsection 395(1) the Workplace Authority Director must issue a receipt for the lodgment.

          (1A)  If the employer in relation to a workplace agreement, or a bargaining agent at the request of the employer in relation to a workplace agreement, lodged a declaration under subsection 395(1) to terminate the agreement under section 393, the receipt must state whether:

                     (a)  the declaration so lodged states that the parties to the workplace agreement will continue to be bound by one or more redundancy provisions included in the workplace agreement that was terminated; and

                     (b)  a copy of the provision or provisions was annexed to the declaration.

             (2)  The Workplace Authority Director must give a copy of the receipt to:

                     (a)  the person that lodged the declaration; and

                     (b)  the employer in relation to the relevant workplace agreement; and

                     (c)  if the relevant workplace agreement is an AWA—the employee; and

                     (d)  if the relevant workplace agreement is a union collective agreement or a union greenfields agreement—the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement.

397  Employer must notify employees after lodging notice of termination

             (1)  An employer that has received a receipt under section 396 in relation to a collective agreement must take reasonable steps to ensure that all persons whose employment was subject to the agreement just before the declaration was lodged are given a copy of the receipt within 21 days.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

Subdivision E—Effect of termination

398  When a termination takes effect

                   A termination takes effect even if:

                     (a)  the requirements in Division 3 have not been met in relation to the termination; or

                     (b)  in the case of a termination mentioned in paragraph 381(1)(a)—the requirements in Subdivision B and section 388 have not been met in relation to the termination; or

                     (c)  in the case of a termination mentioned in paragraph 381(1)(b)—the requirements in subsections 392(4) and (5) and 393(4) and (5) have not been met in relation to the termination.

399  Consequence of termination of agreement—application of other industrial instruments

             (1)  An industrial instrument mentioned in subsection (3) has no effect in relation to an employee if:

                     (a)  a workplace agreement operated in relation to the employee; and

                     (b)  the workplace agreement was terminated.

Note 1:       See Part 7 for the operation of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard in these circumstances.

Note 2:       See subsections 394(2), (3) and (4) for the operation of undertakings (if any) in these circumstances.

             (2)  Subsection (1) operates in relation to the period:

                     (a)  starting when the agreement is terminated; and

                     (b)  ending when another workplace agreement comes into operation in relation to the employee.

             (3)  The industrial instruments are as follows:

                     (a)  a workplace agreement;

                     (b)  an award, except to the extent to which it contains protected award conditions as defined in section 354 (disregarding any exclusion or modification of those conditions made by the agreement that was terminated).

399A  Preservation of redundancy provisions in certain circumstances

             (1)  This section applies if a workplace agreement is terminated unilaterally, in accordance with section 393, by the employer in relation to the agreement or by a bargaining agent at the request of the employer in relation to the agreement.

             (2)  Any party who was bound by the workplace agreement immediately before it ceased operating continues to be bound, immediately after that time, by any redundancy provision that was included in the workplace agreement as if the workplace agreement had continued operating.

          (2A)  Parts 6 and 14 of this Act apply to a redundancy provision referred to in subsection (2) as if the provision was a workplace agreement in operation.

             (3)  A party continues to be bound by a redundancy provision referred to in subsection (2), in relation to an employee who is bound by the redundancy provision, until the earliest of the following:

                     (a)  the end of the period of 24 months from the time that the workplace agreement ceased operating;

                     (b)  the time when the employee ceases to be employed by the employer;

                     (c)  the time when another workplace agreement comes into operation in relation to the employee and the employer.

             (4)  In this section:

redundancy provision means any of the following kinds of provisions:

                     (a)  a provision relating to redundancy pay in relation to a termination of employment;

                     (b)  a provision that is incidental to a provision relating to redundancy pay in relation to a termination of employment;

                     (c)  a machinery provision that is in respect of a provision relating to redundancy pay in relation to a termination of employment;

where the termination is at the initiative of the employer and on the grounds of operational requirements, or because the employer is insolvent.

 

Division 10—Prohibited conduct

400  Coercion and duress

             (1)  A person must not:

                     (a)  engage in or organise, or threaten to engage in or organise, any industrial action; or

                     (b)  take, or threaten to take, other action; or

                     (c)  refrain, or threaten to refrain, from taking any action;

with intent to coerce another person to agree, or not to agree, to make, approve, lodge, vary or terminate a collective agreement.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not apply to protected action (within the meaning of section 435).

             (3)  A person must not coerce, or attempt to coerce, an employer or employee in relation to an AWA:

                     (a)  to appoint, or not to appoint, a particular person as a bargaining agent under subsection 334(1); or

                     (b)  to terminate the appointment of a bargaining agent appointed under subsection 334(1).

             (4)  A person must not coerce, or attempt to coerce, an employee of an employer:

                     (a)  not to make a request mentioned in subsection 335(1) or (2) in relation to a collective agreement; or

                     (b)  to withdraw such a request.

             (5)  A person must not apply duress to an employer or employee in connection with an AWA.

             (6)  To avoid doubt, a person does not apply duress for the purposes of subsection (5) merely because the person requires another person to make an AWA as a condition of engagement, other than in the circumstance described in subsection (6A).

          (6A)  The circumstance referred to in subsection (6) is that:

                     (a)  the first person mentioned in subsection (6) is a new employer; and

                     (b)  the new employer requires another person to make an AWA; and

                     (c)  the other person would, if employed by the new employer, be a transferring employee; and

                     (d)  the requirement to make the AWA is a condition of the other person becoming employed in the business being transferred.

             (7)  Subsections (1), (3), (4) and (5) are civil remedy provisions.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

             (8)  In this section:

business being transferred has the same meanings as in section 579, clause 72C of Schedule 6 and subclause 4(2) of Schedule 9.

new employer has the same meanings as in section 579 and subclause 4(1) of Schedule 9, and includes a new transitional employer within the meaning of clause 72C of Schedule 6.

transferring employee has the same meanings as in section 579 and clause 3 of Schedule 9, and includes a transferring transitional employee within the meaning of clause 72C of Schedule 6.

401  False or misleading statements

             (1)  A person contravenes this section if:

                     (a)  the person makes a false or misleading statement to another person; and

                     (b)  the person is reckless as to whether the statement is false or misleading; and

                     (c)  the making of that statement causes the other person:

                              (i)  to make, approve, lodge, vary or terminate a workplace agreement; or

                             (ii)  not to make, approve, lodge, vary or terminate a workplace agreement.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

402  Employers not to discriminate between unionist and non‑unionist

             (1)  An employer must not, in negotiating a collective agreement, or a variation to a collective agreement, discriminate between employees of the employer:

                     (a)  because some of those employees are members of an organisation of employees while others are not members of such an organisation; or

                     (b)  because some of those employees are members of a particular organisation of employees, while others are not members of that organisation or are members of a different organisation of employees.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

Note:          See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.

 

Division 11—Contravention of civil remedy provisions

Note:       For other rules about civil remedy provisions, see Division 3 of Part 14.

Subdivision A—General

403  General powers of Court not affected by this Division

                   This Division does not affect the following:

                     (a)  the powers of the Court under Part 20;

                     (b)  any other powers of the Court.

404  Workplace inspector may take over proceeding

             (1)  A workplace inspector may take over a proceeding that was instituted or is being carried on by another person for an order under this Division.

             (2)  If a workplace inspector takes over such a proceeding, he or she may:

                     (a)  carry it on further; or

                     (b)  decline to carry it on further (whether immediately or at a later stage of the proceeding).

405  Standing for civil remedies

             (1)  Any of the following persons may apply to the Court for an order under this Division in relation to a workplace agreement:

                     (a)  an employee who is or will be bound by the agreement;

                     (b)  if the person who contravened the civil remedy provision was not the employer in relation to the agreement, and the provision is mentioned in subsection (2)—the employer;

                     (c)  an organisation of employees that is or will be bound by the agreement;

                     (d)  an organisation of employees that represents an employee who is or will be bound by the agreement (subject to subsection (3));

                     (e)  if the agreement is an AWA—a bargaining agent of the employee or of the employer;

                      (f)  a workplace inspector;

                     (g)  a person specified in regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph.

             (2)  The provisions are as follows:

                     (a)  subsection 334(2);

                     (b)  subsection 365(1);

                     (c)  subsection 366(1);

                     (d)  subsection 392(6);

                     (e)  subsection 393(6);

                      (f)  subsection 400(1);

                     (g)  subsection 400(3);

                     (h)  subsection 400(5);

                      (i)  subsection 401(1).

             (3)  An organisation of employees that represents an employee (as mentioned in paragraph (1)(d)) must not apply on behalf of an employee for a penalty or other remedy under this Division in relation to a contravention of a civil remedy provision unless:

                     (a)  the employee has requested the organisation to apply on the employee’s behalf; and

                     (b)  a member of the organisation is employed by the employee’s employer; and

                     (c)  the organisation is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of the employee.

Subdivision B—Pecuniary penalty for contravention of civil remedy provisions

406  Application of Subdivision

                   This Subdivision applies to a contravention by a person of a civil remedy provision in this Part.

407  Court may order pecuniary penalty

             (1)  The Court may order the person who contravened the civil remedy provision to pay a pecuniary penalty of up to:

                     (a)  if the person is an individual—the maximum number of penalty units specified in subsection (2); or

                     (b)  if the person is a body corporate—5 times the maximum number of penalty units specified in subsection (2).

             (2)  The maximum number of penalty units is as follows:

                     (a)  for subsection 334(2)—30 penalty units;

                     (b)  for subsection 335(3)—30 penalty units;

                     (c)  for subsection 337(8)—30 penalty units;

                     (d)  for subsection 337(9)—30 penalty units;

                     (e)  for subsection 339(1)—30 penalty units;

                      (f)  for subsection 341(1)—60 penalty units;

                     (g)  for subsection 342(1)—30 penalty units;

                     (h)  for subsection 342(2)—30 penalty units;

                      (i)  for subsection 343(1)—60 penalty units;

                      (j)  for subsection 346(1)—30 penalty units;

                     (ja)  for subsection 346A(1)—30 penalty units;

                     (jb)  for subsection 346ZE(1)—30 penalty units;

                   (jba)  for subsection 346ZEA(2)—30 penalty units;

                     (jc)  for subsection 346ZF(1)—60 penalty units;

                     (jd)  for subsection 346ZH(1)—60 penalty units;

                     (k)  for subsection 357(1)—60 penalty units;

                      (l)  for subsection 362(1)—30 penalty units;

                    (m)  for subsection 364(1)—30 penalty units;

                     (n)  for subsection 365(1)—60 penalty units;

                     (o)  for subsection 366(1)—60 penalty units;

                     (p)  for subsection 370(8)—30 penalty units;

                     (q)  for subsection 370(9)—30 penalty units;

                      (r)  for subsection 372(1)—30 penalty units;

                      (s)  for subsection 374(1)—60 penalty units;

                      (t)  for subsection 375(1)—30 penalty units;

                     (u)  for subsection 376(1)—60 penalty units;

                     (v)  for subsection 379(1)—30 penalty units;

                    (w)  for subsection 384(4)—30 penalty units;

                     (x)  for subsection 385(1)—30 penalty units;

                     (y)  for subsection 387(1)—60 penalty units;

                      (z)  for subsection 388(1)—30 penalty units;

                    (za)  for subsection 391(1)—30 penalty units;

                    (zb)  for subsection 392(6)—60 penalty units;

                    (zc)  for subsection 393(6)—60 penalty units;

                    (zd)  for subsection 394(5)—30 penalty units;

                    (ze)  for subsection 397(1)—30 penalty units;

                    (zf)  for subsection 400(1)—60 penalty units;

                    (zg)  for subsection 400(3)—60 penalty units;

                    (zh)  for subsection 400(4)—60 penalty units;

                     (zi)  for subsection 400(5)—60 penalty units;

                     (zj)  for subsection 401(1)—60 penalty units;

                    (zk)  for subsection 402(1)—60 penalty units.

Subdivision C—Other remedies for contravention of certain civil remedy provisions

408  Application of Subdivision

                   This Subdivision applies to a contravention by a person of any of the following civil remedy provisions in relation to a workplace agreement:

                     (a)  subsection 341(1);

                     (b)  subsection 374(1);

                     (c)  subsection 387(1);

                     (d)  subsection 392(6);

                     (e)  subsection 393(6);

                      (f)  subsection 400(1);

                     (g)  subsection 400(5);

                     (h)  subsection 401(1).

409  Court may declare workplace agreement or part of workplace agreement void

                   The Court may make an order:

                     (a)  declaring that the workplace agreement is void; or

                     (b)  declaring that specified terms of the workplace agreement are void.

410  Court may vary terms of workplace agreement

                   The Court may make an order varying the terms of the workplace agreement.

411  Court may order that workplace agreement continues to operate despite termination

             (1)  This section applies if the workplace agreement has been terminated as a result of the contravention mentioned in section 408.

             (2)  The Court may make an order declaring that the workplace agreement continues to operate despite the termination.

412  Date of effect and preconditions for orders under sections 409, 410 and 411

             (1)  An order under section 409, 410 or 411 takes effect from the date of the order or a later date specified in the order.

             (2)  The Court may make an order under section 409, 410 or 411 only to the extent that the Court considers appropriate to remedy the following:

                     (a)  all or part of any loss or damage resulting from the contravention mentioned in section 408;

                     (b)  prevention or reduction of all or part of that loss or damage.

413  Court may order compensation

                   The Court may make an order that the person mentioned in section 408 pay compensation of such amount as the Court considers appropriate for any loss or damage resulting from the contravention suffered by an employee whose employment is subject to the agreement.

414  Court may order injunction

             (1)  The Court may grant an injunction requiring the person mentioned in section 408 to cease contravening (or not to contravene) the civil remedy provision.

             (2)  Subsection (1) also applies in relation to a contravention of subsection 402(1).

 

Division 12—Miscellaneous

415  AWAs with Commonwealth employees

             (1)  An Agency Head (within the meaning of the Public Service Act 1999) may act on behalf of the Commonwealth in relation to AWAs with persons in the Agency who are engaged under the Public Service Act 1999.

             (2)  A Secretary of a Department (within the meaning of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999) may act on behalf of the Commonwealth in relation to AWAs with persons in the Department who are engaged under the Parliamentary Service Act 1999.

416  Evidence—verified copies

             (1)  The Workplace Authority Director may issue a verified copy of any of the following:

                     (a)  a declaration lodged under subsection 344(2), 346S(2), 377(2), 389(2) or 395(1) in relation to a workplace agreement;

                     (b)  a document annexed to a declaration mentioned in paragraph (a);

                     (c)  a receipt issued by the Workplace Authority Director under section 345, 378, 390 or 396 in relation to a workplace agreement;

                     (d)  a written notice given by the Workplace Authority Director under subsection 346J(1) or (2), 346P(1) or (2), 346U(2) or 360(1) or paragraph 363(4)(a) in relation to a workplace agreement;

                     (e)  an authorisation granted by the Workplace Authority Director under section 332 for a workplace agreement that is a multiple‑business agreement;

                      (f)  a written advice in relation to a workplace agreement given by the Workplace Authority Director to an employer for the purposes of paragraph 357(2)(a);

                     (g)  a determination that an award is a designated award made by the Workplace Authority Director under section 346K or 346L.

Note:          For the definition of verified copy, see section 321.

             (2)  The verified copy may only be issued to a person who is or was bound by the workplace agreement to which the verified copy relates.

             (3)  In the Court and in proceedings in the Court, a verified copy issued by the Workplace Authority Director under subsection (1) is prima facie evidence of the document of which it is a verified copy.

             (4)  A document that purports to be a verified copy issued by the Workplace Authority Director under subsection (1) is taken to be such a copy, unless evidence to the contrary is adduced.

417  Evidence—certificates

             (1)  The Workplace Authority Director may issue a certificate stating any one or more of the following in relation to one or more workplace agreements:

                     (a)  that a particular person lodged a particular declaration under subsection 344(2), 346S(2), 377(2), 389(2) or 395(1) with the Workplace Authority Director on a particular day;

                     (b)  if the certificate states that a declaration was lodged with the Workplace Authority Director as mentioned in paragraph (a)—that a particular document was annexed to the declaration;

                     (c)  that particular declarations lodged with the Workplace Authority Director as mentioned in paragraph (a) in relation to a particular workplace agreement are the only such declarations that were so lodged in relation to that workplace agreement before a particular day;

                     (d)  if the certificate states that particular documents were annexed to declarations lodged with the Workplace Authority Director as mentioned in paragraph (b)—that those documents were the only documents annexed to those declarations;

                     (e)  that the Workplace Authority Director issued a receipt under section 345, 378, 390 or 396 to a particular person on a particular day for such a lodgment;

                      (f)  if the certificate states that particular receipts were issued by the Workplace Authority Director as mentioned in paragraph (e) in relation to a particular workplace agreement—that those receipts were the only receipts so issued in relation to the workplace agreement before a particular day;

                     (g)  that the Workplace Authority Director gave a particular advice for the purposes of paragraph 346P(3)(a) or 357(2)(a) to a particular person on a particular day;

                     (h)  if the certificate states that particular advices were given by the Workplace Authority Director as mentioned in paragraph (g) in relation to a particular workplace agreement—that those advices were the only advices so given in relation to the workplace agreement before a particular day;

                      (i)  that the Workplace Authority Director granted an authorisation under section 332 on a particular day for a particular employer to make or vary a particular multiple‑business agreement;

                      (j)  if the certificate states that particular authorisations were granted by the Workplace Authority Director as mentioned in paragraph (i) in relation to a particular multiple‑business agreement—that those authorisations were the only authorisations so granted in relation to the multiple‑business agreement before a particular day;

                     (k)  that the Workplace Authority Director gave a particular notice under subsection 346J(1) or (2), 346P(1) or (2), 346U(2) or 360(1) or paragraph 363(4)(a) on a particular day to a particular employer;

                      (l)  if the certificate states that particular notices were given by the Workplace Authority Director as mentioned in paragraph (k) in relation to a particular workplace agreement—that those notices were the only notices so given in relation to that workplace agreement before a particular day.

             (2)  The certificate may only be issued to a person who is or was bound by the workplace agreement or all of the workplace agreements to which the certificate relates.

             (3)  In the Court and in proceedings in the Court, a certificate issued by the Workplace Authority Director under subsection (1) is prima facie evidence of the matters stated in the certificate.

             (4)  A document that purports to be a certificate issued by the Workplace Authority Director under subsection (1) is taken to be such a certificate, unless evidence to the contrary is adduced.

418  Regulations relating to workplace agreements

                   The regulations may make provision in relation to the following matters:

                     (a)  requiring an employer who is bound by a workplace agreement to supply copies of prescribed documents to the employee or employees bound by the workplace agreement;

                     (b)  the qualifications and appointment of bargaining agents;

                     (c)  the required form of workplace agreements (including a requirement that documents be in the English language);

                     (d)  the witnessing of signatures on AWAs;

                     (e)  the signing of workplace agreements by persons bound by those agreements, or representatives of those persons;

                      (f)  the retention by employers of signed workplace agreements (including the manner and period of retention);

                     (g)  prescribing fees for the issue by the Workplace Authority Director of certificates and verified copies.

Note:          See section 846 for the types of sanctions that the regulations may provide for a breach of the regulations.

 

Part 9—Industrial action

Division 1—Preliminary

419  Definitions

             (1)  In this Part:

authorised ballot agent means an authorised ballot agent as defined in section 450 for the purpose of Division 4.

bargaining period has the meaning given by section 423.

Court means the Federal Court of Australia or the Federal Magistrates Court.

industrial action has the meaning given by section 420.

initiating notice has the meaning given by section 423.

initiating party has the meaning given by section 423.

negotiating party has the meaning given by section 423.

pattern bargaining has the meaning given by section 421.

proposed collective agreement has the meaning given by section 423.

protected action has the meaning given by section 435.

protected action ballot means a ballot under Division 4.

             (2)  Expressions used in this Part that are also used in Part 8 have the same meanings in this Part as they have in that Part.

420  Meaning of industrial action

             (1)  For the purposes of this Act, industrial action means any action of the following kinds:

                     (a)  the performance of work by an employee in a manner different from that in which it is customarily performed, or the adoption of a practice in relation to work by an employee, the result of which is a restriction or limitation on, or a delay in, the performance of the work;

                     (b)  a ban, limitation or restriction on the performance of work by an employee or on the acceptance of or offering for work by an employee;

                     (c)  a failure or refusal by employees to attend for work or a failure or refusal to perform any work at all by employees who attend for work;

                     (d)  the lockout of employees from their employment by the employer of the employees;

but does not include the following:

                     (e)  action by employees that is authorised or agreed to by the employer of the employees;

                      (f)  action by an employer that is authorised or agreed to by or on behalf of employees of the employer;

                     (g)  action by an employee if:

                              (i)  the action was based on a reasonable concern by the employee about an imminent risk to his or her health or safety; and

                             (ii)  the employee did not unreasonably fail to comply with a direction of his or her employer to perform other available work, whether at the same or another workplace, that was safe and appropriate for the employee to perform.

Note 1:       See also subsection (4), which deals with the burden of proof of the exception in subparagraph (g)(i) of this definition.

Note 2:       The issue of whether action that is not industrial in character is industrial action was considered by the Commission in Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union v The Age Company Limited, PR946290. In that case, the Full Bench of the Commission drew a distinction between an employee who does not attend for work in support of a collective demand that the employer agree to alteration of the conditions of employment as being clearly engaged in industrial action and an employee who does not attend for work on account of illness.

             (2)  For the purposes of this Act:

                     (a)  conduct is capable of constituting industrial action even if the conduct relates to part only of the duties that employees are required to perform in the course of their employment; and

                     (b)  a reference to industrial action includes a reference to a course of conduct consisting of a series of industrial actions.

Meaning of lockout

             (3)  For the purposes of this section, an employer locks out employees from their employment if the employer prevents the employees from performing work under their contracts of employment without terminating those contracts (except to the extent that this would be an expansion of the ordinary meaning of that expression).

Burden of proof

             (4)  Whenever a person seeks to rely on subparagraph (g)(i) of the definition of industrial action in subsection (1), that person has the burden of proving that subparagraph (g)(i) applies.

421  Meaning of pattern bargaining

What is pattern bargaining?

             (1)  For the purposes of this Part, a course of conduct by a person is pattern bargaining if:

                     (a)  the person is a negotiating party to 2 or more proposed collective agreements; and

                     (b)  the course of conduct involves seeking common wages or conditions of employment for 2 or more of those proposed collective agreements; and

                     (c)  the course of conduct extends beyond a single business.

Exception: terms or conditions determined as national standards

             (2)  The course of conduct is not pattern bargaining to the extent that the negotiating party is seeking, for 2 or more of the proposed collective agreements, terms or conditions of employment determined by the Full Bench in a decision establishing national standards.

Exception: genuinely trying to reach an agreement for a single business or part of a single business

             (3)  The course of conduct, to the extent that it relates to a particular single business or part of a single business, is not pattern bargaining if the negotiating party is genuinely trying to reach an agreement for the business or part.

             (4)  For the purposes of subsection (3), factors relevant to working out whether the negotiating party is genuinely trying to reach an agreement for a single business or part of a single business include (but are not limited to) the following:

                     (a)  demonstrating a preparedness to negotiate an agreement which takes into account the individual circumstances of the business or part;

                     (b)  demonstrating a preparedness to negotiate a workplace agreement with a nominal expiry date which takes into account the individual circumstances of the business or part;

                     (c)  negotiating in a manner consistent with wages and conditions of employment being determined as far as possible by agreement between the employer and its employees at the level of the single business or part;

                     (d)  agreeing to meet face‑to‑face at reasonable times proposed by another negotiating party;

                     (e)  considering and responding to proposals made by another negotiating party within a reasonable time;

                      (f)  not capriciously adding or withdrawing items for bargaining.

             (5)  Whenever a person seeks to rely on subsection (3), the person has the burden of proving that subsection (3) applies.

             (6)  This section does not affect, and is not affected by, the meaning of the term “genuinely trying to reach an agreement”, or any variant of the term, as used elsewhere in this Act.

422  Extraterritorial extension

Australia’s exclusive economic zone

             (1)  This Part, and the rest of this Act so far as it relates to this Part, extend in relation to Australia’s exclusive economic zone in the way prescribed by the regulations (if any).

             (2)  If the regulations prescribe modifications of this Act (other than this section) for its operation in relation to Australia’s exclusive economic zone under subsection (1), this Act has effect (in accordance with that subsection) as modified in relation to Australia’s exclusive economic zone.

Australia’s continental shelf

             (3)  This Part, and the rest of this Act so far as it relates to this Part, extend, in the way prescribed by the regulations (if any), in relation to a part of Australia’s continental shelf that is prescribed by the regulations.

             (4)  If the regulations prescribe modifications of this Act (other than this section) for its operation in relation to a prescribed part of Australia’s continental shelf under subsection (3), this Act has effect (in accordance with that subsection) as modified in relation to that part.

Note:          The regulations may prescribe different modifications relating to different parts of Australia’s continental shelf. The regulations may need to do so to give effect to Australia’s international obligations.

Definitions

             (5)  In this section:

modifications includes additions, omissions and substitutions.

this Act includes the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and regulations made under it.

 

Division 2—Bargaining periods

423  Initiation of bargaining period

             (1)  This section applies in relation to a collective agreement that a person referred to in subsection (2) wants to try to make if the agreement, if made:

                     (a)  will be made under section 327 or 328; and

                     (b)  will not be:

                              (i)  a multiple‑business agreement; or

                             (ii)  an agreement with 2 or more corporations that are treated as one employer because of paragraph 322(2)(b).

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  an employer; or

                     (b)  an organisation of employees; or

                     (c)  an employee acting on his or her own behalf and on behalf of other employees;

wants to try to make a collective agreement to which this section applies in relation to employees who are employed in a single business or a part of a single business, the employer, organisation or employee (the initiating party) may initiate a period (the bargaining period) for negotiating the agreement.

Note:          This subsection has effect subject to subsections 429(2), 430(12) and (13), 431(6) and (7) and 498(6).

             (3)  The bargaining period is initiated by the initiating party giving written notice (the initiating notice) to each other negotiating party and to the Commission stating that the initiating party intends to try to make a collective agreement to which this section applies (the proposed collective agreement) with the other negotiating parties under section 327 or 328.

             (4)  Each of the following is a negotiating party in relation to the proposed collective agreement:

                     (a)  the initiating party;

                     (b)  if the initiating party is an employer who intends to try to make the proposed collective agreement under section 327—the employees at the time whose employment will be subject to the proposed collective agreement;

                     (c)  if the initiating party is an employer who intends to try to make the proposed collective agreement under section 328—the organisation or organisations who are proposed to be bound by the proposed collective agreement;

                     (d)  if the initiating party is an organisation of employees—the employer who is proposed to be bound by the proposed collective agreement;

                     (e)  if the initiating party is an employee acting on his or her own behalf and on behalf of other employees—the employer who is proposed to be bound by the proposed collective agreement and the employees whose employment will be subject to the proposed collective agreement.

424  Employee may appoint agent to initiate bargaining period

             (1)  A person referred to in paragraph 423(2)(c) who wishes to initiate a bargaining period under section 423, without disclosing the person’s identity to the person’s employer, may appoint an agent to initiate the bargaining period on the person’s behalf.

             (2)  If a person has appointed an agent under subsection (1), the notice to the Commission under subsection 423(3) must be accompanied by a document containing the person’s name.

             (3)  The regulations may make provision in relation to the qualifications and appointment of agents appointed under this section.

425  Identity of person who has appointed agent not to be disclosed

Disclosure by Commission prohibited

             (1)  The Commission must not disclose information that the Commission has reasonable grounds to believe will identify a person who has appointed an agent under section 424 as a person who has initiated a bargaining period under section 423.

             (2)  Each of the following is an exception to subsection (1):

                     (a)  the disclosure is required or authorised by this Act or by another Act, by regulations made for the purposes of another provision of this Act, or by regulations made for the purposes of another Act;

                     (b)  the person whose identity is disclosed has, in writing, authorised the disclosure.

Disclosure by person prohibited

             (3)  A person commits an offence if:

                     (a)  the person discloses information; and

                     (b)  the information is protected information; and

                     (c)  the person has reasonable grounds to believe that the information will identify another person as a person referred to in subsection (1); and

                     (d)  the disclosure is not made by the person in the course of performing functions or duties:

                              (i)  as a Registry official; or

                             (ii)  as, or on behalf of, an authorised ballot agent; and

                     (e)  the disclosure is not required or authorised by this Act or by another Act, by regulations made for the purposes of another provision of this Act, or by regulations made for the purposes of another Act; and

                      (f)  the person whose identity is disclosed has not, in writing, authorised the disclosure.

Penalty:  Imprisonment for 6 months.

             (4)  In this section:

protected information, in relation to a person, means information that the person acquired:

                     (a)  in the course of performing functions or duties as a Registry official; or

                     (b)  in the course of performing functions or duties as, or on behalf of, an authorised ballot agent; or

                     (c)  from a person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) who acquired the information as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

Registry official means:

                     (a)  the Industrial Registrar; or

                     (b)  a member of the staff of the Industrial Registry (including a Deputy Industrial Registrar).

426  Particulars to accompany notice

                   An initiating notice is to be accompanied by particulars of:

                     (a)  the single business or part of the single business to be covered by the proposed collective agreement; and

                     (b)  the types of employees whose employment will be subject to the proposed collective agreement and the other persons who will be bound by the proposed collective agreement; and

                     (c)  the matters that the initiating party proposes should be dealt with by the proposed collective agreement; and

                     (d)  the proposed nominal expiry date of the proposed collective agreement; and

                     (e)  any other matters prescribed by the regulations.

427  When bargaining period begins

                   A bargaining period begins at the end of 7 days after:

                     (a)  the day on which the initiating notice was given; or

                     (b)  if the notice was given to different persons on different days—the later or latest of those days.

428  When bargaining period ends

                   A bargaining period ends if any of the following events occurs:

                     (a)  a collective agreement under section 327 or 328 is made by the employer and any one or more of the other negotiating parties;

                     (b)  the initiating party tells the other negotiating party or each of the other negotiating parties in writing that the initiating party no longer wants to reach a collective agreement under section 327 or 328 with that other party or those other parties;

                     (c)  the bargaining period is terminated under section 430, 431 or 498.

429  Power of Commission to restrict initiation of new bargaining periods

             (1)  This section applies if a bargaining period (the former bargaining period) in relation to a proposed collective agreement has ended because a negotiating party (the former negotiating party) has given a notice under paragraph 428(b).

             (2)  Subject to this section, the Commission may, by order, declare that, during a specified period, a specified former negotiating party, or a specified employee of the employer:

                     (a)  is not allowed to initiate a new bargaining period in relation to specified matters that were dealt with by the proposed collective agreement; or

                     (b)  may initiate a bargaining period only on conditions specified in the order.

             (3)  The Commission must not make an order under subsection (2) unless:

                     (a)  the Commission has given the former negotiating parties an opportunity to be heard; and

                     (b)  the Commission considers that it is in the public interest to make the order; and

                     (c)  either subsection (4) or (5) applies.

             (4)  The Commission may make an order under subsection (2):

                     (a)  on application by a former negotiating party; and

                     (b)  if, assuming the former bargaining period had not ended, the Commission could make an order under subsection 430(1) because a circumstance set out in subsection 430(2), (7) or (8) exists or existed.

             (5)  The Commission may make an order under subsection (2):

                     (a)  on its own initiative, or on application by a former negotiating party; and

                     (b)  if, assuming the former bargaining period had not ended, the Commission could make an order under subsection 430(1) because a circumstance set out in subsection 430(3) exists or existed.

430  Suspension and termination of bargaining periods—general powers of Commission

Suspension or termination required if certain circumstances exist

             (1)  Subject to subsection (9), the Commission must, by order, suspend or terminate a bargaining period if, after giving the negotiating parties an opportunity to be heard, it is satisfied that any of the circumstances set out in subsections (2), (3) (7) and (8) exists or existed.

Circumstance—failing to genuinely try to reach agreement etc.

             (2)  A circumstance for the purposes of subsection (1) is that a negotiating party (not being the applicant for the order) that, before or during the bargaining period, has organised or taken, or is organising or taking, industrial action to support or advance claims in respect of the proposed collective agreement:

                     (a)  did not genuinely try to reach an agreement with the other negotiating parties before organising or taking the industrial action; or

                     (b)  is not genuinely trying to reach an agreement with the other negotiating parties; or

                     (c)  has failed to comply with any orders or directions of the Commission made during the bargaining period that relate to, or that relate to industrial action relating to, the making of the proposed collective agreement or to a matter that has arisen in the negotiations for the proposed collective agreement.

Note:          The issue of whether or not a negotiating party is genuinely trying to reach agreement with the other negotiating parties was considered by Justice Munro in Australian Industry Group v Automotive, Food, Metals, Engineering, Printing and Kindred Industries Union, Print T1982.

Circumstance—industrial action endangering life etc.

             (3)  A circumstance for the purposes of subsection (1) is that:

                     (a)  industrial action to support or advance claims in respect of the proposed collective agreement is being taken, or is threatened, impending or probable; and

                     (b)  that industrial action is adversely affecting, or would adversely affect, the employer or employees of the employer; and

                     (c)  that industrial action is threatening, or would threaten:

                              (i)  to endanger the life, the personal safety or health, or the welfare, of the population or of part of it; or

                             (ii)  to cause significant damage to the Australian economy or an important part of it.

Note:          See also Division 8 (about workplace determinations once a bargaining period has been terminated).

             (4)  If an application is made to the Commission for an order under subsection (1) on the grounds of or including a circumstance set out in subsection (3), the Commission must, as far as practicable, hear and determine the application within 5 days after the application is made.

             (5)  If subsection (4) applies to an application and the Commission is unable to determine the application within the period referred to in that subsection, the Commission must, within that period, make an interim order suspending the bargaining period until the application is determined.

             (6)  If the Commission makes an order under subsection (1) terminating a bargaining period in a circumstance set out in subsection (3), the Commission must send each of the negotiating parties a notice:

                     (a)  setting out the effect of Division 8; and

                     (b)  informing the negotiating parties that they may agree to submit the matters at issue to an alternative dispute resolution process conducted by the Commission or another provider (see Divisions 4 and 6 of Part 13).

Circumstance—organisations and employees who are not members

             (7)  A circumstance for the purposes of subsection (1) is that industrial action is being organised or taken by:

                     (a)  an organisation that is a negotiating party; or

                     (b)  a member of such an organisation who is employed by the employer; or

                     (c)  an officer or employee of such an organisation acting in that capacity;

against an employer to support or advance claims in respect of employees:

                     (d)  whose employment will be subject to the agreement; and

                     (e)  who are neither members, nor eligible to become members, of the organisation.

Circumstance—demarcation disputes

             (8)  A circumstance for the purposes of subsection (1) is that industrial action that is being organised or taken by an organisation that is a negotiating party:

                     (a)  relates, to a significant extent, to a demarcation dispute; or

                     (b)  contravenes an order of the Commission that relates, to a significant extent, to a demarcation dispute.

Orders on application or Commission’s initiative

             (9)  The Commission:

                     (a)  may not make an order under subsection (1), in a circumstance set out in subsection (2), (7) or (8), except on application by a negotiating party; but

                     (b)  may make an order under subsection (1), in a circumstance set out in subsection (3):

                              (i)  on its own initiative; or

                             (ii)  on application by a negotiating party or the Minister.

Application does not have to identify bargaining periods

           (10)  An application may be made to the Commission for an order under subsection (1) for the suspension or termination of whatever bargaining periods apply to:

                     (a)  a specified business, or any part of that business; or

                     (b)  a specified part of a specified business;

without specifically identifying the bargaining periods. The application has effect as if it were an application for the suspension or termination of the bargaining period, or each of the bargaining periods, that applies to the specified business (or any part of it), or to the specified part of the business, as the case requires.

Note:          The other requirements of this section must still be complied with in relation to the application.

           (11)  If subsection (10) applies to an application, the Commission must satisfy itself as to which bargaining periods the application has effect in relation to.

Restrictions on initiating new bargaining periods

           (12)  An order under subsection (1) suspending a bargaining period may, if the Commission considers it to be appropriate, contain a declaration that, during some or all of the period while the suspension has effect, a specified negotiating party or employee of the employer:

                     (a)  is not allowed to initiate a new bargaining period in relation to specified matters that are dealt with by the proposed collective agreement; or

                     (b)  may initiate such a bargaining period only on conditions specified in the declaration.

           (13)  An order under subsection (1) terminating a bargaining period may, if the Commission considers it to be appropriate, contain a declaration that, during a specified period beginning at the time of the termination, a specified negotiating party or employee of the employer:

                     (a)  is not allowed to initiate a new bargaining period in relation to specified matters that are dealt with by the proposed collective agreement; or

                     (b)  may initiate such a bargaining period only on conditions specified in the declaration.

Extension of notice period required by subsection 434(3)

           (14)  In an order under subsection (1), the Commission may, if it is satisfied, in relation to any industrial action that might be taken (by virtue of section 434) after the end of the period of suspension, that there are exceptional circumstances justifying the period of written notice required by subsection 434(3) being longer than 3 days, specify a longer period, of up to 7 days.

431  Suspension and termination of bargaining periods—pattern bargaining

Suspension or termination required for pattern bargaining

             (1)  The Commission must, by order, suspend a bargaining period for a period specified in the order, or terminate the bargaining period, if:

                     (a)  a negotiating party, or a person prescribed by the regulations, applies to the Commission for an order under this section; and

                     (b)  another negotiating party is engaged in pattern bargaining in relation to the proposed collective agreement.

Note:          For other provisions relating to pattern bargaining, see:

(a)           section 439; and

(b)           section 461; and

(c)           section 497.

Negotiating parties must be given the opportunity to be heard

             (2)  The Commission must not make an order under subsection (1) unless it has given the negotiating parties the opportunity to be heard.

Commission may suspend or terminate as it considers appropriate

             (3)  If the Commission is required by subsection (1) to make an order under that subsection, then regardless of the order applied for:

                     (a)  the order may be for the suspension or termination of the bargaining period, as the Commission considers appropriate; and

                     (b)  any period of suspension specified in the order must be such a period as the Commission considers appropriate.

Application does not have to identify bargaining periods

             (4)  An application may be made to the Commission for an order under subsection (1) for the suspension or termination of whatever bargaining periods apply to:

                     (a)  a specified business, or any part of that business; or

                     (b)  a specified part of a specified business;

without specifically identifying the bargaining periods. The application has effect as if it were an application for the suspension or termination of the bargaining period, or each of the bargaining periods, that applies to the specified business (or any part of it), or to the specified part of the business, as the case requires.

Note:          The other requirements of this section must still be complied with in relation to the application.

             (5)  If subsection (4) applies to an application, the Commission must satisfy itself as to which bargaining periods the application has effect in relation to.

Restrictions on initiating new bargaining periods

             (6)  An order under subsection (1) suspending a bargaining period may, if the Commission considers it to be appropriate, contain a declaration that, during some or all of the period while the suspension has effect, a specified negotiating party or employee of the employer:

                     (a)  is not allowed to initiate a new bargaining period in relation to specified matters that are dealt with by the proposed collective agreement; or

                     (b)  may initiate such a bargaining period only on conditions specified in the declaration.

             (7)  An order under subsection (1) terminating a bargaining period may, if the Commission considers it to be appropriate, contain a declaration that, during a specified period beginning at the time of the termination, a specified negotiating party or employee of the employer:

                     (a)  is not allowed to initiate a new bargaining period in relation to specified matters that are dealt with by the proposed collective agreement; or

                     (b)  may initiate such a bargaining period only on conditions specified in the declaration.

Extension of notice period required by subsection 434(3)

             (8)  In an order under subsection (1) suspending a bargaining period, the Commission may, if it is satisfied, in relation to any industrial action that might be taken (by virtue of section 434) after the end of the period of suspension, that there are exceptional circumstances justifying the period of written notice required by subsection 434(3) being longer than 3 days, specify a longer period, of up to 7 days.

432  Suspension of bargaining periods—cooling off

Suspension if would assist in resolving matters at issue

             (1)  The Commission must, by order, suspend a bargaining period for a period specified in the order if:

                     (a)  a negotiating party applies to the Commission for the bargaining period to be suspended under this section; and

                     (b)  protected action is being taken in respect of the proposed collective agreement; and

                     (c)  the Commission considers that the suspension is appropriate, having regard to:

                              (i)  whether suspending the bargaining period would be beneficial to the negotiating parties because it would assist in resolving the matters at issue; and

                             (ii)  the duration of the action; and

                            (iii)  whether suspending the bargaining period would be contrary to the public interest or inconsistent with the objects of this Act; and

                            (iv)  any other matters that the Commission considers relevant.

Period of suspension

             (2)  The period of suspension specified in the order must be a period that the Commission considers appropriate.

Extension of suspension

             (3)  The Commission must, by order, extend the period of suspension by a specified period that the Commission considers appropriate if:

                     (a)  a negotiating party applies to the Commission for the period of suspension to be extended; and

                     (b)  the Commission considers that the extension is appropriate, having regard to:

                              (i)  the matters referred to in paragraph (1)(c); and

                             (ii)  whether the negotiating parties, during the period of suspension, genuinely tried to reach an agreement.

             (4)  The Commission must not make an order under subsection (3) extending the period of suspension if that period has previously been extended.

Negotiating parties must be given opportunity to be heard

             (5)  The Commission must not make an order under subsection (1) or (3) unless it has given the negotiating parties the opportunity to be heard.

Commission to inform negotiating parties that they may submit matters at issue for alternative dispute resolution

             (6)  If the Commission makes an order under subsection (1) or (3), the Commission must send each of the negotiating parties a notice informing the negotiating parties that they may agree to submit the matters at issue to an alternative dispute resolution process conducted by the Commission or another provider (see Part 13).

Extension of notice period required by subsection 434(3)

             (7)  In an order under subsection (1) or (3), the Commission may, if it is satisfied, in relation to any industrial action that might be taken (by virtue of section 434) after the end of the period of suspension, that there are exceptional circumstances justifying the period of written notice required by subsection 434(3) being longer than 3 days, specify a longer period, of up to 7 days.

433  Suspension of bargaining periods—significant harm to third party

Suspension if industrial action threatens significant harm to a person

             (1)  The Commission must, by order, suspend a bargaining period for a period specified in the order if:

                     (a)  industrial action is being taken in respect of the proposed collective agreement; and

                     (b)  an application for the bargaining period to be suspended under this section is made to the Commission by or on behalf of:

                              (i)  an organisation, person or body directly affected by the action (other than a negotiating party); or

                             (ii)  the Minister; and

                     (c)  the Commission considers that the action is adversely affecting the employer or employees of the employer; and

                     (d)  the Commission considers that the action is threatening to cause significant harm to any person (other than a negotiating party); and

                     (e)  the Commission considers that the suspension is appropriate, having regard to:

                              (i)  whether suspending the bargaining period would be contrary to the public interest or inconsistent with the objects of this Act; and

                             (ii)  any other matters that the Commission considers relevant.

             (2)  For the purposes of paragraph (1)(d), in considering whether the action is threatening to cause significant harm to a person, the Commission may have regard to the following:

                     (a)  if the person is an employee—the extent to which the action affects the interests of the person as an employee;

                     (b)  the extent to which the person is particularly vulnerable to the effects of the action;

                     (c)  the extent to which the action threatens to:

                              (i)  damage the ongoing viability of a business carried on by the person; or

                             (ii)  disrupt the supply of goods or services to a business carried on by the person; or

                            (iii)  reduce the person’s capacity to fulfil a contractual obligation; or

                            (iv)  cause other economic loss to the person;

                     (d)  any other matters that the Commission considers relevant.

Period of suspension

             (3)  The period of suspension specified in the order must be a period that the Commission considers appropriate. The period of suspension (as extended under subsection (4), if applicable) must not exceed 3 months.

Extension of suspension

             (4)  The Commission must, by order, extend the period of suspension by a specified period that the Commission considers appropriate if:

                     (a)  an application for the period of suspension to be extended is made to the Commission by or on behalf of:

                              (i)  an organisation, person or body directly affected by the action (other than a negotiating party); or

                             (ii)  the Minister; and

                     (b)  the Commission considers that the extension is appropriate, having regard to the matters referred to in paragraphs (1)(c), (d) and (e).

             (5)  The Commission must not make an order under subsection (4) extending the period of suspension if that period has previously been extended.

Negotiating parties must be given opportunity to be heard

             (6)  The Commission must not make an order under subsection (1) or (4) unless it has given the negotiating parties the opportunity to be heard.

Commission to inform negotiating parties that they may submit matters at issue for alternative dispute resolution

             (7)  If the Commission makes an order under subsection (1) or (4), the Commission must send each of the negotiating parties a notice informing the negotiating parties that they may agree to submit the matters at issue to an alternative dispute resolution process conducted by the Commission or another provider (see Part 13).

Extension of notice period required by subsection 434(3)

             (8)  In an order under subsection (1) or (4), the Commission may, if it is satisfied, in relation to any industrial action that might be taken (by virtue of section 434) after the end of the period of suspension, that there are exceptional circumstances justifying the period of written notice required by subsection 434(3) being longer than 3 days, specify a longer period, of up to 7 days.

434  Industrial action without further protected action ballot after end of suspension of bargaining period

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  before a bargaining period was suspended under subsection 430(1), 431(1), 432(1) or 433(1), industrial action was authorised by a protected action ballot; and

                     (b)  the ballot authorised industrial action:

                              (i)  some or all of which had not been taken before the period of suspension began; or

                             (ii)  that had not ended before the period of suspension began; or

                            (iii)  beyond the period of suspension.

             (2)  After the period of suspension, as extended under subsection 432(3) or 433(4) (if applicable), has ceased (whether because the period ended or was revoked):

                     (a)  a relevant employee (within the meaning of Division 4) may organise, or engage in, that industrial action without another protected action ballot; and

                     (b)  a negotiating party that is an organisation of employees may organise, or engage in, that industrial action without another protected action ballot.

For the purposes of working out when that industrial action may be organised, or engaged in, the period of suspension (including any dates authorised by a protected action ballot as dates on which action is to be taken) is to be ignored.

             (3)  However, that industrial action is not protected action unless, after the period of suspension, the organisation, or the employee, gives the employer at least the required written notice of the intention to take the action. The notice must state the nature of the intended action and the day when it will begin.

             (4)  For the purposes of subsection (3), the required written notice is:

                     (a)  3 working days’ written notice; or

                     (b)  if the Commission, in the order under subsection 430(1), 431(1), 432(1) or 433(1) suspending the bargaining period, or an order under subsection 432(3) or 433(4) extending the period of suspension, specifies a higher number of days—that number of days’ written notice.

Note:          For the maximum number of days the suspension order can specify, see subsection 430(14), 431(8), 432(7) or 433(8).

             (5)  Nothing in this section authorises industrial action after the end of the period of suspension that is different in type or duration from the industrial action that was authorised by the protected action ballot.

Example 1: A protected action ballot authorised strike action for 20 consecutive working days from a specified date. Fourteen working days into the strike, the bargaining period was suspended for one month.

                   Under this section, once the period of suspension ends, the initiating party could give the required written notice, without another protected action ballot, of 6 further consecutive working days of strike action (the balance of the strike action authorised).

Example 2: A protected action ballot authorised the imposition of certain work bans every Monday, for a period of 8 consecutive weeks starting from a specified date. After 3 weeks, the bargaining period was suspended for a period of 2 weeks.

                   Under this section, once the period of suspension ends, the initiating party could give the required written notice, without another protected action ballot, that the work bans authorised by the ballot will be imposed for 5 further consecutive Mondays (the balance of the industrial action authorised).

 

Division 3—Protected action

Subdivision A—What is protected action?

435  Protected action

General

             (1)  Action by a person is protected action if:

                     (a)  the action is protected action under subsection (2) or (3); and

                     (b)  no provision of Subdivision B excludes the action from being protected action; and

                     (c)  subsection 434(3) does not exclude the action from being protected action.

Employee and employee organisation actions

             (2)  During a bargaining period:

                     (a)  an organisation of employees that is a negotiating party; or

                     (b)  a member of such an organisation who is employed by the employer; or

                     (c)  an officer or employee of such an organisation acting in that capacity; or

                     (d)  an employee who is a negotiating party;

is entitled, for the purpose of:

                     (e)  supporting or advancing claims made in respect of the proposed collective agreement; or

                      (f)  responding to industrial action by the employer against employees whose employment will be subject to the proposed collective agreement;

to organise or engage in industrial action against the employer and, if the organisation, member, officer or employee does so, the organising of, or engaging in, that industrial action is protected action.

Employer actions

             (3)  Subject to subsection (5), during a bargaining period, the employer is entitled, for the purpose of:

                     (a)  supporting or advancing claims made by the employer in respect of the proposed collective agreement; or

                     (b)  responding to industrial action by any of the employees whose employment will be subject to the proposed collective agreement;

to engage in industrial action against all or any of the employees whose employment will be subject to the agreement and, if the employer does so, the organising of, or engaging in, that industrial action is protected action.

Note 1:       The existence of this entitlement does not affect any right of the employer to refuse to pay the employee where, under the common law, the employer is permitted to do so because the employee has not performed work as directed.

Note 2:       The existence of this entitlement also does not affect any authorisation of the employer to stand‑down the employee under an award.

             (4)  If the employer engages in industrial action against employees in accordance with subsection (3), the employer is entitled to refuse to pay any remuneration to the employees in respect of the period of the industrial action.

             (5)  The employer is not entitled to engage in industrial action against employees under subsection (3) (and so the industrial action will not be protected action) unless the continuity of the employees’ employment, for such purposes as are prescribed by the regulations, is not affected by the industrial action.

Subdivision B—Exclusions from protected action

436  Exclusion—claims in support of inclusion of prohibited content

                   Engaging in industrial action in relation to a proposed collective agreement is not protected action if it is to support or advance claims to include prohibited content in the agreement.

437  Exclusion—industrial action while bargaining period is suspended

                   Engaging in industrial action in relation to a proposed collective agreement is not protected action if it is engaged in while the bargaining period is suspended.

438  Exclusion—industrial action must not involve persons who are not protected for that industrial action

             (1)  Engaging in industrial action in relation to a proposed collective agreement is not protected action if:

                     (a)  it is engaged in in concert with one or more persons who are not protected persons for the industrial action; or

                     (b)  it is organised other than solely by one or more protected persons for the industrial action.

             (2)  Organising industrial action in relation to a proposed collective agreement is not protected action if:

                     (a)  it is organised in concert with one or more persons who are not protected persons for the industrial action; or

                     (b)  it is intended to be engaged in other than solely by one or more protected persons for the industrial action.

             (3)  In this section:

protected person, for industrial action in relation to a proposed collective agreement, means:

                     (a)  an organisation of employees that is a negotiating party to the proposed collective agreement; or

                     (b)  a member of such an organisation who is employed by the employer and whose employment will be subject to the proposed collective agreement; or

                     (c)  an officer or employee of such an organisation acting in that capacity; or

                     (d)  an employee who is a negotiating party to the proposed collective agreement; or

                     (e)  an employer who is a negotiating party to the proposed collective agreement.

439  Exclusion—industrial action must not be in support of pattern bargaining claims

                   Engaging in or organising industrial action is not protected action if:

                     (a)  the industrial action is for the purpose of supporting or advancing claims made by a negotiating party to a proposed collective agreement; and

                     (b)  the party is engaged in pattern bargaining in relation to the proposed collective agreement.

Note:          For other provisions relating to pattern bargaining, see:

(a)           section 431; and

(b)           section 461; and

(c)           section 497.

440  Exclusion—industrial action must not be taken until after nominal expiry date of workplace agreements or workplace determinations

                   Engaging in or organising industrial action in contravention of section 494 or 495 is not protected action.

441  Exclusion—notice of action to be given

Notice of employee and employee organisation actions

             (1)  Any action taken as mentioned in subsection 435(2) by:

                     (a)  an organisation of employees; or

                     (b)  a member of such an organisation; or

                     (c)  an officer or employee of such an organisation acting in that capacity; or

                     (d)  an employee who is a negotiating party;

is not protected action unless the requirements set out in subsection (2) are met.

             (2)  The requirements are that:

                     (a)  if the action is in response to, and is taken after the start of, industrial action against employees by the employer in respect of the proposed collective agreement—the organisation, or the employee who is a negotiating party, has given the employer written notice of the intention to take the action; or

                     (b)  in any other case—the organisation, or the employee who is a negotiating party, has given the employer at least the required written notice of the intention to take the action.

             (3)  For the purposes of paragraph (2)(b), the required written notice is:

                     (a)  3 working days’ written notice; or

                     (b)  if a ballot order made under section 462 in respect of the action specifies a higher number of days—that number of days’ written notice.

Note:          For the maximum number of days the ballot order can specify, see subsection 463(5).

Notice of employer actions

             (4)  If one or more of the negotiating parties is an organisation of employees, any action taken as mentioned in subsection 435(3) by the employer:

                     (a)  is not protected action unless the employer has given the other negotiating party or each of the other negotiating parties:

                              (i)  if the industrial action is in response to, and takes place after the start of, industrial action organised or engaged in by an organisation that is a negotiating party in respect of the proposed collective agreement—written notice of the intended industrial action; or

                             (ii)  in any other case—at least 3 working days’ written notice of the intended industrial action; and

                     (b)  is not protected action in so far as it relates to a particular employee unless:

                              (i)  if subparagraph (a)(i) applies—before the industrial action begins; or

                             (ii)  in any other case—at least 3 working days before the industrial action begins;

                            the employer has given written notice to the particular employee, or has taken other reasonable steps to notify the particular employee, of the intended industrial action.

             (5)  If one or more of the negotiating parties is an employee whose employment will be subject to the proposed collective agreement, any action taken as mentioned in subsection 435(3) by the employer is not protected action in so far as it relates to a particular employee unless:

                     (a)  if the industrial action is in response to, and takes place after the start of, industrial action organised or engaged in by any of the employees who are negotiating parties in respect of the proposed collective agreement—before the industrial action begins; or

                     (b)  in any other case—at least 3 working days before the industrial action begins;

the employer has given written notice to the particular employee, or has taken other reasonable steps to notify the particular employee, of the intended industrial action.

Notice to state nature of intended action and start day

             (6)  A written notice or other notification under this section must state the nature of the intended action and the day when it will begin.

Limitations on when notice may be given

             (7)  A written notice or other notification under this section cannot be given:

                     (a)  if the notification relates to action that must, in order to be protected action, be authorised by a protected action ballot—before the declaration of the results of the ballot (see section 476); or

                     (b)  if the notification relates to industrial action by an employer (whether the notification is to be given by the employer, an organisation of employees or an employee)—before the start of the bargaining period.

442  Employee may appoint agent to give notice under section 441

                   If:

                     (a)  a person referred to in paragraph 441(1)(d) has appointed an agent under section 424 to initiate a bargaining period in relation to a proposed collective agreement; and

                     (b)  the person wishes to give notice to an employer under section 441 of intention to take industrial action relating to the proposed collective agreement without disclosing the person’s identity to the person’s employer;

the notice may be given by the agent on the person’s behalf.

443  Exclusion—requirement that employee organisation or employee comply with Commission orders and directions

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  an organisation of employees is a negotiating party to a proposed collective agreement; and

                     (b)  the Commission has, during the bargaining period, made or given orders or directions that relate to, or that relate to industrial action relating to, the making of the proposed collective agreement or to a matter that has arisen in the negotiations for the proposed collective agreement;

industrial action engaged in by a person who is a member of the organisation is not protected action unless, before the person begins to engage in the industrial action, the organisation has complied with the order or direction so far as it applies to the organisation.

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  an employee is a negotiating party to a proposed collective agreement; and

                     (b)  the Commission has, during the bargaining period, made or given orders or directions that relate to, or that relate to industrial action relating to, the making of the proposed collective agreement or to a matter that has arisen in the negotiations for the proposed collective agreement;

industrial action engaged in by the employee is not protected action unless, before the employee begins to engage in the industrial action, the employee has complied with the order or direction so far as it applies to the employee.

444  Exclusion—requirement that employer genuinely try to reach agreement etc.

                   Industrial action engaged in by an employer against employees is not protected action unless the employer has, before the employer begins to engage in the industrial action:

                     (a)  if the employees are members of an organisation or organisations that are negotiating parties—genuinely tried to reach agreement with the organisation or organisations; and

                     (b)  if the employees are negotiating parties—genuinely tried to reach agreement with the employees; and

                     (c)  complied with all orders or directions made or given by the Commission during the bargaining period that relate to, or that relate to industrial action relating to, the making of the proposed collective agreement or to a matter that has arisen in the negotiations for the proposed collective agreement, so far as the orders or directions apply to the employer.

445  Exclusion—employee and employee organisation action to be authorised by secret ballot or be in response to employer action

                   Any action taken as mentioned in subsection 435(2) by:

                     (a)  an organisation of employees; or

                     (b)  a member of such an organisation; or

                     (c)  an officer or employee of such an organisation acting in that capacity; or

                     (d)  an employee who is a negotiating party;

is not protected action unless:

                     (e)  the action is in response to industrial action by the employer against employees whose employment will be subject to the proposed collective agreement; or

                      (f)  the action has been authorised by a protected action ballot (see section 478).

Note:          The question whether industrial action is authorised by a protected action ballot is also affected by section 434.

446  Exclusion—employee organisation action must be duly authorised

             (1)  Engaging in industrial action by members of an organisation of employees that is a negotiating party is not protected action unless, before the industrial action begins:

                     (a)  the industrial action is duly authorised by a committee of management of the organisation or by someone authorised by such a committee to authorise the industrial action; and

                     (b)  if the rules of the organisation provide for the way in which the industrial action is to be authorised—the industrial action is duly authorised under those rules; and

                     (c)  written notice of the giving of the authorisation is given to a Registrar.

             (2)  Industrial action is taken, for the purposes of this section, to be duly authorised under the rules of an organisation of employees even though a technical breach has occurred in authorising the industrial action, so long as the person or persons who committed the breach acted in good faith.

             (3)  Examples of a technical breach in authorising industrial action are as follows:

                     (a)  a contravention of the rules of the organisation;

                     (b)  an error or omission in complying with the requirements of this Act;

                     (c)  participation, by a person not eligible to do so, in the making of a decision by a committee of management, or by members, of the organisation.

             (4)  Industrial action is taken, for the purposes of this section, to have been duly authorised under the rules of an organisation of employees, and to have been so authorised before the industrial action began, unless:

                     (a)  the Court declares in a proceeding that the industrial action was not duly authorised under those rules; and

                     (b)  the proceeding was brought in the Court within 6 months after the notification in relation to the industrial action was given to a Registrar under paragraph (1)(c).

             (5)  In so far as the rules of an organisation of employees provide for the way in which industrial action that section 435 entitles the organisation to organise or engage in is to be authorised, the rules do not contravene section 159 of the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule unless the manner provided for contravenes that section.

Subdivision C—Significance of action being protected action

447  Immunity provisions

             (1)  Subject to subsection (2), no action lies under any law (whether written or unwritten) in force in a State or Territory in respect of any industrial action that is protected action unless the industrial action has involved or is likely to involve:

                     (a)  personal injury; or

                     (b)  wilful or reckless destruction of, or damage to, property; or

                     (c)  the unlawful taking, keeping or use of property.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not prevent an action for defamation being brought in respect of anything that occurred in the course of industrial action.

Note:          Subsection 496(13) provides that an order under subsection 496(1) or (6) directing that industrial action stop or not occur does not apply to protected action.

448  Employer not to dismiss employee etc. for engaging in protected action

             (1)  An employer must not:

                     (a)  dismiss an employee, injure an employee in his or her employment or alter the position of an employee to the employee’s prejudice; or

                     (b)  threaten to dismiss an employee, injure an employee in his or her employment or alter the position of an employee to the employee’s prejudice;

wholly or partly because the employee is proposing to engage, is engaging, or has engaged, in protected action.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not apply to any of the following actions taken by the employer:

                     (a)  standing‑down the employee;

                     (b)  refusing to pay the employee, if:

                              (i)  the refusal is in accordance with section 507; or

                             (ii)  under the common law, the employer is permitted to do so because the employee has not performed work as directed;

                     (c)  action that is itself protected action.

Civil remedy provisions

             (3)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

             (4)  The Court may make one or more of the following orders in relation to a person who has contravened subsection (1):

                     (a)  an order imposing a pecuniary penalty on the person;

                     (b)  injunctions, and any other orders, that the Court considers necessary to stop the contravention or remedy its effects.

             (5)  The pecuniary penalty under paragraph (4)(a) cannot be more than 300 penalty units for a body corporate or 60 penalty units in any other case.

             (6)  Other orders the Court may make under paragraph (4)(b) include (but are not limited to):

                     (a)  if the contravention was constituted by dismissing an employee—an order to reinstate the person dismissed to the position that the person occupied immediately before the dismissal or to a position no less favourable than that position; and

                     (b)  in any case—to pay, to the person dismissed, injured or prejudiced, compensation for loss suffered as a result of the dismissal, injury or prejudice.

             (7)  An application for an order under subsection (4) may be made by:

                     (a)  the employee concerned; or

                     (b)  an organisation of employees of which that employee is a member; or

                     (c)  a workplace inspector; or

                     (d)  any other person prescribed by the regulations.

             (8)  In proceedings for an order under subsection (4), it is to be presumed, unless the employer proves otherwise, that the alleged conduct of the employer was carried out wholly or partly because the employee was proposing to engage, was engaging, or had engaged, in protected action.

Note:          For other provisions about civil remedy provisions, see Division 3 of Part 14.

 

Division 4—Secret ballots on proposed protected action

Subdivision A—General

449  Object of Division and overview of Division

Object

             (1)  The object of this Division is to establish a transparent process which allows employees directly concerned to choose, by means of a fair and democratic secret ballot, whether to authorise industrial action supporting or advancing claims by organisations of employees, or by employees.

Overview of Division

             (2)  Under Division 3, industrial action by employees is not protected action unless it has been authorised in advance by a secret ballot held under this Division (a protected action ballot). This Division establishes the steps that organisations of employees, or employees, who wish to organise or engage in protected action must take in order to:

                     (a)  obtain an order from the Commission that will authorise a protected action ballot to be held; and

                     (b)  hold a protected action ballot that may authorise the industrial action.

             (3)  The rule that industrial action by employees is not protected action unless it has been authorised by a protected action ballot does not apply to action in response to an employer engaging in industrial action against the employees (see section 445).

450  Definitions

                   In this Division:

applicant means an applicant for a ballot order.

applicant’s agent means an agent appointed by an employee, or by a group of employees, under subsection 451(5).

authorised ballot agent, in relation to a protected action ballot, means the person authorised by the Commission in the ballot order to conduct the ballot.

authorised independent adviser, in relation to a protected action ballot, means the person authorised by the Commission in the ballot order to be the independent adviser for the ballot.

ballot order means an order made under section 462 requiring a protected action ballot to be held.

declaration envelope means an envelope in the form prescribed by the regulations on which a voter is required to make a declaration containing the information prescribed by the regulations.

joint applicant means a person who is participating, or has participated, in making a joint application under section 455.

party, in relation to an application for a ballot order, means either of the following:

                     (a)  the applicant;

                     (b)  the employer of the relevant employees.

prescribed number, in relation to relevant employees, means:

                     (a)  if there are fewer than 80 relevant employees—4; or

                     (b)  if there are at least 80, but not more than 5,000, relevant employees—5% of the number of such employees; or

                     (c)  if there are more than 5,000 relevant employees—250.

protected action ballot means a ballot under this Division.

relevant employee, in relation to proposed industrial action against an employer in respect of a proposed collective agreement, means:

                     (a)  if an organisation of employees is a negotiating party to the agreement—any member of the organisation who is employed by the employer and whose employment will be subject to the agreement; and

                     (b)  if an employee is a negotiating party to the agreement—any employee who is a negotiating party to the agreement;

but does not include an employee who is bound by an AWA whose nominal expiry date has not passed.

roll of voters means a list compiled:

                     (a)  by the Commission under section 466; or

                     (b)  by an authorised ballot agent in compliance with an order of the Commission under section 466.

Subdivision B—Application for order for protected action ballot to be held

451  Who may apply for a ballot order etc.

When application can be made

             (1)  A person referred to in subsection (3) may, during a bargaining period, apply to the Commission for an order for a ballot to be held to determine whether proposed industrial action has the support of relevant employees.

Note:          For the duration of a bargaining period, see sections 427 (when it begins) and 428 (when it ends).

             (2)  However, if there are one or more existing collective agreements binding on relevant employees, the application must not be made before:

                     (a)  if there is only one existing collective agreement—the nominal expiry date of the existing collective agreement; or

                     (b)  if there are 2 or more existing collective agreements—whichever is the last occurring of the nominal expiry dates of those existing collective agreements.

Who can apply

             (3)  The following people may apply:

                     (a)  if the bargaining period was initiated by an organisation of employees—that organisation;

                     (b)  if the bargaining period was initiated by an employee or employees—any employee who is a negotiating party to the proposed collective agreement, or a group of such employees acting jointly.

Note:          For joint applications, see section 455.

Employee applications need support of prescribed number of employees

             (4)  An employee, or a group of such employees acting jointly, cannot make an application unless the application has the support of at least the prescribed number of relevant employees.

Note:          Prescribed number is defined in section 450.

Employee applicants can appoint agent

             (5)  A person or persons referred to in paragraph (3)(b) who wish to make an application under this section without disclosing their identities to their employer may appoint an agent to represent them for all purposes connected with the application.

452  Contents of application

             (1)  The application must include the following:

                     (a)  the question or questions to be put to the relevant employees in the ballot, including the nature of the proposed industrial action;

                     (b)  details of the types of employees who are to be balloted;

                     (c)  any details required by Rules of the Commission (see subsection (3)).

             (2)  The application may include the name of a person nominated by the applicant to conduct the ballot.

Note:          The question of who conducts the ballot is ultimately decided by the Commission—see paragraph 463(1)(e) and section 480.

             (3)  Without limiting the generality of section 124, Rules of the Commission made under that section may deal with:

                     (a)  the matters to be included in an application for a ballot order; and

                     (b)  the form in which the application is to be made.

453  Material to accompany application

             (1)  The application must be accompanied by:

                     (a)  a copy of the notice given under subsection 423(3) to initiate the relevant bargaining period; and

                     (b)  a copy of the particulars that accompanied that notice as required by section 426; and

                     (c)  a declaration by the applicant under subsection (4) of this section.

             (2)  If the applicant is an organisation of employees, the application must be accompanied by a written notice showing that the application has been duly authorised by a committee of management of the organisation or by someone authorised by such a committee to authorise the application.

             (3)  If the applicant is an employee, or a group of employees, represented by an applicant’s agent, the application must be accompanied by a document containing the name of the employee, or each of those employees.

             (4)  The applicant’s declaration must state that the industrial action to which the application relates is not for the purpose of supporting or advancing claims to include in the proposed collective agreement any prohibited content.

             (5)  The declaration must be in the form prescribed by the regulations.

             (6)  A person commits an offence if:

                     (a)  the person makes, or joins in making, a declaration under subsection (4); and

                     (b)  the declaration contains a statement that is false or misleading in a material particular.

Penalty for contravention of this subsection:       30 penalty units.

454  Notice of application

                   The applicant must give a copy of the application (but not the material referred to in section 453) to:

                     (a)  the other party; and

                     (b)  any person nominated in the application to conduct the ballot;

within 24 hours after lodging the application with the Commission.

455  Joint applications

             (1)  If the bargaining period for the proposed collective agreement was initiated by an employee, 2 or more employees who are negotiating parties may make a joint application for a ballot order.

             (2)  An employee who has participated in making a joint application may withdraw his or her name from the application before the application is determined but cannot do so after the application is determined by the Commission.

             (3)  If employees have made a joint application, the name of another employee who is a negotiating party may, before the application is determined, be joined to the application if the other applicants consent.

             (4)  Without limiting the generality of section 124, Rules of the Commission made under that section may deal with:

                     (a)  in the case of a provision of this Act permitting an applicant for a ballot order to do any thing—how the provision is to apply to joint applicants; and

                     (b)  in the case of a provision of this Act requiring an applicant for a ballot order to be given notice, or otherwise informed, of any thing—how the requirement is to be fulfilled in relation to joint applicants.

Subdivision C—Determination of application and order for ballot to be held

456  Commission may notify parties etc. of procedure

                   If:

                     (a)  an application for a ballot order is lodged with the Commission; and

                     (b)  the Commission considers that notifying the parties, or a person who may become the authorised ballot agent, of the procedure to be followed by the Commission in dealing with that application will not delay, and may expedite, the determination of the application;

the Commission may notify the parties or person concerned accordingly.

457  Commission to act quickly in relation to application etc.

             (1)  In exercising its powers under this Division, the Commission:

                     (a)  must act as quickly as is practicable; and

                     (b)  must, as far as is reasonably possible, determine all applications made under this Division within 2 working days after the application is made.

Note:          In exercising its powers, the Commission is also required to act according to equity, good conscience and the substantial merits of the case, without regard to technicalities and legal forms (see paragraph 110(1)(c)). It is not bound by the rules of evidence, and may inform itself in any manner it considers just (see paragraph 110(1)(b)).

             (2)  However, the Commission must not determine an application for a ballot order until it is satisfied that:

                     (a)  the applicant has complied with section 454; and

                     (b)  the persons referred to in subsections 458(1) and (2) have had a reasonable opportunity to make submissions in relation to the application.

458  Parties and relevant employees may make submissions and apply for directions

             (1)  A party or a relevant employee may make submissions, and may apply for directions, relating to:

                     (a)  an application for a ballot order; or

                     (b)  any aspect of the conduct of a protected action ballot.

             (2)  A person nominated in an application to conduct a ballot may make submissions, and apply for directions, relating to the application.

             (3)  An authorised ballot agent may make submissions, and apply for directions, relating to any aspect of a protected action ballot.

             (4)  The Commission may decline to consider a person’s submission if the Commission is satisfied that the submission is vexatious, frivolous, misconceived or lacking in substance.

459  Commission may make orders or give directions

             (1)  The Commission may make orders, or give directions, in connection with:

                     (a)  an application for a ballot order; or

                     (b)  any aspect of the conduct of a protected action ballot.

             (2)  Without limiting subsection (1), the Commission may make orders, or give directions, aimed at ensuring that a protected action ballot is conducted expeditiously.

             (3)  In deciding whether to make an order, or give a direction, under this section, and in deciding the content of any such order or direction, the Commission must have regard to the desirability of the ballot results being available to the parties within 10 days after the ballot order is made.

460  Commission procedure regarding multiple applications

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  more than one application for a ballot order is before the Commission for determination; and

                     (b)  the applications relate to industrial action by employees of the same employer or by employees at the same place of work; and

                     (c)  the Commission considers that determining the applications at the same time will not unreasonably delay the determination of any of the applications;

the Commission may determine the applications at the same time.

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  the Commission has made an order requiring a ballot to be held in relation to industrial action by employees of an employer, or by employees at a place of work; and

                     (b)  the Commission proposes to make another order requiring a ballot to be held in relation to industrial action against that employer, or at the same place of work; and

                     (c)  the Commission considers that the level of disruption of the employer’s business, or at the place of work (as the case requires), could be reduced if the ballots were held at the same time; and

                     (d)  the Commission considers that requiring the ballots to be held at the same time will not unreasonably delay the conduct of either ballot;

the Commission may make, or vary, the relevant orders so as to require the ballots to be held at the same time.

461  Application not to be granted unless certain conditions are met

Commission must be satisfied of various matters

             (1)  The Commission must grant an application for a ballot order if, and must not grant the application unless, it is satisfied that:

                     (a)  during the bargaining period, the applicant genuinely tried to reach agreement with the employer of the relevant employees; and

                     (b)  the applicant is genuinely trying to reach agreement with the employer; and

                     (c)  the applicant is not engaged in pattern bargaining.

Note 1:       An application for a ballot order must comply with the requirements set out in Subdivision B.

Note 2:       To work out when a bargaining period began, see section 427.

Note 3:       For other provisions relating to pattern bargaining, see:

(a)           section 431; and

(b)           section 439; and

(c)           section 497.

When Commission has discretion to refuse application

             (2)  Despite subsection (1), the Commission may refuse the application if it is satisfied:

                     (a)  that granting the application would be inconsistent with the object of this Division (see section 449); or

                     (b)  that the applicant, or a relevant employee, has at any time contravened a provision of this Division or an order made, or direction given, under this Division.

462  Grant of application—order for ballot to be held

                   If the Commission grants the application, the Commission must order the applicant to hold a protected action ballot.

463  Matters to be included in order

             (1)  An order for a protected action ballot to be held must specify the following:

                     (a)  the name of:

                              (i)  if the applicant is an organisation of employees—the organisation; or

                             (ii)  if the applicant is an employee, or a group of employees, represented by an applicant’s agent—the applicant’s agent; or

                            (iii)  if the applicant is an employee, or a group of employees, not represented by an applicant’s agent—the employee or employees;

                     (b)  the types of employees who are to be balloted;

                     (c)  the voting method;

                     (d)  the timetable for the ballot, including:

                              (i)  the day on which the roll of voters is to close, which must be a day at least 2 working days before the day on which the ballot is to be held, or is to start to be held; and

                             (ii)  the day on which the ballot is to close, and the time (the voting closing time) on that day by which votes must be received (if the order specifies a postal ballot) or by which votes must be cast (if the order specifies an attendance ballot);

                     (e)  the name of the person authorised by the Commission to conduct the ballot;

                      (f)  the name of the person (if any) authorised by the Commission to be the independent adviser for the ballot;

                     (g)  the question or questions to be put to the relevant employees in the ballot, including the nature of the proposed industrial action.

Note 1:       Section 480 specifies who may be authorised by the Commission to conduct protected action ballots.

Note 2:       Section 481 specifies who may be authorised by the Commission to be the independent adviser for a protected action ballot.

             (2)  The order must specify a postal ballot as the voting method unless:

                     (a)  the order specifies another voting method; and

                     (b)  the Commission is satisfied that the other voting method is more efficient and expeditious than a postal ballot.

             (3)  If the order specifies a postal ballot as the voting method, it must specify that the voting must take place by way of declaration voting. For this purpose, a person votes by way of declaration voting if the person:

                     (a)  marks his or her vote on a ballot paper; and

                     (b)  places the ballot paper in a declaration envelope; and

                     (c)  seals that envelope and signs his or her name in the space provided on the back flap of that envelope; and

                     (d)  places that envelope in an outer envelope that is addressed to the authorised ballot agent; and

                     (e)  posts the outer envelope so that it reaches the authorised ballot agent before the voting closing time on the day on which the ballot is to close.

             (4)  If the order specifies an attendance ballot as the voting method, then:

                     (a)  votes must be cast before the voting closing time on the day on which the ballot is to close; and

                     (b)  subject to paragraph (a):

                              (i)  the order must specify that the voting must take place during the voters’ meal‑time or other breaks, or outside their hours of employment; and

                             (ii)  the order may also specify other rules about the times when voters may vote.

             (5)  If the Commission is satisfied, in relation to the proposed industrial action that is the subject of the order, that there are exceptional circumstances justifying the period of written notice referred to in paragraph 441(2)(b) being longer than 3 days, the order may specify a longer period, of up to 7 days.

464  Guidelines for ballot timetables

             (1)  The President may develop guidelines in relation to appropriate timetables for the conduct of protected action ballots. The President may consult the Australian Electoral Commission, and any other person, in developing guidelines.

             (2)  Guidelines developed under this section are not legislative instruments.

465  Power of Commission to require information relevant to roll of voters

             (1)  The Commission may order the employer of the relevant employees, or the applicant, or both, to provide:

                     (a)  a list of employees of the type described in the application; and

                     (b)  any other information that it is reasonable for the Commission to require in order to assist in the compilation of a roll of voters for the proposed ballot.

             (2)  The order may require the list, or other information, to be provided to the Commission or to the authorised ballot agent.

             (3)  The order may require the list, or other information, to be provided in whatever form the Commission considers appropriate.

466  Roll to be compiled by Commission or ballot agent

                   If the Commission makes a ballot order, it must:

                     (a)  compile a list of the names of the persons who are eligible to be included on the roll of voters for the ballot and provide that list, as the roll of voters, to the authorised ballot agent; or

                     (b)  order, by separate order, the authorised ballot agent to compile the roll of voters for the ballot.

467  Eligibility to be included on the roll

             (1)  A person is eligible to be included on the roll of voters for the ballot if, and only if:

                     (a)  if the applicant is an organisation of employees—the person:

                              (i)  was a member of the organisation on the day the ballot order was made; and

                             (ii)  was employed by the employer on the day the ballot order was made; and

                            (iii)  will be subject to the proposed collective agreement; or

                     (b)  if the applicant is an employee, or a group of employees—the person:

                              (i)  was employed by the employer on the day the ballot order was made; and

                             (ii)  will be subject to the proposed collective agreement.

             (2)  A person is not eligible to be included on the roll of voters for the ballot if, on the day the ballot order was made, the person was bound by an AWA whose nominal expiry date had not passed.

468  Adding or removing names from the roll

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  a person requests the authorised ballot agent to include the person’s name on the roll of voters for a protected action ballot; and

                     (b)  the ballot agent is satisfied that the person is eligible to be included on the roll; and

                     (c)  the request is made before the day on which the roll of voters is to close;

the ballot agent must add the person’s name to the roll.

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  a person applies to the Commission for a declaration that the person is eligible to be included on the roll of voters for the ballot; and

                     (b)  the Commission is satisfied that the person is eligible to be included on the roll; and

                     (c)  the application is made before the day on which the roll of voters is to close;

the Commission must make the declaration and direct the authorised ballot agent to include the person’s name on the roll.

             (3)  If:

                     (a)  a party, the authorised ballot agent, or a person whose name is on the roll of voters for a protected action ballot, applies to the Commission for a declaration that a person whose name has been included on the roll of voters for the ballot is not eligible to be so included; and

                     (b)  the application is made before the day on which the roll of voters is to close; and

                     (c)  the Commission is satisfied that the person is not eligible to be so included;

the Commission must make the declaration and direct the authorised ballot agent to remove the person’s name from the roll.

             (4)  A person’s name cannot be added to, or removed from, the roll of voters for a protected action ballot after the day on which the roll of voters is to close.

469  Variation of order

Variation sought by applicant

             (1)  An applicant for a ballot order may apply to the Commission, at any time before the order expires, to vary the ballot order.

Variation sought by ballot agent

             (2)  The authorised ballot agent for a particular ballot may apply to the Commission, at any time before the ballot has closed, to vary:

                     (a)  the voting method specified in the ballot order; or

                     (b)  the timetable for the ballot specified in the ballot order.

470  Expiry and revocation of order

             (1)  If a ballot has not been held within the period specified in the ballot order, the order expires at the end of that period.

             (2)  An applicant for a ballot order may apply to the Commission, at any time before the order expires, to revoke the ballot order.

             (3)  If the applicant makes an application under subsection (2), the Commission must revoke the order.

471  Compliance with orders and directions

             (1)  A person to whom an order or a direction under this Division is expressed to apply must comply with the order or direction.

Civil remedy provisions

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

             (3)  The Court may order a person who has contravened subsection (1) to pay a pecuniary penalty.

             (4)  The pecuniary penalty cannot be more than 300 penalty units for a body corporate or 60 penalty units in any other case.

             (5)  An application for an order under subsection (3) may be made by:

                     (a)  an employee who is eligible to be included on the roll of voters for the protected action ballot concerned; or

                     (b)  an employer of employees referred to in paragraph (a); or

                     (c)  an applicant for the order for the protected action ballot concerned to be held; or

                     (d)  a workplace inspector; or

                     (e)  any other person prescribed by the regulations.

Note:          For other provisions about civil remedy provisions, see Division 3 of Part 14.

472  Commission to notify parties and authorised ballot agent

             (1)  As soon as practicable after making a ballot order, the Commission must ensure that a copy of the order is given to each party and to the authorised ballot agent.

             (2)  As soon as practicable after varying a ballot order, the Commission must ensure that a copy of the variation is given to each party and to the authorised ballot agent.

             (3)  As soon as practicable after revoking a ballot order, the Commission must ensure that a copy of the revocation is given to each party and to the authorised ballot agent.

Subdivision D—Conduct and results of protected action ballot

473  Conduct of ballot

                   A ballot is not a protected action ballot unless it is conducted by the authorised ballot agent for the ballot.

474  Form of ballot paper

                   The ballot paper must be in the prescribed form and must include the following:

                     (a)  the name of the applicant or the applicant’s agent (as the case requires);

                     (b)  the types of employees who are to be balloted;

                     (c)  the name of the ballot agent authorised to conduct the ballot;

                     (d)  the question or questions to be put to the relevant employees in the ballot, including the nature of the proposed industrial action;

                     (e)  a statement that the voter’s vote is secret and that the voter is free to choose whether or not to support the proposed industrial action;

                      (f)  instructions to the voter on how to complete the ballot paper;

                     (g)  the day on which the ballot is to close.

475  Who can vote

                   A person cannot vote in a protected action ballot unless the person’s name is on the roll of voters for the ballot.

476  Declaration of ballot results

                   As soon as practicable after the day on which the ballot closes, the authorised ballot agent must, in writing:

                     (a)  make a declaration of the results of the ballot; and

                     (b)  inform the parties and the Industrial Registrar of the result.

477  Ballot reports

Report by authorised ballot agent

             (1)  As soon as practicable after the day on which the ballot closes, the authorised ballot agent must give the Industrial Registrar a written report about the conduct of the ballot.

Note:          This subsection is a civil remedy provision: see subsection (7).

             (2)  A report under subsection (1) must set out details of:

                     (a)  any complaints made to the authorised ballot agent about the conduct of the ballot; and

                     (b)  any irregularities in relation to the conduct of the ballot that have come to the attention of the authorised ballot agent.

             (3)  Subsection (2) does not limit subsection (1).

Report by authorised independent adviser

             (4)  As soon as practicable after the end of the voting, the authorised independent adviser (if any) must give the Industrial Registrar a written report about the conduct of the ballot.

Note:          This subsection is a civil remedy provision: see subsection (7).

             (5)  A report under subsection (4) must set out details of:

                     (a)  any complaints made to the authorised independent adviser about the conduct of the ballot; and

                     (b)  any irregularities in relation to the conduct of the ballot that have come to the attention of the authorised independent adviser.

             (6)  Subsection (5) does not limit subsection (4).

Civil remedy provisions

             (7)  Subsections (1) and (4) are civil remedy provisions.

             (8)  The Court may order a person who has contravened subsection (1) or (4) to pay a pecuniary penalty.

             (9)  The pecuniary penalty cannot be more than 300 penalty units for a body corporate or 60 penalty units in any other case.

           (10)  An application for an order under subsection (8) may be made by:

                     (a)  an employee who is eligible to be included on the roll of voters for the protected action ballot concerned; or

                     (b)  an employer of employees referred to in paragraph (a); or

                     (c)  an applicant for the order for the protected action ballot concerned to be held; or

                     (d)  a workplace inspector; or

                     (e)  any other person prescribed by the regulations.

Note:          For other provisions about civil remedy provisions, see Division 3 of Part 14.

Definitions

           (11)  In this section:

conduct, in relation to a protected action ballot, includes, but is not limited to, the compilation of the roll of voters for the ballot.

irregularity, in relation to the conduct of a protected action ballot, includes, but is not limited to, an act or omission by means of which the full and free recording of votes by all persons entitled to record votes and by no other persons is, or is attempted to be, prevented or hindered.

478  Effect of ballot

             (1)  Industrial action is authorised by a protected action ballot if:

                     (a)  the action was the subject of a protected action ballot; and

                     (b)  at least 50% of persons on the roll of voters for the ballot voted in the ballot; and

                     (c)  more than 50% of the votes validly cast were votes approving the action; and

                     (d)  the action commences during the 30‑day period beginning on the date of the declaration of the results of the ballot.

Note:          Industrial action must be authorised under this Division if it is to be protected action under Division 3 (unless the action is in response to industrial action by the employer)—see section 445.

             (2)  However, the action is not authorised to the extent that it occurs after the end of the bargaining period referred to in section 451.

Note:          If another bargaining period is initiated later, and industrial action is proposed for that later period, it can only be authorised if a fresh application for a ballot order is granted, and the other steps required by this Division are completed, during that later period.

             (3)  The Commission may, by order, extend the 30‑day period mentioned in paragraph (1)(d) by up to 30 days if the employer and the applicant for the ballot order jointly apply to the Commission for the period to be extended.

             (4)  The Commission must not make an order under subsection (3) extending the 30‑day period if that period has previously been extended.

479  Registrar to record questions put in ballot, and to publish results of ballot

             (1)  The Industrial Registrar must, in relation to each protected action ballot that has been held, keep a record of:

                     (a)  the questions put to voters in the ballot; and

                     (b)  the results of the ballot declared by the authorised ballot agent under section 476.

             (2)  The Industrial Registrar must, as soon as practicable after being informed of the results of a ballot by the authorised ballot agent under section 476, publish the results.

Subdivision E—Authorised ballot agents and authorised independent advisers

480  Who may be an authorised ballot agent?

             (1)  In a ballot order, the Commission may name as the authorised ballot agent:

                     (a)  the Australian Electoral Commission; or

                     (b)  another person.

             (2)  The Commission must not name a person other than the Australian Electoral Commission as the authorised ballot agent for the ballot unless the Commission is satisfied that the person:

                     (a)  is capable of ensuring the secrecy and security of votes cast in the ballot; and

                     (b)  is capable of ensuring that the ballot will be fair and democratic; and

                     (c)  will conduct the ballot expeditiously; and

                     (d)  is otherwise a fit and proper person to conduct the ballot.

             (3)  The Commission must not name the applicant as the authorised ballot agent for the ballot unless:

                     (a)  the applicant nominates another person to be the authorised independent adviser for the ballot; and

                     (b)  the Commission names the other person as the authorised independent adviser for the ballot.

Note:          Section 481 specifies who may be authorised by the Commission to be the independent adviser for a protected action ballot.

             (4)  If the Commission is satisfied that a person is not sufficiently independent of the applicant, the Commission must not name the person as the authorised ballot agent for the ballot unless:

                     (a)  the applicant nominates a third person as the authorised independent adviser for the ballot; and

                     (b)  the Commission names the third person as the authorised independent adviser for the ballot.

Note:          Section 481 specifies who may be authorised by the Commission to be the independent adviser for a protected action ballot.

             (5)  The regulations may prescribe:

                     (a)  conditions that a person must meet in order to satisfy the Commission that the person is a fit and proper person to conduct a ballot; and

                     (b)  factors to be taken into account by the Commission in determining whether a person is a fit and proper person to conduct a ballot.

481  Who may be an authorised independent adviser?

             (1)  In a ballot order, the Commission may name a person nominated by the applicant as the authorised independent adviser.

             (2)  The Commission must not name a person as the authorised independent adviser for the ballot unless the Commission is satisfied that the person:

                     (a)  is sufficiently independent of the applicant; and

                     (b)  is capable of giving the authorised ballot agent:

                              (i)  advice that is; and

                             (ii)  recommendations that are;

                            directed towards ensuring that the ballot will be fair and democratic; and

                     (c)  has consented to be so named.

             (3)  The regulations may prescribe factors to be taken into account by the Commission in determining whether a person is capable of giving an authorised ballot agent:

                     (a)  advice that is; and

                     (b)  recommendations that are;

directed towards ensuring that a protected action ballot will be fair and democratic.

Subdivision F—Funding of ballots

482  Liability for cost of ballot

             (1)  The applicant for a ballot order is liable for the cost of holding the ballot, whether or not the ballot is completed.

             (2)  If the application for the ballot order was made by joint applicants, each applicant is jointly and severally liable for the cost of holding the ballot, whether or not the ballot is completed.

             (3)  Subsections (1) and (2) are, in relation to completed ballots, subject to subsections 483(3) and (6).

             (4)  In this section:

cost of holding the ballot means:

                     (a)  if the applicant, or one of the applicants, is the authorised ballot agent—the costs incurred by the authorised ballot agent in relation to the holding of the ballot; or

                     (b)  otherwise—the amount the authorised ballot agent charges to the applicant or applicants in relation to the holding of the ballot.

483  Commonwealth has partial liability for cost of completed ballot

Authorised ballot agent someone other than the Australian Electoral Commission

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  the authorised ballot agent for the ballot is not the Australian Electoral Commission; and

                    (aa)  the ballot has been completed; and

                     (b)  the applicant notifies the Industrial Registrar of the cost of holding the ballot; and

                     (c)  the applicant does so within a reasonable time after the day on which the ballot closed;

the Industrial Registrar must determine how much (if any) of that cost was reasonably and genuinely incurred in relation to the holding of the ballot.

             (2)  If subsection (1) applies, the Commonwealth is liable to pay to the authorised ballot agent 80% of the amount determined under that subsection.

             (3)  The applicant is, to the extent of the Commonwealth’s liability under subsection (2), discharged from liability under section 482 for the cost of holding the ballot.

             (4)  The regulations may prescribe matters to be taken into account by the Industrial Registrar in determining whether costs are reasonably and genuinely incurred in relation to the holding of the ballot.

Authorised ballot agent the Australian Electoral Commission

             (5)  If the authorised ballot agent for the ballot is the Australian Electoral Commission, the Australian Electoral Commission must certify, within a reasonable time after the completion of the ballot, the amount of the reasonable costs charged by the Australian Electoral Commission to the applicant in relation to holding the ballot.

             (6)  The applicant is, to the extent of 80% of the amount certified under subsection (5), discharged from liability under section 482 for the cost of holding the ballot.

Definition

             (7)  In this section:

cost of holding the ballot has the same meaning as in section 482.

484  Liability for cost of legal challenges

             (1)  The regulations may make provision for who is liable for costs incurred in relation to legal challenges to matters connected with protected action ballots.

             (2)  The regulations may also make provision for a person who is liable for costs referred to in subsection (1) to be indemnified by another person for some or all of those costs.

             (3)  For the purposes of sections 482 and 483, costs of holding the ballot do not include costs referred to in subsection (1) of this section.

Subdivision G—Miscellaneous

485  Identity of certain persons not to be disclosed by Commission

             (1)  The Commission must not disclose information that the Commission has reasonable grounds to believe will identify a person as:

                     (a)  an applicant who is represented by an applicant’s agent; or

                     (b)  a relevant employee who was one of the prescribed number of employees supporting an application for a ballot order (as required by subsection 451(4)); or

                     (c)  a person whose name appears on the roll of voters for a protected action ballot; or

                     (d)  a person who is a party to an AWA.

             (2)  Each of the following is an exception to subsection (1):

                     (a)  the disclosure is required or authorised by this Act or by another Act, by regulations made for the purposes of another provision of this Act, or by regulations made for the purposes of another Act;

                     (b)  the person whose identity is disclosed has, in writing, authorised the disclosure.

486  Persons not to disclose identity of certain persons

             (1)  A person commits an offence if:

                     (a)  the person discloses information; and

                     (b)  the information is protected information; and

                     (c)  the person has reasonable grounds to believe that the information will identify another person as a person referred to in paragraph 485(1)(a), (b), (c) or (d); and

                     (d)  the disclosure is not made by the person in the course of performing functions or duties:

                              (i)  as a Registry official; or

                             (ii)  as, or on behalf of, an authorised ballot agent; or

                            (iii)  as an authorised independent adviser; and

                     (e)  the disclosure is not required or authorised by this Act or by another Act, by regulations made for the purposes of another provision of this Act, or by regulations made for the purposes of another Act; and

                      (f)  the person whose identity is disclosed has not, in writing, authorised the disclosure.

Penalty:  Imprisonment for 6 months.

             (2)  In this section:

protected information, in relation to a person, means information that the person acquired:

                     (a)  in the course of performing functions or duties as a Registry official; or

                     (b)  in the course of performing functions or duties as, or on behalf of, an authorised ballot agent; or

                     (c)  from a person referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) who acquired the information as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b).

Registry official means:

                     (a)  the Industrial Registrar; or

                     (b)  a member of the staff of the Industrial Registry (including a Deputy Industrial Registrar).

487  Immunity if person acted in good faith on ballot results

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  the results of a protected action ballot, as declared by the authorised ballot agent, purported to authorise particular industrial action; and

                     (b)  an organisation or person, acting in good faith on the declared ballot results, organised or engaged in that industrial action; and

                     (c)  it is subsequently determined that the action was not authorised by the ballot;

no action lies against the organisation or person under any law (whether written or unwritten) in force in a State or Territory in respect of the action unless the action involved:

                     (d)  personal injury; or

                     (e)  wilful or reckless destruction of, or damage to, property; or

                      (f)  the unlawful taking, keeping or use of property.

             (2)  Subsection (1) does not prevent an action for defamation being brought in respect of anything that occurred in the course of industrial action.

488  Limits on challenges etc. to ballot orders etc.

             (1)  An order of the Commission that a person hold a protected action ballot, and any order, direction or decision of the Commission in connection with the order:

                     (a)  is final and conclusive; and

                     (b)  must not be challenged, appealed against, reviewed, quashed, set aside or called in question in any court on any ground; and

                     (c)  is not subject to mandamus, prohibition, certiorari or injunction, or the making of a declaratory or other order, in any court on any ground;

unless subsection (2) applies to the order or decision.

             (2)  This subsection applies to an order for a protected action ballot, or to an order, direction or decision of the Commission in connection with the order, if:

                     (a)  in proceedings relating to the order, direction or decision, as the case requires, a person claims that another person or persons:

                              (i)  contravened this Division, or an order or direction of the Commission under this Division, if the contravention is not merely a technical breach; or

                             (ii)  misled the Commission (whether by a false statement or by an omission) in such a way as to affect the order, direction or decision; and

                     (b)  the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for the claim.

489  Limits on challenges etc. to ballots

             (1)  If a protected action ballot has been conducted, or has purportedly been conducted:

                     (a)  the declaration of the results of the ballot is final and conclusive; and

                     (b)  the declaration of the results of the ballot must not be quashed or set aside by any court on any ground; and

                     (c)  the conduct of the ballot, and the declaration of the results of the ballot, must not be challenged, appealed against, reviewed or called in question, as applicable, in any court on any ground; and

                     (d)  the conduct of the ballot, and the declaration of the results of the ballot, are not subject to mandamus, prohibition, certiorari or injunction, or the making of a declaratory or other order, as applicable, in any court on any ground;

unless subsection (2) applies to the conduct or declaration.

             (2)  This subsection applies to the conduct of a protected action ballot, and to the declaration of the results of a ballot, if:

                     (a)  in proceedings relating to the conduct or declaration, as the case requires, a person claims that another person or persons:

                              (i)  contravened this Division, or an order or direction of the Commission under this Division, if the contravention is not merely a technical breach; or

                             (ii)  acted fraudulently in relation to the conduct or declaration; or

                            (iii)  acted in such a way as to cause an irregularity in relation to the conduct or declaration, being an irregularity that affected the outcome of the ballot; and

                     (b)  the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for the claim.

             (3)  In this section:

conduct, in relation to a protected action ballot, includes, but is not limited to, the compilation of the roll of voters for the ballot.

irregularity, in relation to the conduct or declaration of a protected action ballot, includes, but is not limited to, an act or omission by means of which:

                     (a)  the full and free recording of votes by all persons entitled to record votes and by no other persons; or

                     (b)  a correct ascertainment or declaration of the results of the voting;

is, or is attempted to be, prevented or hindered.

490  Penalties not affected

                   Nothing in section 488 or 489 is to be taken to prevent a penalty being imposed upon a person for a contravention of this Act.

491  Preservation of roll of voters, ballot papers etc.

                   A person commits an offence if:

                     (a)  the person has conducted a protected action ballot; and

                     (b)  the person was the authorised ballot agent for the ballot; and

                     (c)  the person fails to keep the following for a period of one year after the day on which the ballot closed:

                              (i)  the roll of voters;

                             (ii)  all the ballot papers, envelopes and other documents and records relevant to the ballot.

Penalty:  Imprisonment for 6 months.

492  Conferral of function on Australian Electoral Commission

             (1)  If the Australian Electoral Commission is the authorised ballot agent for a protected action ballot, it is a function of the Australian Electoral Commission to conduct the ballot.

             (2)  If the Australian Electoral Commission is:

                     (a)  the ballot agent nominated in an application for a ballot order; or

                     (b)  the authorised ballot agent for such a ballot;

the Australian Electoral Commission cannot make a submission or an application to the Commission seeking to cease having that status in relation to the ballot.

493  Regulations

                   The regulations may make provision in relation to the following matters:

                     (a)  the qualifications and appointment of applicants’ agents;

                     (b)  procedures to be followed in relation to the conduct of a ballot, or class of ballot, under this Division;

                     (c)  the qualifications, appointment, powers and duties of scrutineers;

                     (d)  the powers and duties of authorised independent advisers;

                     (e)  the manner in which ballot results are to be published under section 479.

 

Division 5—Industrial action not to be engaged in before nominal expiry date of workplace agreement or workplace determination

494  Industrial action etc. must not be taken before nominal expiry date of collective agreement or workplace determinations

             (1)  From the day when:

                     (a)  a collective agreement; or

                     (b)  a workplace determination;

comes into operation until its nominal expiry date has passed, an employee, organisation or officer covered by subsection (2) must not organise or engage in industrial action (whether or not that action relates to a matter dealt with in the agreement or determination).

Note 1:       This subsection is a civil remedy provision: see subsection (4).

Note 2:       Action that contravenes this subsection is not protected action (see section 440).

             (2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), the following are covered by this subsection:

                     (a)  an employee who is bound by the agreement or determination;

                     (b)  an organisation of employees that is bound by the agreement or determination;

                     (c)  an officer or employee of such an organisation acting in that capacity.

             (3)  From the time when:

                     (a)  a collective agreement; or

                     (b)  a workplace determination;

is made until its nominal expiry date has passed, the employer must not engage in industrial action against an employee whose employment is subject to the agreement or determination (whether or not that industrial action relates to a matter dealt with in the agreement or determination).

Note 1:       This subsection is a civil remedy provision: see subsection (4).

Note 2:       Action that contravenes this subsection is not protected action (see section 440).

Civil remedy provisions

             (4)  Subsections (1) and (3) are civil remedy provisions.

             (5)  The Court may make one or more of the following orders in relation to a person who has contravened subsection (1) or (3):

                     (a)  an order imposing a pecuniary penalty on the person;

                     (b)  injunctions, and any other orders, that the Court considers necessary to stop the contravention or remedy its effects.

             (6)  The pecuniary penalty under paragraph (5)(a) cannot be more than 300 penalty units for a body corporate or 60 penalty units in any other case.

             (7)  An application for an order under subsection (5), in relation to a contravention of subsection (1), may be made by:

                     (a)  the employer concerned; or

                     (b)  a workplace inspector; or

                     (c)  any person affected by the industrial action; or

                     (d)  any other person prescribed by the regulations.

             (8)  An application for an order under subsection (5), in relation to a contravention of subsection (3), may be made by:

                     (a)  the employee concerned; or

                     (b)  an organisation of employees if:

                              (i)  a member of the organisation is employed by the employer concerned; and

                             (ii)  the contravention relates to, or affects, the member of the organisation or work carried on by the member for that employer; or

                     (c)  a workplace inspector; or

                     (d)  any person affected by the industrial action; or

                     (e)  any other person prescribed by the regulations.

Note:          For other provisions about civil remedy provisions, see Division 3 of Part 14.

495  Industrial action must not be taken before nominal expiry date of AWA

             (1)  From the day when an AWA comes into operation until its nominal expiry date, the employee must not engage in industrial action in relation to the employment to which the AWA relates.

Note 1:       This subsection is a civil remedy provision: see subsection (3).

Note 2:       Action that contravenes this subsection is not protected action: see section 440.

             (2)  From the day when an AWA comes into operation until its nominal expiry date, the employer must not engage in industrial action against the employee.

Note 1:       This subsection is a civil remedy provision: see subsection (3).

Note 2:       Action that contravenes this subsection is not protected action (see section 440).

Civil remedy provisions

             (3)  Subsections (1) and (2) are civil remedy provisions.

             (4)  The Court may make one or more of the following orders in relation to a person who has contravened subsection (1) or (2):

                     (a)  an order imposing a pecuniary penalty on the person;

                     (b)  injunctions, and any other orders, that the Court considers necessary to stop the contravention or remedy its effects.

             (5)  The pecuniary penalty under paragraph (4)(a) cannot be more than 300 penalty units for a body corporate or 60 penalty units in any other case.

             (6)  An application for an order under subsection (4), in relation to a contravention of subsection (1), may be made by:

                     (a)  the employer concerned; or

                     (b)  a workplace inspector; or

                     (c)  any other person prescribed by the regulations.

             (7)  An application for an order under subsection (4), in relation to a contravention of subsection (2), may be made by:

                     (a)  the employee concerned; or

                     (b)  an organisation of employees that represents that employee if:

                              (i)  that employee has requested the organisation to apply on that employee’s behalf; and

                             (ii)  a member of the organisation is employed by that employee’s employer; and

                            (iii)  the organisation is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of that employee in relation to work carried on by that employee for the employer; or

                     (c)  a workplace inspector; or

                     (d)  any other person prescribed by the regulations.

Note:          For other provisions about civil remedy provisions, see Division 3 of Part 14.

 

Division 6—Orders and injunctions against industrial action

496  Orders and injunctions against industrial action—general

Orders relating to action by federal‑system employees and employers

             (1)  If it appears to the Commission that industrial action by an employee or employees, or by an employer, that is not, or would not be, protected action:

                     (a)  is happening; or

                     (b)  is threatened, impending or probable; or

                     (c)  is being organised;

the Commission must make an order that the industrial action stop, not occur and not be organised.

Orders relating to action by non‑federal system employees and employers

             (2)  If it appears to the Commission that industrial action by a non‑federal system employee or non‑federal system employees, or by a non‑federal system employer:

                     (a)  is:

                              (i)  happening; or

                             (ii)  threatened, impending or probable; or

                            (iii)  being organised; and

                     (b)  will, or would, be likely to have the effect of causing substantial loss or damage to the business of a constitutional corporation;

the Commission must make an order that the relevant industrial action stop, not occur and not be organised.

             (3)  For the purposes of subsection (2), and other provisions of this Act as they relate to orders under that subsection:

                     (a)  non‑federal system employee means a person who is an employee, within the ordinary meaning of that word, but who is not covered by the definition of employee in subsection 5(1); and

                     (b)  non‑federal system employer means a person who is an employer, within the ordinary meaning of that word, but who is not covered by the definition of employer in subsection 6(1); and

                     (c)  section 420 (which defines industrial action) applies as if references in that section to employees and employers were instead references to non‑federal system employees and non‑federal system employers.

Order may be made on application or on Commission’s own initiative

             (4)  The Commission may make an order under subsection (1) or (2) on its own initiative, or on the application of:

                     (a)  a person who is affected (whether directly or indirectly), or who is likely to be affected (whether directly or indirectly), by the industrial action; or

                     (b)  an organisation of which a person referred to in paragraph (a) is a member.

Applications generally to be heard and determined within 48 hours

             (5)  As far as practicable, the Commission must hear and determine an application for an order under subsection (1) or (2) within 48 hours after the application is made.

Interim orders if applications cannot be heard and determined within 48 hours

             (6)  If the Commission is unable to determine an application for an order under subsection (1) or (2) within the period referred to in subsection (5), the Commission must (within that period) make an interim order to stop and prevent engagement in, and organisation of, the industrial action referred to in subsection (1) or (2).

             (7)  However, the Commission must not make such an interim order if the Commission is satisfied that it would be contrary to the public interest to do so.

             (8)  An interim order is to have effect until the application is determined.

Commission does not have to specify the industrial action

             (9)  In ordering under subsection (1), (2) or (6) that industrial action stop, not occur and not be organised, the Commission does not have to specify the particular industrial action.

Obligation to comply with orders

           (10)  A person to whom an order under subsection (1), (2) or (6) is expressed to apply must comply with the order.

           (11)  Subsection (10) is a civil remedy provision.

           (12)  The Court may, on application by a person affected by an order of the Commission under subsection (1), (2) or (6), grant an injunction on such terms as the Court considers appropriate if it is satisfied that another person:

                     (a)  has engaged in conduct that constitutes a contravention of subsection (10); or

                     (b)  is proposing to engage in conduct that would constitute such a contravention.

Note:          For other provisions about civil remedy provisions, see Division 3 of Part 14.

Orders do not apply to protected action

           (13)  An order under subsection (1), or under subsection (6) that relates to an application for an order under subsection (1), does not apply to protected action.

497  Injunction against industrial action if pattern bargaining engaged in in relation to proposed collective agreement

                   The Court may grant an injunction in such terms as the Court considers appropriate if, on application by any person, the Court is satisfied that:

                     (a)  industrial action in relation to a proposed collective agreement is being engaged in, or is threatened, impending or probable; and

                     (b)  the industrial action is or would be for the purpose of supporting or advancing claims made by a negotiating party to the proposed collective agreement; and

                     (c)  the party is engaged in pattern bargaining in relation to the proposed collective agreement.

Note:          For other provisions relating to pattern bargaining, see:

(a)           section 431; and

(b)           section 439; and

(c)           section 461.

 

Division 7—Ministerial declarations terminating bargaining periods

498  Minister’s declaration

Making of declaration

             (1)  The Minister may make a written declaration terminating a specified bargaining period, or specified bargaining periods, if the Minister is satisfied that:

                     (a)  industrial action is being taken, or is threatened, impending or probable; and

                     (b)  the industrial action is adversely affecting, or would adversely affect, the employer or employers who are negotiating parties, or employees of the employer or employers; and

                     (c)  the industrial action is threatening, or would threaten:

                              (i)  to endanger the life, the personal safety or health, or the welfare, of the population or of part of it; or

                             (ii)  to cause significant damage to the Australian economy or an important part of it.

Note:          See also Division 8 (about workplace determinations once a bargaining period has been terminated).

             (2)  The declaration takes effect on the day that it is made.

Making persons aware of the declaration

             (3)  The Minister must publish the declaration in the Gazette.

             (4)  The Minister must inform the Commission of the making of the declaration.

             (5)  The Minister must, as soon as reasonably practicable, take all reasonable steps to make the negotiating parties to the proposed collective agreement or agreements concerned aware:

                     (a)  of the making of the declaration; and

                     (b)  of the effect of Division 8 (about workplace determinations once a bargaining period has been terminated); and

                     (c)  that the negotiating parties may agree to submit the matters at issue to an alternative dispute resolution process conducted by the Commission or another provider (see Divisions 4 and 6 of Part 13).

Restriction on initiating new bargaining period

             (6)  The Minister may specify in the declaration that, during a specified period beginning on the day that the declaration is made, a specified person:

                     (a)  is not allowed to initiate a new bargaining period in relation to specified matters that are dealt with by the proposed collective agreement or agreements concerned; or

                     (b)  may initiate such a bargaining period only on specified conditions.

Declaration not a legislative instrument

             (7)  A declaration made under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.

499  Minister’s directions to remove or reduce the threat

             (1)  If the Minister makes a declaration under 498, the Minister may make the following kinds of written directions if the Minister is satisfied that they are reasonably directed to removing or reducing the threat referred to in paragraph 498(1)(c):

                     (a)  directions requiring specified negotiating parties, or specified employees of an employer who is a negotiating party, to take specified actions;

                     (b)  directions requiring specified negotiating parties, or specified employees of an employer who is a negotiating party, to refrain from taking specified actions.

Making persons aware of the directions

             (2)  The Minister must, as soon as reasonably practicable, take all reasonable steps to make the specified persons concerned aware of the directions.

Directions not legislative instruments

             (3)  Directions made under subsection (1) are not legislative instruments.

Compliance with directions

             (4)  A person must comply with a direction under this section.

Civil remedy provisions

             (5)  Subsection (4) is a civil remedy provision.

             (6)  The Court may order a person who has contravened subsection (4) to pay a pecuniary penalty.

             (7)  The pecuniary penalty cannot be more than 300 penalty units for a body corporate or 60 penalty units in any other case.

             (8)  An application for an order under subsection (6) may be made by a workplace inspector.

Note:          For other provisions about civil remedy provisions, see Division 3 of Part 14.

 

Division 8—Workplace determinations

500  Application of Division

                   This Division applies if a bargaining period has been terminated:

                     (a)  on the ground set out in subsection 430(3); or

                     (b)  because a declaration has been made under Division 7.

501  Definitions

                   In this Division:

matters at issue means the matters that were at issue during the bargaining period.

negotiating period has the meaning given by section 502.

502  Negotiating period

             (1)  The negotiating period is the period that:

                     (a)  starts on the day on which the bargaining period was terminated; and

                     (b)  ends:

                              (i)  if the Commission has not extended the period under subsection (2)—21 days after that day; or

                             (ii)  if the Commission has so extended the period—42 days after that day.

             (2)  The Commission must extend the period if:

                     (a)  all of the negotiating parties apply to the Commission for an extension under this subsection within 21 days after the day on which the bargaining period was terminated; and

.                    (b)  the negotiating parties have not settled the matters at issue (whether or not by making a workplace agreement).

503  When Full Bench must make workplace determination

             (1)  The Commission must make a determination (a workplace determination) under this section if:

                     (a)  the negotiating period has ended; and

                     (b)  the negotiating parties have not settled the matters at issue (whether or not by making a workplace agreement).

             (2)  The workplace determination can be made only by a Full Bench.

             (3)  The Full Bench must make the workplace determination as quickly as practicable after the end of the negotiating period.

             (4)  For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), the negotiating parties are taken not to have settled the matters at issue if:

                     (a)  the negotiating parties make a workplace agreement purporting to settle the matters at issue; and

                     (b)  the workplace agreement is not approved in accordance with section 340.

             (5)  Workplace determinations are not legislative instruments.

504  Content of workplace determination

             (1)  The workplace determination must contain terms that, in the opinion of the Full Bench, deal with the matters at issue.

             (2)  The workplace determination comes into operation on the day on which it is made.

             (3)  The workplace determination must contain a term specifying a nominal expiry date for the determination that is no later than 5 years after the date on which the determination commences operating.

             (4)  The workplace determination must not contain prohibited content.

             (5)  In deciding which terms to include in the workplace determination, the Full Bench must have regard to the following factors only:

                     (a)  the matters at issue;

                     (b)  the merits of the case;

                     (c)  the interests of the negotiating parties and the public interest;

                     (d)  how productivity might be improved in the business or part of the business concerned;

                     (e)  the extent to which the conduct of the negotiating parties during the bargaining period was reasonable;

                      (f)  incentives to encourage parties to pursue negotiated outcomes at a later stage;

                     (g)  the employer’s capacity to pay;

                     (h)  decisions of the AFPC;

                      (i)  any other factors specified in the regulations.

             (6)  The workplace determination must require disputes about matters arising under the determination to be dealt with in accordance with the model dispute resolution process (see Part 13).

             (7)  The workplace determination must not contain any terms other than those required by this section.

505  Who is bound by a workplace determination?

                   A workplace determination binds:

                     (a)  the negotiating parties referred to in subsection 503(1)(b); and

                     (b)  all employees whose employment is subject to the determination.

506  Act applies to workplace determination as if it were a collective agreement

             (1)  Subject to this section, this Act applies to the workplace determination as if it were a collective agreement in operation.

             (2)  The following provisions do not apply to the workplace determination:

                     (a)  section 351 (persons bound by workplace agreements);

                     (b)  Subdivision A of Division 7 of Part 8 (content of workplace agreements);

                     (c)  Division 8 of Part 8 (varying workplace agreements).

             (3)  Subdivision B of Division 9 of Part 8 (termination by approval (pre‑lodgment procedures)) applies in relation to the workplace determination, but only after the determination has passed its nominal expiry date.

             (4)  Despite sections 347(5), the workplace determination ceases to be in operation in relation to an employee if a collective agreement that binds the employee is lodged, even if this happens before the nominal expiry date of the determination.

             (5)  To avoid doubt, a workplace determination that has ceased to operate because of subsection (4) can operate again if:

                     (a)  the workplace determination ceased to operate because it was replaced by a collective agreement (the replacement collective agreement); and

                     (b)  the replacement collective agreement later ceased to operate because it did not pass the fairness test.

Note:          See sections 346Y and 346Z.

 

Division 9—Payments in relation to periods of industrial action

507  Payments not to be made or accepted in relation to periods of industrial action

             (1)  This section applies if an employee engaged, or engages, in industrial action (whether or not protected action) in relation to an employer on a day.

             (2)  The employer must not make a payment to an employee in relation to:

                     (a)  if the total duration of the industrial action on that day is less than 4 hours—4 hours of that day; or

                     (b)  otherwise—the total duration of the industrial action on that day.

Note:          This subsection is a civil remedy provision: see subsection (6).

             (3)  If:

                     (a)  the industrial action is during a shift (or other period of work); and

                     (b)  the shift (or other period of work) occurs partly on 1 day and partly on the next day;

then, for the purposes of this section, the shift is taken to be a day and the remaining parts of the days are taken not to be part of that day.

Example:    An employee, who is working a shift from 10 pm on Tuesday until 7 am on Wednesday, engages in industrial action from 11 pm on Tuesday until 1 am on Wednesday. That industrial action would prevent the employer making a payment to the employee in relation to 4 hours of the shift, but would not prevent the employer from making a payment in relation to the remaining 5 hours of the shift.

             (4)  For the purposes of subsection (3), overtime is taken not to be a separate shift.

             (5)  An employee must not accept a payment from an employer if the employer would contravene subsection (2) by making the payment.

Note:          This subsection is a civil remedy provision: see subsection (6).

Civil remedy provisions

             (6)  Subsections (2) and (5) are civil remedy provisions.

             (7)  The Court may make one or more of the following orders in relation to a person who has contravened subsection (2) or (5):

                     (a)  an order imposing a pecuniary penalty on the person;

                     (b)  injunctions, and any other orders, that the Court considers necessary to stop the contravention or remedy its effects;

                     (c)  any other consequential orders.

             (8)  The pecuniary penalty under paragraph (7)(a) cannot be more than 300 penalty units for a body corporate or 60 penalty units in any other case.

             (9)  An application for an order under subsection (7) may be made by:

                     (a)  a workplace inspector; or

                     (b)  a person who has an interest in the matter; or

                     (c)  any other person prescribed by the regulations.

Note:          For other provisions about civil remedy provisions, see Division 3 of Part 14.

           (10)  A regulation prescribing persons for the purposes of paragraph (9)(c) may limit its application to specified circumstances.

508  Organisations not to take action for payments in relation to periods of industrial action

             (1)  An organisation, or an officer, member or employee of an organisation, must not:

                     (a)  make a claim for an employer to make a payment to an employee in relation to a day during which the employee engaged, or engages, in industrial action; or

                     (b)  organise or engage in, or threaten to organise or engage in, industrial action against an employer with intent to coerce the employer to make such a payment.

Note:          This subsection is a civil remedy provision: see subsection (4).

             (2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), action done by one of the following bodies or persons is taken to have been done by an organisation:

                     (a)  the committee of management of the organisation;

                     (b)  an officer, employee or agent of the organisation acting in that capacity;

                     (c)  a member or group of members of the organisation acting under the rules of the organisation;

                     (d)  a member of the organisation, who performs the function of dealing with an employer on behalf of the member and other members of the organisation, acting in that capacity.

             (3)  Paragraphs (2)(c) and (d) do not apply if:

                     (a)  a committee of management of the organisation; or

                     (b)  a person authorised by the committee; or

                     (c)  an officer of the organisation;

has taken reasonable steps to prevent the action.

Civil remedy provisions

             (4)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

             (5)  The Court may make one or more of the following orders in relation to a person who has contravened subsection (1):

                     (a)  an order imposing a pecuniary penalty on the person;

                     (b)  an order requiring the person to pay to the employer concerned compensation of such amount as the Court thinks appropriate;

                     (c)  injunctions, and any other orders, that the Court considers necessary to stop the contravention or remedy its effects;

                     (d)  any other consequential orders.

             (6)  The pecuniary penalty under paragraph (5)(a) cannot be more than 300 penalty units for a body corporate or 60 penalty units in any other case.

             (7)  The Court must not make an order under paragraph (5)(b) if the employer concerned has contravened subsection 507(2) in connection with the contravention of subsection (1) of this section.

             (8)  An application for an order under subsection (5) may be made by:

                     (a)  the employer concerned; or

                     (b)  a workplace inspector; or

                     (c)  a person who has an interest in the matter; or

                     (d)  any other person prescribed by the regulations.

Note:          For other provisions about civil remedy provisions, see Division 3 of Part 14.

             (9)  A regulation prescribing persons for the purposes of paragraph (8)(d) may limit its application to specified circumstances.

509  Persons not to coerce people for payments in relation to periods of industrial action

             (1)  A person must not take, or threaten to take, action that would have the effect of directly or indirectly prejudicing the engagement, or possible engagement, of another person as an independent contractor with the intention of coercing the other person to make a payment to an employee of the other person in relation to a day on which the employee engaged or engages in industrial action (whether or not protected action).

Civil remedy provisions

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

             (3)  The Court may make one or more of the following orders in relation to a person who has contravened subsection (1):

                     (a)  an order imposing a pecuniary penalty on the person;

                     (b)  injunctions, and any other orders, that the Court considers necessary to stop the contravention or remedy its effects;

                     (c)  any other consequential orders.

             (4)  The pecuniary penalty under paragraph (3)(a) cannot be more than 300 penalty units for a body corporate or 60 penalty units in any other case.

             (5)  An application for an order under subsection (3) may be made by:

                     (a)  the other person referred to in subsection (1); or

                     (b)  a workplace inspector; or

                     (c)  a person who has an interest in the matter; or

                     (d)  any other person prescribed by the regulations.

Note:          For other provisions about civil remedy provisions, see Division 3 of Part 14.

             (6)  A regulation prescribing persons for the purposes of paragraph (5)(d) may limit its application to specified circumstances.

Interpretation

             (7)  In this section, a reference to an independent contractor is not confined to a natural person.

 

Part 10—Awards

Division 1—Preliminary

510  Objects of Part

                   The objects of this Part are:

                     (a)  to ensure that minimum safety net entitlements are protected through a system of enforceable awards maintained by the Commission; and

                     (b)  to ensure that awards are rationalised and simplified so they are less complex and are more conducive to the efficient performance of work; and

                     (c)  to ensure that the Commission performs its functions under this Part in a way that:

                              (i)  encourages the making of agreements between employers and employees at the workplace or enterprise level; and

                             (ii)  protects the competitive position of young people in the labour market, promotes youth employment, youth skills and community standards, and assists in reducing youth unemployment.

511  Performance of functions by the Commission

             (1)  The Commission must perform its functions under this Part in a way that furthers the objects of this Act and, in particular, the objects of this Part.

             (2)  In performing its functions under this Part, the Commission must have regard to:

                     (a)  the desirability of high levels of productivity, low inflation, creation of jobs and high levels of employment; and

                     (b)  decisions of the AFPC, and, in particular, the need to ensure that Commission decisions are not inconsistent with AFPC decisions; and

                     (c)  the importance of providing minimum safety net entitlements that do not act as a disincentive to bargaining at the workplace level.

512  Extraterritorial extension

             (1)  This Part, and the rest of this Act so far as it relates to this Part, extend:

                     (a)  to an employee outside Australia who meets any of the conditions in this section; and

                     (b)  to the employee’s employer (whether the employer is in or outside Australia); and

                     (c)  to acts, omissions, matters and things relating to the employee (whether they are in or outside Australia).

Note:          In this context, Australia includes the Territory of Christmas Island, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the coastal sea. See section 15B and paragraph 17(a) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

In Australia’s exclusive economic zone

             (2)  One condition is that the employee is in Australia’s exclusive economic zone and either:

                     (a)  is an employee of an Australian employer and is not prescribed by the regulations as an employee to whom this subsection does not apply; or

                     (b)  is an employee prescribed by the regulations as an employee to whom this subsection applies.

Note:          The regulations may prescribe the employee by reference to a class. See subsection 13(3) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

On Australia’s continental shelf outside exclusive economic zone

             (3)  Another condition is that the employee:

                     (a)  is outside the outer limits of Australia’s exclusive economic zone, but is in, on or over a part of Australia’s continental shelf prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection, in connection with the exploration of the continental shelf or the exploitation of its natural resources; and

                     (b)  meets the requirements that are prescribed by the regulations for that part.

Note:          The regulations may prescribe different requirements relating to different parts of Australia’s continental shelf. The regulations may need to do so to give effect to Australia’s international obligations.

Outside Australia’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf

             (4)  Another condition is that the employee:

                     (a)  is neither in Australia’s exclusive economic zone nor in, on or over a part of Australia’s continental shelf described in paragraph (3)(a); and

                     (b)  is an Australian‑based employee of an Australian employer; and

                     (c)  is not prescribed by the regulations as an employee to whom this subsection does not apply.

Definition

             (5)  In this section:

this Act includes the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and regulations made under it.

 

Division 2—Terms that may be included in awards

Subdivision A—Allowable award matters

513  Allowable award matters

             (1)  Subject to this Part, an award may include terms about the following matters (allowable award matters) only:

                     (a)  ordinary time hours of work and the time within which they are performed, rest breaks, notice periods and variations to working hours;

                     (b)  incentive‑based payments and bonuses;

                     (c)  annual leave loadings;

                     (d)  ceremonial leave;

                     (e)  leave for the purpose of seeking other employment after the giving of a notice of termination by an employer to an employee;

                      (f)  observance of days declared by or under a law of a State or Territory to be observed generally within that State or Territory, or a region of that State or Territory, as public holidays by employees who work in that State, Territory or region, and entitlements of employees to payment in respect of those days;

                     (g)  days to be substituted for, or a procedure for substituting, days referred to in paragraph (f);

                     (h)  monetary allowances for:

                              (i)  expenses incurred in the course of employment; or

                             (ii)  responsibilities or skills that are not taken into account in rates of pay for employees; or

                            (iii)  disabilities associated with the performance of particular tasks or work in particular conditions or locations;

                      (i)  loadings for working overtime or for shift work;

                      (j)  penalty rates;

                     (k)  redundancy pay, within the meaning of subsection (4);

                      (l)  stand‑down provisions;

                    (m)  dispute settling procedures, but only as provided by section 514;

                     (n)  type of employment, such as full‑time employment, casual employment, regular part‑time employment and shift work;

                     (o)  conditions for outworkers, but only to the extent necessary to ensure that their overall conditions of employment are fair and reasonable in comparison with the conditions of employment specified in a relevant award or awards for employees who perform the same kind of work at an employer’s business or commercial premises.

Note 1:       The matters referred to in subsection 513(1) have a meaning that is affected by section 515.

Note 2:       Entitlements relating to certain matters that were allowable award matters immediately before the reform commencement are preserved under Division 3.

Note 3:       Certain allowable award matters are protected in workplace agreements as protected award conditions—see section 354.

             (2)  A matter referred to in subsection (1) is an allowable award matter only to the extent that the matter pertains to the relationship between employers bound by the award and employees of those employers.

             (3)  An award may include terms about the matters referred to in subsection (1) only to the extent that the terms provide minimum safety net entitlements.

             (4)  For the purposes of paragraph (1)(k), redundancy pay means redundancy pay in relation to a termination of employment that is:

                     (a)  by an employer of 15 or more employees; and

                     (b)  either:

                              (i)  at the initiative of the employer and on the grounds of operational requirements; or

                             (ii)  because the employer is insolvent.

             (5)  For the purposes of paragraph (4)(a):

                     (a)  whether an employer employs 15 or more employees, or fewer than 15 employees, is to be worked out as at the time (the relevant time):

                              (i)  when notice of the redundancy is given; or

                             (ii)  when the redundancy occurs;

                            whichever happens first; and

                     (b)  a reference to employees includes a reference to:

                              (i)  the employee who becomes redundant and any other employee who becomes redundant at the relevant time; and

                             (ii)  any casual employee who, at the relevant time, has been engaged by the employer on a regular and systematic basis for at least 12 months (but not including any other casual employee).

             (6)  For the purposes of paragraph (1)(o):

conditions does not include pay.

outworker means an employee who, for the purposes of the business of the employer, performs work at private residential premises or at other premises that are not business or commercial premises of the employer.

514  Dispute settling procedures

             (1)  Each award is taken to include a term that specifies a model dispute resolution process in the same terms as the model dispute resolution process set out in Division 1 of Part 13, and a term providing for any other dispute settling process or procedure is taken not to be about an allowable award matter for the purposes of paragraph 513(1)(m).

             (2)  The dispute settling process included in an award may only be used to resolve disputes:

                     (a)  about matters arising under the award; and

                     (b)  between persons bound by the award.

515  Matters that are not allowable award matters

             (1)  For the purposes of subsection 513(1), matters that are not allowable award matters within the meaning of that subsection include, but are not limited to, the following:

                     (a)  rights of an organisation of employers or employees to participate in, or represent an employer or employee in, the whole or part of a dispute settling procedure, unless the organisation is the representative of the employer’s or employee’s choice;

                     (b)  conversion from casual employment to another type of employment;

                     (c)  the number or proportion of employees that an employer may employ in a particular type of employment;

                     (d)  prohibitions (whether direct or indirect) on an employer employing employees in a particular type of employment;

                     (e)  the maximum or minimum hours of work for regular part‑time employees;

                      (f)  restrictions on the range or duration of training arrangements;

                     (g)  restrictions on the engagement of independent contractors and requirements relating to the conditions of their engagement;

                     (h)  restrictions on the engagement of labour hire workers, and requirements relating to the conditions of their engagement, imposed on an entity or person for whom the labour hire worker performs work under a contract with a labour hire agency;

                      (i)  union picnic days;

                      (j)  tallies in the meat industry;

                     (k)  dispute resolution training leave;

                      (l)  trade union training leave.

             (2)  Paragraph (1)(e) does not prevent any of the following being included in an award:

                     (a)  terms setting a minimum number of consecutive hours that an employer may require a regular part‑time employee to work;

                     (b)  terms facilitating a regular pattern in the hours worked by regular part‑time employees.

             (3)  Paragraph (1)(g) does not limit the operation of paragraph 513(1)(o).

             (4)  In this section:

labour hire agency means an entity or a person who conducts a business that includes the employment or engagement of workers for the purpose of supplying those workers to another entity or person under a contract with that other entity or person.

labour hire worker means a person:

                     (a)  who:

                              (i)  is employed by a labour hire agency; or

                             (ii)  is engaged by a labour hire agency as an independent contractor; and

                     (b)  who performs work for another entity or person under a contract between that entity or person and the labour hire agency.

Note:          In this Part, references to independent contractors are not confined to natural persons (see subsection 4(2)).

516  Matters provided for by the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard

             (1)  A matter for which provision is made by the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard is not an allowable award matter, except as mentioned in subsection (2).

             (2)  Despite subsection (1), an award may include a term about ordinary time hours of work.

Note:          An award may also include preserved award terms (see section 520).

517  Awards may not include terms involving discrimination and preference

                   To the extent that a term of an award requires or permits, or has the effect of requiring or permitting, any conduct that would contravene Part 16, it is taken not to be about allowable award matters.

518  Awards may not include certain terms about rights of entry

                   To the extent that a term of an award requires or authorises an officer or employee of an organisation:

                     (a)  to enter premises:

                              (i)  occupied by an employer that is bound by the award; or

                             (ii)  in which work to which the award applies is being carried on; or

                     (b)  to inspect or view any work, material, machinery, appliance, article, document or other thing on such premises; or

                     (c)  to interview an employee on such premises;

it is taken not to be about allowable award matters.

519  Awards may not include enterprise flexibility provisions

                   To the extent that a term of an award is an enterprise flexibility provision within the meaning of section 113A of this Act as in force immediately before the reform commencement, it is taken not to be about allowable award matters.

Subdivision B—Other terms that are permitted to be in awards

520  Preserved award terms

                   An award may include preserved award terms (see Division 3).

521  Facilitative provisions

             (1)  An award may include a facilitative provision that allows agreement at the workplace or enterprise level, between employers and employees (including individual employees), on how a term in the award about an allowable award matter or a preserved award term is to operate.

             (2)  A facilitative provision must not require agreement between a majority of employees and an employer, but must permit agreement between an individual employee and an employer, on how a term in an award about an allowable award matter or a preserved award term is to operate.

             (3)  A facilitative provision may only operate in respect of an allowable award matter or a preserved award term.

             (4)  A facilitative provision is of no effect to the extent that it does not comply with subsections (2) and (3).

522  Incidental and machinery terms

             (1)  An award may include terms that are:

                     (a)  incidental to an allowable award matter about which there is a term in the award; and

                     (b)  essential for the purpose of making a particular term operate in a practical way.

             (2)  For the purposes of this section, to the extent that a term of an award is about a matter that is not an allowable award matter because of the operation of section 515, 517, 518 or 519, the term is not, and cannot be, incidental to an allowable award matter, and is of no effect to that extent.

             (3)  However, to avoid doubt, paragraph 515(1)(g) does not limit the operation of subsections (1) and (4) to the extent that those subsections relate to the matter referred to in paragraph 513(1)(o).

             (4)  An award may include machinery provisions including, but not limited to, provisions about the following:

                     (a)  commencement;

                     (b)  definitions;

                     (c)  titles;

                     (d)  arrangement;

                     (e)  employers, employees and organisations;

                      (f)  term of the award.

523  Anti‑discrimination clauses

                   An award may include a model anti‑discrimination clause.

524  Boards of reference

             (1)  An award may include, in accordance with subsection (2) or (3), a term:

                     (a)  appointing, or giving power to appoint, for the purposes of the award, a board of reference consisting of a person or 2 or more persons; and

                     (b)  assigning to the board of reference functions as described in subsection (4).

             (2)  A term of a pre‑reform award that appoints, or gives power to appoint, a board of reference is taken:

                     (a)  to continue in effect after the reform commencement, to the extent that it complies with subsection (4); and

                     (b)  to cease to have effect after the reform commencement, to the extent that it does not comply with subsection (4).

             (3)  An award (the rationalised award) made under section 539 or varied under section 544 may include a term that appoints, or gives power to appoint, a board of reference, but the term has effect only to the extent that:

                     (a)  the term was included in one or more of the following awards (the replaced award):

                              (i)  any award that the rationalised award has the effect of replacing;

                             (ii)  if the rationalised award is an award varied under section 544—the award as in force immediately before the variation; and

                     (b)  the functions of the board of reference that relate to preserved award terms relate only to preserved award terms that were included in the replaced award immediately before the making or variation of the rationalised award; and

                     (c)  the term complies with subsection (4).

             (4)  A term of an award that appoints, or gives power to appoint, a board of reference:

                     (a)  may confer upon the board of reference an administrative function in respect of allowing, approving, fixing or dealing with, in the manner and subject to the conditions specified in the award, a matter or thing that, under the award, may from time to time be required to be allowed, approved, fixed or dealt with; and

                     (b)  must not confer upon the board of reference a function of settling or determining disputes about any matter arising under the award.

             (5)  A function conferred under subsection (4) may relate only to allowable award matters or terms permitted by this Subdivision to be included in the award.

             (6)  A board of reference may consist of or include a Commissioner.

             (7)  Subject to this section, the regulations may make provision in relation to:

                     (a)  a particular board of reference; or

                     (b)  boards of reference in general;

including, but not limited to, the functions and powers of the board or boards.

Subdivision C—Terms in awards that cease to have effect

525  Terms in awards that cease to have effect after the reform commencement

             (1)  Immediately after the reform commencement, a term of an award ceases to have effect to the extent that it is about matters that are not allowable award matters, except to the extent (if any) that the term is permitted by Subdivision B to be included in the award.

             (2)  This section does not affect the operation of preserved award terms.

Subdivision D—Regulations relating to part‑time employees

526  Award conditions for part‑time employees

             (1)  The regulations may do either or both of the following in relation to an award:

                     (a)  provide for the award to have effect so that a part‑time employee is entitled to conditions to which a full‑time employee is entitled under the award;

                     (b)  provide for the award to have effect so that conditions to which a part‑time employee is otherwise entitled under the award (including because of paragraph (a)) are adjusted (in accordance with the regulations or a method set out in the regulations) in proportion to the hours worked by the part‑time employee.

             (2)  The award has effect accordingly.

 

Division 3—Preserved award entitlements

527  Preservation of certain award terms

             (1)  A preserved award term is a term, or more than one term, of an award that is about a matter referred to in subsection (2), and:

                     (a)  if the award is a pre‑reform award that has not been varied under section 544—was in effect immediately before the reform commencement; or

                     (b)  in any other case—is taken to be included in the award because of the operation of section 528.

Note:          Section 525, which provides for certain terms of awards to cease immediately after the reform commencement, does not affect the operation of preserved award terms—see subsection 525(2).

             (2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), the matters are as follows:

                     (a)  annual leave;

                     (b)  personal/carer’s leave;

                     (c)  parental leave, including maternity and adoption leave;

                     (d)  long service leave;

                     (e)  notice of termination;

                      (f)  jury service;

                     (g)  superannuation.

             (3)  If a term of an award referred to in subsection (1) is about both matters referred to in subsection (2) and other matters, it is taken to be a preserved award term only to the extent that it is about the matters referred to in subsection (2).

             (4)  If more than one term of an award is about a matter referred to in subsection (2), then those terms, taken together, constitute the preserved award term of that award about that matter.

             (5)  A preserved award term about the matter referred to in paragraph (2)(g) (superannuation) ceases to have effect at the end of 30 June 2008.

             (6)  A preserved award term continues to have effect for the purposes of this Act.

Note:          Preserved award terms may not be varied.

             (7)  In this section:

personal/carer’s leave includes war service sick leave, infectious diseases sick leave and other like forms of sick leave.

             (8)  The regulations may provide that for the purposes of subsection (2):

                     (a)  the matter referred to in paragraph (2)(c) does not include one or both of the following:

                              (i)  special maternity leave (within the meaning of section 265);

                             (ii)  the entitlement under section 268 to transfer to a safe job or to take paid leave; and

                     (b)  personal/carer’s leave does not include one or both of the following:

                              (i)  compassionate leave (within the meaning of section 257);

                             (ii)  unpaid carer’s leave (within the meaning of section 244).

Note:          The effect of excluding a form of leave or an entitlement in relation to a matter is that the entitlement in relation to that form of leave or matter under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard will automatically apply.

             (9)  Regulations under subsection (8) may be expressed to apply generally or in respect of employees engaged in specified types of employment, such as full‑time employment, part‑time employment, casual employment, regular part‑time employment or shift work.

528  Preserved award terms of rationalised awards

             (1)  This section applies to an award (the rationalised award) if:

                     (a)  the award is made under section 539 or is varied under section 544; and

                     (b)  immediately before the making or variation, a preserved award term was included in one or more of the following awards (the replaced award):

                              (i)  any award that the rationalised award has the effect of replacing;

                             (ii)  if the rationalised award is an award varied under section 544—the award as in force immediately before the variation.

Note:          A replaced award may be either an award made under section 539 or a pre‑reform award (which may subsequently have been varied).

             (2)  The preserved award term of the replaced award is taken to be included in the rationalised award.

             (3)  The preserved award term is taken to have the effect that:

                     (a)  employees belonging to the class of employees that had entitlements under the preserved award term of the replaced award have corresponding entitlements under the rationalised award; and

                     (b)  employees belonging to any class of employees that did not have entitlements under the preserved award term of the replaced award do not gain entitlements under the rationalised award.

Note:          This means that the class of employees who had preserved award entitlements under replaced awards retain those preserved award entitlements after award rationalisation, but the class of employees who have such entitlements is not expanded.

             (4)  The preserved award term is taken to have the effect that:

                     (a)  only an employer bound by the preserved award term of the replaced award is bound by the corresponding preserved award term of the rationalised award; and

                     (b)  other employers are not so bound.

Note 1:       This means that the class of employers bound by preserved award terms is not expanded as a result of award rationalisation.

Note 2:       The operation of this subsection is affected by Part 11, which deals with transmission of business.

             (5)  For the purposes of subsection (3), whether an employee belongs to a class of employees that had entitlements under a preserved award term of a replaced award is to be determined without reference to whether the employee was employed before or after the making of the rationalised award.

529  When preserved award entitlements have effect

             (1)  This section applies to an employee if:

                     (a)  the employee’s employment is regulated by an award that includes a preserved award term about a matter; and

                     (b)  the employee has an entitlement (the preserved award entitlement) in relation to that matter under the preserved award term.

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  the preserved award term is about a matter referred to in paragraph 527(2)(a), (b) or (c); and

                     (b)  the employee’s preserved award entitlement in relation to the matter is more generous than the employee’s entitlement in relation to the corresponding matter under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard;

the employee’s entitlement under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard is excluded, and the employee’s preserved award entitlement has effect in accordance with the preserved award term. Otherwise, the employee’s entitlement under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard has effect.

Note:          See section 530 for the meaning of more generous.

             (3)  If:

                     (a)  the preserved award term is about a matter referred to in paragraph 527(2)(a), (b) or (c) and the employee has no entitlement in relation to the corresponding matter under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard; or

                     (b)  the preserved award term is about a matter referred to in paragraph 527(2)(d), (e), (f) or (g);

the employee’s preserved award entitlement has effect in accordance with the preserved award term.

Note 1:       Preserved award terms relating to matters referred to in paragraph 527(2)(g) cease to have effect at the end of 30 June 2008—see subsection 527(5).

Note 2:       Subsection 16(2) provides that State laws dealing with long service leave, jury service or superannuation (among other things) are not excluded by this Act, but section 17 provides that awards prevail over State laws to the extent of any inconsistency.

530  Meaning of more generous

             (1)  Whether an employee’s entitlement under a preserved award term in relation to a matter is more generous than the employee’s entitlement in relation to the corresponding matter under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard:

                     (a)  is as specified in, or as worked out in accordance with a method specified in, regulations made under this paragraph; or

                     (b)  to the extent that regulations made under paragraph (a) do not so specify—is to be ascertained in accordance with the ordinary meaning of the term more generous.

             (2)  If a matter to which an entitlement under a preserved award term relates does not correspond directly to a matter to which the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard relates, regulations made under paragraph (1)(a) may nevertheless specify that the matters correspond for the purposes of this Division.

531  Modifications that may be prescribed—personal/carer’s leave

             (1)  The regulations may provide that a preserved award term about personal/carer’s leave is to be treated as a separate preserved award term about separate matters, to the extent that the preserved award term is about any of the following:

                     (a)  war service sick leave;

                     (b)  infectious diseases sick leave;

                     (c)  any other like form of sick leave.

             (2)  If the regulations so provide, sections 527, 528, 529 and 530 have effect in relation to each separate matter.

Note:          There is no entitlement in relation to war service sick leave, infectious diseases sick leave or any other like form of sick leave under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard, so there is no corresponding matter for the purposes of subsection 529(3).

532  Modifications that may be prescribed—parental leave

             (1)  The regulations may provide that a preserved award term about parental leave is to be treated as being about separate matters to the extent that it is about paid and unpaid parental leave.

             (2)  If the regulations provide that a preserved award term about parental leave is to be treated as being about separate matters to the extent that it is about paid and unpaid parental leave:

                     (a)  sections 527, 528 and 529 have effect in relation to each separate matter; and

                     (b)  in accordance with section 266, the entitlement that an employee would have to unpaid parental leave under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard is reduced by any amount of paid parental leave to which the employee is entitled under the preserved award term.

Note 1:    There is no entitlement in relation to paid parental leave under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard, so there is no corresponding matter for the purposes of subsection 529(3).

Note 2:    Paragraph (b) does not have the effect of reducing entitlements. It simply ensures that the operation of section 266 is not affected by treating paid and unpaid parental leave separately under the regulations.

533  Preserved award terms—employers bound after reform commencement

                   An employer that was not bound by a particular award immediately before the reform commencement, but is subsequently bound by the award under section 557, is not bound by any preserved award terms included in the award.

 

Division 4—Award rationalisation and award simplification

Subdivision A—Award rationalisation

534  Commission’s award rationalisation function

             (1)  It is a function of the Commission to undertake award rationalisation.

             (2)  Award rationalisation is to be carried out in accordance with a written request (an award rationalisation request) made to the President by the Minister.

             (3)  Each award rationalisation request must specify:

                     (a)  the award rationalisation process that is to be undertaken under this section; and

                     (b)  the principles to be applied by the Commission in undertaking the award rationalisation process; and

                     (c)  the time by which the award rationalisation process must be completed, which must not be later than 3 years after the making of the request.

             (4)  Principles under paragraph (3)(b) relating to an award rationalisation request may include, but are not limited to the following:

                     (a)  the awards to which the award rationalisation process relates;

                     (b)  the nature of, and the extent of the coverage of, awards that may be made as a result of the award rationalisation process;

                     (c)  subject to this Act, the matters that may be included in such awards and limits on the matters that may be included in such awards.

             (5)  An award rationalisation request may be varied or revoked by the Minister by written instrument.

             (6)  The following are not legislative instruments:

                     (a)  an award rationalisation request;

                     (b)  an instrument under subsection (5).

535  Commission must deal with State‑based differences

             (1)  In undertaking the first award rationalisation process requested under subsection 534(2), the Commission must ensure that:

                     (a)  terms and conditions of employment included in awards are not determined by reference to State or Territory boundaries; and

                     (b)  awards have effect in each State and Territory.

             (2)  If the award rationalisation request under which the first award rationalisation process is undertaken is not expressed to relate to all awards, the Commission must nevertheless review all awards as part of that award rationalisation process to the extent necessary to satisfy the requirements of subsection (1).

             (3)  In undertaking subsequent award rationalisation processes, the Commission must ensure that:

                     (a)  terms and conditions of employment included in awards made or varied as a result of the subsequent award rationalisation process are not determined by reference to State or Territory boundaries; and

                     (b)  an award made or varied as a result of the subsequent award rationalisation process has effect in each State and Territory.

             (4)  This section does not affect the operation of Division 3.

536  Award rationalisation to be undertaken by Full Bench

                   As soon as practicable after receiving an award rationalisation request, the President must establish one or more Full Benches to undertake the award rationalisation process requested.

537  Award rationalisation request to be published

             (1)  As soon as practicable after receiving an award rationalisation request, the President must give a copy of the request to a Registrar.

             (2)  The Registrar must publish the request as follows:

                     (a)  if requirements relating to publication are prescribed by the regulations—in accordance with those requirements;

                     (b)  if no such requirements are prescribed—in such manner as the Registrar thinks appropriate.

538  Minister may intervene

                   The Minister may intervene in a proceeding that relates to an award rationalisation process.

539  Making awards as a result of award rationalisation

                   A Full Bench may make one or more awards to give effect to the outcome of an award rationalisation process.

540  Making awards as a result of award rationalisation

                   The Commission must not make an award other than under section 539.

541  Awards may not include certain terms

                   A Full Bench must not include a term in an award made under section 539 if the term may not be included in the award because of the operation of Division 2.

542  Awards must include term about regular part‑time employment

                   A Full Bench must include in an award made under section 539 a term providing for regular part‑time employment.

Note:          Clauses 15.3.1 to 15.3.5 of the Hospitality Industry—Accommodation, Hotels, Resorts and Gaming Award 1998 provide a model (see the Award Simplification Decision at P7500).

543  Who is bound by awards

             (1)  An award made under section 539 binds the employers, employees and organisations that it is expressed to bind.

Note:          An award may be expressed to bind additional employers, employees and organisations under Division 6 and may bind eligible entities under Division 7.

             (2)  An award must be expressed to bind the following:

                     (a)  specified employers;

                     (b)  specified employees of employers bound by the award, in respect of work that is expressed to be regulated by the award.

             (3)  An award may be expressed to bind one or more specified organisations.

             (4)  For the purposes of subsections (2) and (3):

                     (a)  employers may be specified by name or by inclusion in a specified class or specified classes; and

                     (b)  employees must be specified by inclusion in a specified class or specified classes; and

                     (c)  organisations must be specified by name.

             (5)  Without limiting the way in which a class may be described for the purposes of subsection (4), the class may be described by reference to a particular industry or particular kinds of work.

             (6)  The power of the Commission under subsections (2) and (3) must be exercised in accordance with the terms of the award rationalisation request to which the making of the award relates.

544  Variation of awards as part of award rationalisation

             (1)  The Commission may make an order varying an award to give effect to the outcome of an award rationalisation process.

             (2)  The Commission must not vary an award under this section in such a way that the award includes a term that may not be included in the award because of the operation of Division 2.

             (3)  If the Commission varies an award under this section, the Commission must include in the award a term providing for regular part‑time employment, unless such a term is already included in the award.

Note:          Clauses 15.3.1 to 15.3.5 of the Hospitality Industry—Accommodation, Hotels, Resorts and Gaming Award 1998 provide a model (see the Award Simplification Decision at P7500).

             (4)  If the Commission varies an award under this section, it must specify the additional employers, employees and organisations (if any) bound by the award.

Note:          An award may also be varied to bind eligible entities and employers under Division 7.

             (5)  For the purposes of subsection (4), employers, employees and organisations must be specified in the same manner, and subject to the same limitations, as provided in subsections 543(2) to (6) in relation to awards made under section 539.

545  Revocation of awards as part of award rationalisation

                   The Commission may make an order revoking an award to give effect to the outcome of an award rationalisation process.

546  Preserved award terms

                   To avoid doubt, the Commission’s power under this Division to make or vary an award is subject to, and must not be exercised in a manner that is inconsistent with, Division 3.

Subdivision B—Award simplification

547  Review and simplification of awards

             (1)  The Commission must review all awards for the purpose of determining whether the awards include terms that may not be included in awards under this Part.

Note:          Division 2 deals with terms that may be included in awards.

             (2)  The Commission may review awards for this purpose at the same time as reviewing them for other purposes.

             (3)  The Commission must carry out the review:

                     (a)  within the period prescribed by the regulations; and

                     (b)  in accordance with any directions prescribed by the regulations.

             (4)  After reviewing an award, the Commission must make an order varying the award to the extent (if any) necessary to ensure that the award includes only terms that may be included under this Part.

             (5)  After reviewing an award, the Commission must make an order revoking the award if the Commission is satisfied that the award is obsolete or no longer capable of operating.

548  Principles for award simplification

             (1)  A Full Bench may (subject to section 547) establish principles for the review and simplification of awards under section 547.

             (2)  Principles under subsection (1) may relate to the following:

                     (a)  the making or varying of awards in relation to each of the allowable award matters;

                     (b)  terms that may be included in awards (including, subject to Division 2, about allowable award matters).

             (3)  After principles (if any) have been established under subsection (1), the power of the Commission to vary an award is exercisable only in a manner consistent with those principles.

             (4)  The President or a Full Bench may, in relation to the exercise of powers under this section, direct a member of the Commission to provide a report in relation to a specified matter.

             (5)  After making such investigation (if any) as is necessary, a member given a direction under subsection (4) must provide a report to the President or Full Bench.

             (6)  To avoid doubt, principles under subsection (1) must be consistent with, and cannot be such as to override, a provision of this Act that relates to the variation of awards.

549  Minister may intervene

                   The Minister may intervene in a proceeding that relates to an award simplification process.

Subdivision C—Special technical requirements

550  Inclusion of preserved award terms in written awards

             (1)  This section applies if a preserved award term is taken under Division 3 to be included in an award (a rationalised award) made under section 539 or varied under section 544.

             (2)  In reducing the rationalised award to writing as required by section 567, the Commission must:

                     (a)  include the preserved award term in the rationalised award; and

                     (b)  identify it as a preserved award term; and

                     (c)  identify the employers bound by the preserved award term; and

                     (d)  identify the employees bound by the preserved award term.

Note:          Section 528 deals with the employers bound by preserved award terms.

             (3)  If more than one preserved award term to the same substantive effect is taken under Division 3 to be included in the rationalised award:

                     (a)  paragraph (2)(a) requires that the preserved award term be included only once in the rationalised award; and

                     (b)  to avoid doubt, paragraphs (2)(b), (c) and (d) have effect according to their terms in relation to the preserved award term.

             (4)  For the purposes of paragraphs (2)(c) and (d) respectively:

                     (a)  employers may be identified by name or by inclusion in a specified class or specified classes; and

                     (b)  employees must be identified by inclusion in a specified class or specified classes.

             (5)  Without limiting the way in which a class may be described for the purposes of this section, the class may be described by reference to a particular industry or particular kinds of work.

551  Reprints of varied awards

             (1)  If an award is varied under this Division, the Registrar must, as soon as practicable after receiving a copy of the order varying the award under subsection 567(2), publish a consolidated reprint of the award as varied.

             (2)  To avoid doubt, this requirement is in addition to, and not instead of, the requirements of Division 8.

 

Division 5—Variation and revocation of awards

Subdivision A—Variation of awards

552  Variation of awards—general

             (1)  The Commission must not make an order varying an award except:

                     (a)  as a result of an award rationalisation process; or

                     (b)  as a result of an award simplification process; or

                     (c)  if the variation is essential to the maintenance of minimum safety net entitlements (see section 553); or

                     (d)  on a ground set out in section 554; or

                     (e)  to bind additional employers, employees or organisations in accordance with section 557; or

                      (f)  under section 812; or

                     (g)  in circumstances prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph.

Note:          The variation that the Commission can make as a result of an award rationalisation process is affected by sections 533 and 550.

             (2)  The Commission must not vary a preserved award term.

             (3)  The Commission must not vary a facilitative provision within the meaning of section 521 except:

                     (a)  as a result of an award rationalisation process; or

                     (b)  as a result of an award simplification process; or

                     (c)  on a ground set out in section 554.

             (4)  The Commission must not vary a term taken to be included in an award by section 514 (which deals with dispute settling procedures).

553  Variation of awards if essential to maintain minimum safety net entitlements

             (1)  An employer, employee or organisation bound by an award may apply to the Commission for an order varying the award on the ground that that the variation is essential to the maintenance of minimum safety net entitlements.

.            (2)  If an application is made under subsection (1), the Commission must take such steps as it thinks appropriate to ensure that each employer, employee and organisation bound by the award, and any other interested persons and bodies, are made aware of the application.

             (3)  The Minister may intervene in relation to the application.

             (4)  The Commission may make an order under this subsection varying the award only if the Commission is satisfied that:

                     (a)  the variation is essential to the maintenance of minimum safety net entitlements; and

                     (b)  all of the following conditions are met:

                              (i)  the award as varied would not be inconsistent with decisions of the AFPC;

                             (ii)  the award as varied would provide only minimum safety net entitlements for employees bound by the award;

                            (iii)  the award as varied would not be inconsistent with the outcomes (if any) of award simplification and award rationalisation;

                            (iv)  the making of the variation would not operate as a disincentive to agreement‑making at the workplace level;

                             (v)  such other requirements prescribed by the regulations (if any) for the purposes of this paragraph have been satisfied.

554  Variation of awards—other grounds

             (1)  The Commission may, if it considers that an award or a term of an award is ambiguous or uncertain, make an order varying the award so as to remove the ambiguity or uncertainty.

             (2)  If an award is referred to the Commission under section 46PW of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986, the Commission must convene a hearing to review the award.

             (3)  In a review under subsection (2):

                     (a)  the Commission must take such steps as it thinks appropriate to ensure that each employer, employee and organisation bound by the award is made aware of the hearing; and

                     (b)  the Sex Discrimination Commissioner may intervene in the proceeding.

             (4)  If the Commission considers that an award reviewed under subsection (2) is a discriminatory award, the Commission must take the necessary action to remove the discrimination by making an order varying the award.

             (5)  The Commission may, on application by an employer or organisation bound by an award, make an order varying a term of the award referring by name to an employer or organisation bound by the award:

                     (a)  to reflect a change in the name of the employer or organisation; or

                     (b)  if:

                              (i)  the registration of the organisation has been cancelled; or

                             (ii)  the employer or organisation has ceased to exist;

                            to omit the reference to its name.

             (6)  The onus of demonstrating that an award should be varied as set out in an application under subsection (5) rests with the applicant.

             (7)  In this section:

discriminatory award means an award that:

                     (a)  has been referred to the Commission under section 46PW of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986; and

                     (b)  requires a person to do any act that would be unlawful under Part II of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, except for the fact that the act would be done in direct compliance with the award.

For the purposes of this definition, the fact that an act is done in direct compliance with the award does not of itself mean that the act is reasonable.

Subdivision B—Revocation of awards

555  Revocation of awards—general

                   The Commission must not make an order revoking an award except:

                     (a)  as a result of an award rationalisation process; or

                     (b)  as a result of an award simplification process; or

                     (c)  if the award is obsolete or no longer capable of operating (see section 556).

556  Revocation of awards—award obsolete or no longer capable of operating

             (1)  An employer, employee or organisation bound by an award may apply to the Commission to have the award revoked on the ground that the award is obsolete or is no longer capable of operating.

             (2)  If an application is made under subsection (1), the Commission must take such steps as it thinks appropriate to ensure that each employer, employee and organisation bound by the award is made aware of the application.

             (3)  The Commission must make an order revoking the award if it is satisfied that:

                     (a)  the award is obsolete or is no longer capable of operating; and

                     (b)  revocation of the award would not be contrary to the public interest.

 

Division 6—Binding additional employers, employees and organisations to awards

557  Binding additional employers, employees and organisations to an award

             (1)  The Commission may make an order varying an award to bind an employer, employee or organisation to the award.

Note 1:       Section 539 enables the Commission to make awards binding specified employers, employees and organisations.

Note 2:       Pre‑reform awards are taken to bind certain employers, employees and organisations. A pre‑reform award may be varied under section 544 in a manner that affects who is bound.

Note 3:       An award may also be varied to bind eligible entities and employers under Division 7.

             (2)  The Commission may make an order varying an award under subsection (1) only in accordance with this Division.

558  Application to be bound by an award—agreement between employer and employees

             (1)  An employer may apply to the Commission for an order varying a specified award to bind the employer and a specified class or specified classes of employees of the employer.

             (2)  If an application is made under subsection (1), the Commission must take such steps as it thinks appropriate to ensure that each employer, employee and organisation bound by the award is made aware of the application.

             (3)  The Commission may make an order varying the award as specified in the application if it is satisfied that:

                     (a)  a valid majority of the employees of the employer who would be bound by the award support the application; and

                     (b)  the award is appropriate to regulate the terms and conditions of employment of those employees; and

                     (c)  the employer is not already bound by an award that regulates the terms and conditions of employment of those employees.

             (4)  The Commission may make the order without holding a hearing unless the Commission considers that it cannot be satisfied of the matters referred to in paragraphs (3)(a) and (b) based on the information provided.

559  Application to be bound by an award—no agreement between employer and employees

             (1)  An employer, or an employee or employees of an employer, may apply to the Commission for an order varying an award specified in the application to bind the employer and a specified class or specified classes of employees of the employer.

             (2)  An employer may make an application under subsection (1) even if a valid majority of the employees of the employer who would be bound by the award do not support the application.

             (3)  An employee or employees of an employer may make an application under subsection (1) even if the employer does not support the application.

             (4)  If an application is made under subsection (1), the Commission must take such steps as it thinks appropriate to ensure that each employer, employee and organisation bound by the award is made aware of the application.

             (5)  The Commission may make an order varying the award as specified in the application only if the Commission is satisfied:

                     (a)  that the employer, and the employees of the employer who would be bound by the award, have been unable to make a workplace agreement, despite having made reasonable efforts to do so; and

                     (b)  the award is appropriate to govern the terms and conditions of employment of those employees; and

                     (c)  the employer is not already bound by an award that regulates the terms and conditions of employment of those employees.

             (6)  An organisation may make an application under subsection (1) on behalf of an employee or employees, and may represent the employee or employees in proceedings relating to the application, if:

                     (a)  the employee or employees have requested that the organisation do so; and

                     (b)  the organisation is entitled (under its eligibility rules) to represent the interests of the employee or employees.

             (7)  In this section:

protected action has the meaning given by section 435.

reasonable efforts does not require the taking of protected action.

560  Application to be bound by an award—new organisations

             (1)  A new organisation may apply to the Commission for an order varying an award to bind the organisation.

             (2)  If an application is made under subsection (1), the Commission must take such steps as it thinks appropriate to ensure that each employer, employee and organisation bound by the award, and any other interested persons and bodies, are made aware of the application.

             (3)  The Minister may intervene in relation to the application.

             (4)  The Commission may make the order if the Commission is satisfied that:

                     (a)  the new organisation has at least one member bound by the award whose industrial interests the new organisation is entitled (under its eligibility rules) to represent; and

                     (b)  the making of the order is necessary to enable the new organisation to represent properly the industrial interests of those of its members who are bound by the award; and

                     (c)  the award regulates an industry in respect of which the new organisation has traditionally been entitled to represent the industrial interests of its members.

             (5)  In this section:

new organisation means:

                     (a)  an association granted registration as an organisation under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule on or after the reform commencement; or

                     (b)  a transitionally registered association registered under clause 2 of Schedule 10.

561  Application by new organisation to be bound by an award—additional matters

             (1)  An application under subsection 560(1) must be made within the period of one year commencing on the day on which the new organisation was registered under the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule or Schedule 10.

             (2)  If an application under subsection 560(1) relates to an award made under section 539 or an award that has been varied under section 544, a Full Bench must consider the application.

562  Process for valid majority of employees

                   The regulations may prescribe the meaning of, or the method for establishing what constitutes, a valid majority of the employees of an employer or of a class of employees of an employer, for the purposes of this Division.

563  General provisions

             (1)  Without limiting the way in which a class of employees may be described for the purposes of this Division, the class may be described by reference to a particular industry or particular kinds of work.

             (2)  For the purposes of making an order binding an employer, employee or organisation to an award:

                     (a)  employers may be specified by name or by inclusion in a specified class or specified classes; and

                     (b)  employees must be specified by inclusion in a specified class or specified classes; and

                     (c)  organisations must be specified by name.

 

Division 7—Outworkers

564  Definitions

                   In this Division:

eligible entity means any of the following entities, other than in the entity’s capacity as an employer:

                     (a)  a constitutional corporation;

                     (b)  the Commonwealth;

                     (c)  a Commonwealth authority;

                     (d)  a body corporate incorporated in a Territory;

                     (e)  a person or entity (which may be an unincorporated club) that carries on an activity (whether of a commercial, governmental or other nature) in a Territory in Australia, in connection with the activity carried on in the Territory.

outworker term means a term of an award that is:

                     (a)  about the matter referred to in paragraph 513(1)(o); or

                     (b)  incidental to such a matter, and included in the award as permitted by section 522; or

                     (c)  a machinery provision in respect of such a matter included in the award as permitted by section 522.

565  Outworker terms may bind eligible entities and employers

             (1)  This section applies to an award made under section 539 or varied under section 544 if the award includes outworker terms.

             (2)  In addition to the employers, organisations and persons that the award is expressed to bind under section 543 or 544, as the case requires, the award may be expressed to bind, but only in relation to the outworker terms, an eligible entity or an employer that operates in an industry:

                     (a)  to which the award relates; or

                     (b)  in respect of which the outworker terms are applicable.

566  Binding additional eligible entities and employers

             (1)  An organisation, an eligible entity or an employer may apply to the Commission for an order varying an award that includes outworker terms to bind an eligible entity or an employer to the award, but only in relation to the outworker terms.

             (2)  If an application is made under subsection (1), the Commission must take such steps as it thinks appropriate to ensure that each employer, employee and organisation bound by the award, and any other interested persons and bodies, are made aware of the application.

             (3)  The Minister may intervene in relation to the application.

             (4)  If an application is made under subsection (1), the Commission may make the order if it is satisfied that:

                     (a)  the eligible entity or employer operates in an industry to which the award relates; and

                     (b)  the eligible entity or employer is not already bound by an award that includes outworker terms in respect of such an industry in relation to those terms; and

                     (c)  making the order is consistent with the objective of protecting the overall conditions of employment of outworkers.

 

Division 8—Technical matters

567  Making and publication of awards and award‑related orders

             (1)  An award or award‑related order must:

                     (a)  be reduced to writing; and

                     (b)  be signed by:

                              (i)  in the case of an award or order made by a Full Bench—at least one member of the Full Bench; or

                             (ii)  in the case of any other order—at least one member of the Commission; and

                     (c)  show the day on which it is signed.

             (2)  If the Commission makes an award or an award‑related order, the Commission must promptly give to a Registrar:

                     (a)  a copy of the award or order; and

                     (b)  written reasons for the award or order; and

                     (c)  a list specifying the employers, employees and organisations bound by the award or order.

             (3)  A Registrar who receives a copy of an award or an award‑related order under subsection (2) must promptly:

                     (a)  make available a copy of the award or order and the written reasons received by a Registrar in respect of the making of the award or order to each employer, employee and organisation shown on the list given to the Registrar under paragraph (2)(c); and

                     (b)  ensure that a copy of the award or order and the written reasons received by the Registrar in respect of the making of the award or order are available for inspection at each registry; and

                     (c)  ensure that the award or order and any written reasons received by the Registrar in respect of the making of the award or order are published as soon as practicable.

568  Awards and award‑related orders must meet certain requirements

             (1)  The Commission must, when making an award or an award‑related order, if it considers it appropriate, ensure that the award or order:

                     (a)  does not include matters of detail or process that are more appropriately dealt with by agreement at the workplace or enterprise level; and

                     (b)  does not prescribe work practices or procedures that restrict or hinder the efficient performance of work; and

                     (c)  does not include terms that have the effect of restricting or hindering productivity, having regard to fairness to employees.

             (2)  The Commission must, when making an award or an award‑related order, ensure that the award or order:

                     (a)  where appropriate, includes facilitative provisions that allow agreement at the workplace or enterprise level, between employers and employees (including individual employees), on how the award terms are to apply; and

                     (b)  includes terms providing for the employment of regular part‑time employees; and

Note:       Clauses 15.3.1 to 15.3.5 of the Hospitality Industry—Accommodation, Hotels, Resorts and Gaming Award 1998 provide a model (see the Award Simplification Decision at P7500).

                     (c)  is expressed in plain English and is easy to understand in structure and content; and

                     (d)  does not include terms that are obsolete or that need updating; and

                     (e)  does not include terms that discriminate against an employee because of, or for reasons including, race, colour, sex, sexual preference, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin.

             (3)  An award or an award‑related order does not discriminate against an employee for the purposes of paragraph (2)(e) merely because:

                     (a)  it discriminates, in respect of particular employment, on the basis of the inherent requirements of that employment; or

                     (b)  it discriminates, in respect of employment as a member of the staff of an institution that is conducted in accordance with the teachings or beliefs of a particular religion or creed:

                              (i)  on the basis of those teachings or beliefs; and

                             (ii)  in good faith.

569  Registrar’s powers if member ceases to be a member

                   If:

                     (a)  a member of the Commission ceases to be a member at a time after an award or an award‑related order has been made by the Commission constituted by the member; and

                     (b)  at that time, the award or order has not yet been reduced to writing or has been reduced to writing but has not yet been signed by the member;

the Registrar must reduce the award or order to writing, sign it and seal it with the seal of the Commission, and the award or order has effect as if it had been signed by the member of the Commission.

570  Form of awards

                   An award or an award‑related order is to be framed so as best to express the decision of the Commission and to avoid unnecessary technicalities.

571  Date of awards

                   The date of an award or an award‑related order is the day on which the award or order was signed under section 567.

572  Commencement of awards

             (1)  An award or an award‑related order is to be expressed to come into force on a specified day.

             (2)  Unless the Commission is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances, the day specified in an award or an award‑related order for the purposes of subsection (1) must not be earlier than the date of the award or order.

573  Continuation of awards

                   An award continues in force until it is revoked under a provision referred to in section 555.

574  Awards of Commission are final

             (1)  Subject to this Act, an award or an award‑related order (including an award or order made on appeal):

                     (a)  is final and conclusive; and

                     (b)  must not be challenged, appealed against, reviewed, quashed or called in question in any court; and

                     (c)  is not subject to prohibition, mandamus or injunction in any court on any account.

             (2)  An award or an award‑related order is not invalid because it was made by the Commission constituted otherwise than as provided by this Act.

575  Reprints of awards as varied

                   A document purporting to be a copy of a reprint of an award as varied, and purporting to have been printed by the Government Printer, is in all courts evidence of the award as varied.

576  Expressions used in awards

                   Unless the contrary intention appears in an award or an award‑related order, an expression used in the award or order has the same meaning as it has in an Act because of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 or as it has in this Act.

 

Part 11—Transmission of business rules

Division 1—Introductory

577  Object

                   The object of this Part is to provide for the transfer of employer obligations under certain instruments when the whole, or a part, of a person’s business is transmitted to another person.

578  Simplified outline

             (1)  Division 2 describes the transmission of business situation this Part is designed to deal with. It identifies the old employer, the new employer, the business being transferred, the time of transmission and the transferring employees.

             (2)  Divisions 3 to 6 deal with the transmission of particular instruments as follows:

                     (a)  Division 3 deals with the transmission of AWAs;

                     (b)  Division 4 deals with the transmission of collective agreements;

                     (c)  Division 5 deals with the transmission of awards;

                     (d)  Division 6 deals with the transmission of APCSs.

             (3)  Division 7 deals with what happens with entitlements under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard when there is a transmission of business.

             (4)  Division 8 deals with notification requirements, the lodgment of notices with the Workplace Authority Director and the enforcement of employer obligations by pecuniary penalties.

             (5)  Division 9 allows regulations to be made to deal with other transmission of business issues.

579  Definitions

                   In this Part:

business being transferred has the meaning given by subsection 580(2).

Court means the Federal Court of Australia or the Federal Magistrates Court.

instrument means:

                     (a)  an AWA; or

                     (b)  a collective agreement; or

                     (c)  an award; or

                     (d)  an APCS.

new employer has the meaning given by subsection 580(1).

old employer has the meaning given by subsection 580(1).

operational reasons has the meaning given by subsection 643(9).

parental leave has the same meaning as in subsection 316(3).

time of transmission has the meaning given by subsection 580(3).

transferring employee has the meaning given by sections 581 and 582.

transmission period has the meaning given by subsection 580(4).

 

Division 2—Application of Part

580  Application of Part

             (1)  This Part applies if a person (the new employer) becomes the successor, transmittee or assignee of the whole, or a part, of a business of another person (the old employer).

             (2)  The business, or the part of the business, to which the new employer is successor, transmittee or assignee is the business being transferred for the purposes of this Part.

             (3)  The time at which the new employer becomes the successor, transmittee or assignee of the business being transferred is the time of transmission for the purposes of this Part.

             (4)  The period of 12 months after the time of transmission is the transmission period for the purposes of this Part.

581  Transferring employees

             (1)  A person is a transferring employee for the purposes of this Part if:

                     (a)  the person is employed by the old employer immediately before the time of transmission; and

                     (b)  the person:

                              (i)  ceases to be employed by the old employer; and

                             (ii)  becomes employed by the new employer in the business being transferred;

                            within 2 months after the time of transmission.

             (2)  A person is also a transferring employee for the purposes of this Part if:

                     (a)  the person is employed by the old employer at any time within the period of 1 month before the time of transmission; and

                     (b)  the person’s employment with the old employer is terminated by the old employer before the time of transmission for genuine operational reasons or for reasons that include genuine operational reasons; and

                     (c)  the person becomes employed by the new employer in the business being transferred within 2 months after the time of transmission.

             (3)  In applying section 582 and Divisions 3 to 7 in relation to a person who is a transferring employee under subsection (2) of this section, a reference in those provisions to a particular state of affairs existing immediately before the time of transmission is to be read as a reference to that state of affairs existing immediately before the person last ceased to be an employee of the old employer.

582  Transferring employees in relation to particular instrument

             (1)  A transferring employee is a transferring employee in relation to a particular instrument if:

                     (a)  the instrument applied to the transferring employee’s employment with the old employer immediately before the time of transmission; and

                     (b)  when the transferring employee becomes employed by the new employer, the nature of the transferring employee’s employment with the new employer is such that the instrument is capable of applying to employment of that nature.

             (2)  The transferring employee ceases to be a transferring employee in relation to the instrument if:

                     (a)  the transferring employee ceases to be employed by the new employer after the time of transmission; or

                     (b)  the nature of the transferring employee’s employment with the new employer changes so that the instrument is no longer capable of applying to employment of that nature; or

                     (c)  the transmission period ends.

Paragraph (c) does not apply if the instrument is an APCS.

             (3)  This section applies to a preserved APCS as if it were an instrument.

 

Division 3—Transmission of AWA

583  Transmission of AWA

New employer bound by AWA

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  immediately before the time of transmission:

                              (i)  the old employer; and

                             (ii)  an employee;

                            were bound by an AWA; and

                     (b)  the employee is a transferring employee in relation to the AWA;

the new employer is bound by the AWA by force of this section.

Note:          The new employer must notify the transferring employee and lodge a copy of the notice with the Workplace Authority Director (see sections 602 and 603).

Period for which new employer remains bound

             (2)  The new employer remains bound by the AWA, by force of this section, until whichever of the following first occurs:

                     (a)  the AWA is terminated (see Division 9 of Part 8 as modified by section 584);

                     (b)  the AWA ceases to be in operation because it is replaced by another AWA between the new employer and the transferring employee (see paragraph 347(4)(b));

                     (c)  the transferring employee ceases to be a transferring employee in relation to the AWA;

                     (d)  the transmission period ends.

Old employer’s rights and obligations that arose before time of transmission not affected

             (3)  This section does not affect the rights and obligations of the old employer that arose before the time of transmission.

584  Termination of transmitted AWA

Modified operation of subsections 392(2) and 393(2)

             (1)  The AWA cannot be terminated under subsection 392(2) or 393(2) during the transmission period (even if the AWA has passed its nominal expiry date).

Subsection 399(1) does not apply

             (2)  Despite subsection 399(1), a workplace agreement or an award may have effect in relation to the transferring employee’s employment with the new employer even if:

                     (a)  the AWA is terminated during the transmission period; or

                     (b)  the new employer ceases to be bound by the AWA because the transmission period ends.

Note:          Paragraph (2)(b) is included for the avoidance of doubt. Subsection 399(1) only applies if a workplace agreement is terminated. Technically, the end of the transmission period does not terminate the transmitted AWA. The new employer merely ceases to be bound by it.

 

Division 4—Transmission of collective agreement

Subdivision A—General

585  Transmission of collective agreement

New employer bound by collective agreement

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  immediately before the time of transmission:

                              (i)  the old employer; and

                             (ii)  employees of the old employer;

                            were bound by a collective agreement; and

                     (b)  there is at least one transferring employee in relation to the collective agreement;

the new employer is bound by the collective agreement by force of this section.

Note 1:       The new employer must notify transferring employees and lodge a copy of a notice with the Workplace Authority Director (see sections 602 and 603).

Note 2:       See also section 586 for the interaction between the collective agreement and other industrial instruments.

Period for which new employer remains bound

             (2)  The new employer remains bound by the collective agreement, by force of this section, until whichever of the following first occurs:

                     (a)  the collective agreement is terminated (see Division 9 of Part 8 as modified by section 588);

                     (b)  there cease to be any transferring employees in relation to the collective agreement;

                     (c)  the new employer ceases to be bound by the collective agreement in relation to all the transferring employees in relation to the collective agreement;

                     (d)  the transmission period ends.

Note:          Paragraph (c)—see subsection (3).

Period for which new employer remains bound in relation to particular transferring employee

             (3)  The new employer remains bound by the collective agreement in relation to a particular transferring employee, by force of this section, until whichever of the following first occurs:

                     (a)  the collective agreement ceases to be in operation in relation to the transferring employee’s employment with the new employer because the new employer makes an AWA with the transferring employee (see subsection 587(2));

                     (b)  the collective agreement ceases to be in operation in relation to the transferring employee’s employment with the new employer because it has been replaced by another collective agreement in relation to the transferring employee’s employment with the new employer (see subsection 347(5) as modified by subsection 587(3));

                     (c)  the employer ceases to be bound by the collective agreement under subsection (2).

New employer bound only in relation to employment of transferring employees in the business being transferred

             (4)  The new employer is bound by the collective agreement, by force of this section, only in relation to the employment, in the business being transferred, of employees who are transferring employees in relation to the collective agreement.

New employer bound subject to Commission order

             (5)  Subsections (1), (2) and (3) have effect subject to any order of the Commission under section 590.

Old employer’s rights and obligations that arose before time of transmission not affected

             (6)  This section does not affect the rights and obligations of the old employer that arose before the time of transmission.

586  Interaction rules

Transmitted agreement

             (1)  This section applies if subsection 585(1) applies to a collective agreement (the transmitted collective agreement).

Existing collective agreement

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  the new employer is bound by a collective agreement (the existing collective agreement) immediately before the time of transmission; and

                     (b)  a person is a transferring employee in relation to the transmitted collective agreement; and

                     (c)  the existing collective agreement would, but for this subsection, apply, according to its terms, to the transferring employee when the transferring employee becomes employed by the new employer;

the existing collective agreement does not apply to the transferring employee.

             (3)  Subsection (2) ceases to apply at the end of the transmission period.

587  Transmitted collective agreement ceasing in relation to transferring employee

Transmitted agreement

             (1)  This section applies if subsection 585(1) applies to a collective agreement (the transmitted collective agreement).

AWA

             (2)  Despite subsection 348(2), the transmitted collective agreement ceases to be in operation in relation to a transferring employee’s employment with the new employer if the new employer makes an AWA with the transferring employee after the time of transmission.

Note:          Subsection 348(2) provides that a collective agreement is normally only suspended while an AWA is in operation. The effect of subsection (2) of this section is to terminate the operation of the transmitted collective agreement in relation to the transferring employee’s employment when the AWA is made.

Replacement collective agreement

             (3)  Despite subsection 347(5), the transmitted collective agreement ceases to be in operation in relation to a transferring employee if the transmitted collective agreement has been replaced by another collective agreement in relation to the employee (even if the transmitted collective agreement has not passed its nominal expiry date).

588  Termination of transmitted collective agreement

Transmitted agreement

             (1)  This section applies if subsection 585(1) applies to a collective agreement (the transmitted collective agreement).

Modified operation of subsections 392(2) and 393(2)

             (2)  The transmitted collective agreement cannot be terminated under subsection 392(2) or 393(2) during the transmission period (even if the transmitted collective agreement has passed its nominal expiry date).

Subsection 399(1) does not apply

             (3)  Despite subsection 399(1), a workplace agreement or an award may have effect in relation to a transferring employee’s employment with the new employer if:

                     (a)  the transmitted collective agreement is terminated during the transmission period; or

                     (b)  the new employer ceases to be bound by the transmitted collective agreement because the transmission period ends.

Note:          Paragraph (3)(b) is included for the avoidance of doubt. Subsection 399(1) only applies if a workplace agreement is terminated. Technically, the end of the transmission period does not terminate the transmitted collective agreement. The new employer merely ceases to be bound by it.

Special rule for transmitted workplace determination

             (4)  If the transmitted collective agreement is a workplace determination, subsection 506(3) ceases to apply to the transmitted collective agreement at the time of transmission.

Note 1:       Subsection 506(1) provides that this Act generally applies to a workplace determination as if it were a collective agreement.

Note 2:       Subsection 506(3) would otherwise prevent the transmitted workplace determination from being terminated under Subdivision B of Division 9 of Part 8 before it had passed its nominal expiry date.

Subdivision B—Commission’s powers

589  Application and terminology

             (1)  The Subdivision applies if:

                     (a)  a person is bound by a collective agreement; and

                     (b)  another person:

                              (i)  becomes at a later time; or

                             (ii)  is likely to become at a later time;

                            the successor, transmittee or assignee of the whole, or a part, of the business of the person referred to in paragraph (a).

             (2)  For the purposes of this Subdivision:

                     (a)  the outgoing employer is the person referred to in paragraph (1)(a); and

                     (b)  the incoming employer is the person first referred to in paragraph (1)(b); and

                     (c)  the business concerned is the business, or the part of the business, to which the incoming employer becomes, or is likely to become, the successor, transmittee or assignee; and

                     (d)  the transfer time is the time at which the incoming employer becomes, or is likely to become, the successor, transmittee or assignee of the business concerned.

590  Commission may make order

             (1)  The Commission may make an order that the incoming employer:

                     (a)  is not, or will not be, bound by the collective agreement; or

                     (b)  is, or will be, bound by the collective agreement, but only to the extent specified in the order.

The order must specify the day from which the order takes effect. That day must not be before the day on which the order is made or before the transfer time.

             (2)  Without limiting paragraph (1)(b), the Commission may make an order under that paragraph that the incoming employer is, or will be, bound by the collective agreement but only for the period specified in the order.

             (3)  To avoid doubt, the Commission cannot make an order under subsection (1) that would have the effect of extending the transmission period.

591  When application for order can be made

                   An application for an order under subsection 590(1) may be made before, at or after the transfer time.

592  Who may apply for order

             (1)  Before the transfer time, an application for an order under subsection 590(1) may be made only by the outgoing employer.

             (2)  At or after the transfer time, an application for an order under subsection 590(1) may be made only by:

                     (a)  the incoming employer; or

                     (b)  a transferring employee in relation to the collective agreement; or

                     (c)  an organisation of employees that is bound by the collective agreement; or

                     (d)  an organisation of employees that:

                              (i)  is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of a transferring employee; and

                             (ii)  has been requested by the transferring employee to apply for the order on the transferring employee’s behalf.

593  Applicant to give notice of application

                   The applicant for an order under subsection 590(1) must take reasonable steps to give written notice of the application to the persons who may make submissions in relation to the application (see section 594).

594  Submissions in relation to application

             (1)  Before deciding whether to make an order under subsection 590(1) in relation to the collective agreement, the Commission must give the following an opportunity to make submissions:

                     (a)  the applicant;

                     (b)  before the transfer time—the persons covered by subsection (2);

                     (c)  at and after the transfer time—the persons covered by subsection (3).

             (2)  For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), this subsection covers:

                     (a)  an employee of the outgoing employer:

                              (i)  who is bound by the collective agreement; and

                             (ii)  who is employed in the business concerned; and

                     (b)  the incoming employer; and

                     (c)  an organisation of employees that is bound by the collective agreement; and

                     (d)  an organisation of employees that:

                              (i)  is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of an employee referred to in paragraph (a); and

                             (ii)  has been requested by the employee to make submissions on the employee’s behalf in relation to the application for the order under subsection 590(1).

             (3)  For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), this subsection covers:

                     (a)  the incoming employer; and

                     (b)  a transferring employee in relation to the collective agreement; and

                     (c)  an organisation of employees that is bound by the collective agreement; and

                     (d)  an organisation of employees that:

                              (i)  is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of a transferring employee; and

                             (ii)  has been requested by the transferring employee to make submissions on the transferring employee’s behalf in relation to the application for the order under subsection 590(1).

 

Division 5—Transmission of award

595  Transmission of award

New employer bound by award

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  the old employer was, immediately before the time of transmission, bound by an award that regulated the employment of employees of the old employer; and

                     (b)  there is at least one transferring employee in relation to the award; and

                     (c)  but for this section, the new employer would not be bound by the award in relation to the transferring employees in relation to the award;

the new employer is bound by the award by force of this section.

Note 1:       Paragraph (c)—the award might already bind the new employer, for example, because the new employer happens to be a respondent to the award.

Note 2:       The new employer must notify transferring employees and lodge a copy of a notice with the Workplace Authority Director (see sections 602 and 603).

Note 3:       See also section 596 for the interaction between the award and other industrial instruments.

Period for which new employer remains bound

             (2)  The new employer remains bound by the award, by force of this section, until whichever of the following first occurs:

                     (a)  the award is revoked;

                     (b)  there cease to be any transferring employees in relation to the award;

                     (c)  the new employer ceases to be bound by the award in relation to all the transferring employees in relation to the award;

                     (d)  the transmission period ends.

Note:          Paragraph (c)—see subsection (3).

Period for which new employer remains bound in relation to particular transferring employee

             (3)  The new employer remains bound by the award in relation to a particular transferring employee, by force of this section, until whichever of the following first occurs:

                     (a)  the award ceases to be in operation in relation to the transferring employee’s employment with the new employer because the new employer makes an AWA with the transferring employee after the time of transmission (see subsection 597(2));

                     (b)  the award ceases to be in operation in relation to the transferring employee’s employment with the new employer because a collective agreement comes into operation, after the time of transmission, in relation to the transferring employee’s employment with the new employer (see subsection 597(3));

                     (c)  the employer ceases to be bound by the award under subsection (2).

New employer bound only in relation to employment of transferring employees

             (4)  The new employer is bound by the award, by force of this section, only in relation to the employment of employees who are transferring employees in relation to the award.

Commission order

             (5)  Subsections (1), (2) and (3) have effect subject to any order of the Commission.

             (6)  To avoid doubt, the Commission cannot make an order under subsection (5) that would have the effect of extending the transmission period.

Old employer’s rights and obligations that arose before time of transmission not affected

             (7)  This section does not affect the rights and obligations of the old employer that arose before the time of transmission.

596  Interaction rules

Transmitted award

             (1)  This section applies if subsection 595(1) applies to an award (the transmitted award).

Collective agreement

             (2)  Despite section 349 but subject to subsection (3), a collective agreement that is in operation at the time of transmission does not have effect in relation to an employee’s employment while the transmitted award operates, in accordance with subsection 595(1), in relation to that employment.

Note 1:       But for subsection (2), section 349 would have the effect that the transmitted award would not have effect in relation to the employee’s employment while a collective agreement operates in relation to that employment.

Note 2:       Section 597 modifies the operation of section 349 in relation to AWAs and collective agreements that come into operation after the time of transmission.

             (3)  Despite subsection 595(1), if the employee agrees that the collective agreement is to operate in relation to that employment:

                     (a)  the collective agreement comes into operation in relation to that employment; and

                     (b)  the transmitted award ceases to be in operation in relation to that employment in accordance with subsection 597(3).

597  Transmitted award ceasing in relation to transferring employee

Transmitted award

             (1)  This section applies if subsection 595(1) applies to an award (the transmitted award).

AWA

             (2)  Despite section 349, the transmitted award ceases to be in operation in relation to a transferring employee’s employment with the new employer if the new employer makes an AWA with the transferring employee after the time of transmission.

Note:          Section 349 provides that an award is normally only suspended while an AWA is in operation. The effect of subsection (2) of this section is to terminate the operation of the transmitted award in relation to the transferring employee when the AWA is made.

Collective agreement

             (3)  Despite section 349, the transmitted award ceases to be in operation in relation to a transferring employee’s employment with the new employer if a collective agreement comes into operation in relation to the transferring employee’s employment with the new employer after the time of transmission.

Note:          Section 349 provides that an award is normally only suspended while a collective agreement is in operation. The effect of subsection (3) of this section is to terminate the operation of the transmitted award in relation to the transferring employee when the collective agreement is made.

 

Division 6—Transmission of APCS

598  Transmission of APCS

New employer bound by APCS

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  immediately before the time of transmission, an employee’s employment with the old employer was covered by an APCS; and

                     (b)  the employee is a transferring employee in relation to the APCS; and

                     (c)  but for this section, the transferring employee’s employment with the new employer would not be covered by the APCS;

the transferring employee’s employment with the new employer is covered by the APCS by force of this section.

Employee ceasing to be transferring employee

             (2)  The transferring employee’s employment with the new employer ceases to be covered by the APCS, by force of this section, if the employee ceases to be a transferring employee in relation to the APCS.

Old employer’s rights and obligations that arose before time of transmission not affected

             (3)  This section does not affect the rights and obligations of the old employer that arose before the time of transmission.

 

Division 6A—Transmission of preserved redundancy provisions from workplace agreements

598A  Transmission of preserved redundancy provisions from workplace agreements

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  immediately before the time of transmission:

                              (i)  the old employer; and

                             (ii)  an employee;

                            were bound, under section 399A or because of a previous application of this section, by a redundancy provision that was previously included in a workplace agreement that was terminated; and

                     (b)  the employee is a transferring employee;

the new employer is bound by the redundancy provision in relation to the transferring employee by force of this section.

Note:          The new employer must notify the transferring employee and lodge a copy of the notice with the Workplace Authority Director (see sections 603A and 603B).

             (2)  Subject to subsection (3), the redundancy provision prevails over any other redundancy provision included in any other instrument that would otherwise have effect, to the extent of any inconsistency.

Period for which new employer remains bound

             (3)  The new employer remains bound by the redundancy provision in relation to the transferring employee, by force of this section, until the earliest of the following:

                     (a)  the end of the period of 24 months from the time that the workplace agreement referred to in paragraph (1)(a) ceased operating;

                     (b)  the time when the transferring employee ceases to be employed by the new employer;

                     (c)  the time when another workplace agreement comes into operation in relation to the new employer and the transferring employee.

Old employer’s rights and obligations that arose before time of transmission not affected

             (4)  This section does not affect the rights and obligations of the old employer that arose before the time of transmission.

Definitions

             (5)  In this section:

instrument means any of the following:

                     (a)  a workplace agreement;

                     (b)  a pre‑reform certified agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7);

                     (c)  a preserved State agreement;

                     (d)  a notional agreement preserving State awards;

                     (e)  an award.

redundancy provision means any of the following kinds of provisions:

                     (a)  a provision relating to redundancy pay in relation to a termination of employment;

                     (b)  a provision that is incidental to a provision relating to redundancy pay in relation to a termination of employment;

                     (c)  a machinery provision that is in respect of a provision relating to redundancy pay in relation to a termination of employment;

where the termination is at the initiative of the employer and on the grounds of operational requirements, or because the employer is insolvent.

 

Division 7—Entitlements under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard

599  Parental leave entitlements

             (1)  At the time of transmission:

                     (a)  the new employer becomes liable for a transferring employee’s entitlements (if any) in relation to parental leave that are:

                              (i)  entitlements under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard; and

                             (ii)  entitlements for which the old employer was liable immediately before the time of transmission; and

                     (b)  the old employer ceases to be liable for those entitlements.

             (2)  The following count as service with the new employer for the purpose of working out a transferring employee’s entitlement to parental leave under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard:

                     (a)  the transferring employee’s service with the old employer that counted for the purposes of working out the transferring employee’s entitlement to parental leave;

                     (b)  any service with a previous employer that the old employer recognised as service with the old employer for the purposes of working out the transferring employee’s entitlement to parental leave.

             (3)  If:

                     (a)  documentation for parental leave, required under Division 6 of Part 7, is given to the old employer by a transferring employee before the time of transmission; and

                     (b)  the leave applied for has not started before the time of transmission; and

                     (c)  the entitlement to that leave arises under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard; and

                     (d)  the old employer notifies the new employer of the documentation under subsection (4);

the documentation is treated as if it had been given to the new employer.

             (4)  The old employer must notify the new employer of:

                     (a)  any person who:

                              (i)  is, or who is likely to be, a transferring employee; and

                             (ii)  is on parental leave at the time of transmission on the basis of an entitlement under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard; and

                     (b)  documentation for parental leave that is given to the old employer before the time of transmission by a person who is, or is likely to be, a transferring employee if the documentation was given to the old employer on the basis of an entitlement under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard.

The notification must be given in writing within 14 days after the time of transmission.

Note:          This is a civil remedy provision, see section 605.

600  New employer assuming liability for particular entitlements

             (1)  This section applies if the new employer agrees, in writing, before the time of transmission:

                     (a)  to assume liability for; or

                     (b)  to recognise continuity of service in relation to;

a transferring employee’s entitlements in relation to a particular matter.

             (2)  At the time of transmission:

                     (a)  the new employer becomes liable for the transferring employee’s entitlements (if any):

                              (i)  that accrued under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard in relation to that matter before the time of transmission; and

                             (ii)  that are not entitlements in relation to parental leave; and

                            (iii)  for which the old employer was liable immediately before the time of transmission; and

                     (b)  the old employer ceases to be liable for those accrued entitlements.

             (3)  The following count as service with the new employer for the purpose of working out the transferring employee’s entitlements under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard in relation to that matter:

                     (a)  the transferring employee’s service with the old employer that counted for the purposes of working out the transferring employee’s entitlements in relation to that matter;

                     (b)  any service with a previous employer that the old employer recognised as service with the old employer for the purposes of working out the transferring employee’s entitlements in relation to that matter.

601  New employer assuming entitlements generally

             (1)  This section also applies if the new employer agrees in writing before the time of transmission:

                     (a)  to assume liability for a transferring employee’s entitlements generally; or

                     (b)  to recognise continuity of service in relation to a transferring employee generally.

             (2)  At the time of transmission:

                     (a)  the new employer becomes liable for the transferring employee’s entitlements (if any):

                              (i)  that accrued under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard before the time of transmission; and

                             (ii)  that are not entitlements in relation to parental leave; and

                            (iii)  for which the old employer was liable immediately before the time of transmission; and

                     (b)  the old employer ceases to be liable for those accrued entitlements.

             (3)  The following count as service with the new employer for the purpose of working out the transferring employee’s entitlements under the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard in relation to a particular matter:

                     (a)  the transferring employee’s service with the old employer that counted for the purposes of working out the transferring employee’s entitlements in relation to that matter;

                     (b)  any service with a previous employer that the old employer recognised as service with the old employer for the purposes of working out the transferring employee’s entitlements in relation to that matter.

 

Division 8—Notice requirements and enforcement

602  Informing transferring employees about transmission of instrument

             (1)  This section applies if:

                     (a)  an employer is bound by an instrument (the transmitted instrument) in relation to a transferring employee by force of:

                              (i)  section 583 (AWA); or

                             (ii)  section 585 (collective agreement); or

                            (iii)  section 595 (award); and

                     (b)  a person is a transferring employee in relation to the transmitted instrument.

The provision referred to in paragraph (a) is the transmission provision.

             (2)  Within 28 days after the transferring employee starts being employed by the employer, the employer must take reasonable steps to give the transferring employee a written notice that complies with subsection (3).

Note:          This is a civil remedy provision, see section 605.

             (3)  The notice must:

                     (a)  identify the transmitted instrument; and

                     (b)  state that the employer is bound by the transmitted instrument; and

                     (c)  specify the date on which the transmission period for the transmitted instrument ends; and

                     (d)  state that the employer will remain bound by the transmitted instrument until the end of the transmission period unless the transmitted instrument is terminated, or otherwise ceases to be in operation, before the end of that period; and

                     (e)  specify the kinds of instruments (if any) that can replace, or exclude the operation of, the transmitted instrument; and

                      (f)  identify:

                              (i)  any provisions of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard; or

                             (ii)  any other instrument;

                            that the employer intends to be the source for terms and conditions that will apply to the matters that are dealt with by the transmitted instrument when the transmitted instrument ceases to bind the employer; and

                     (g)  identify any collective agreement or award that binds:

                              (i)  the employer; and

                             (ii)  employees of the employer who are not transferring employees in relation to the transmitted instrument;

                            and that would bind the transferring employee but for the transmission provision.

             (4)  Subject to subsection (5), if the notice under subsection (3) identifies an instrument under paragraph (3)(g), the employer must give the transferring employee a copy of the instrument together with the notice.

Note:          This is a civil remedy provision, see section 605.

             (5)  Subsection (4) does not apply if:

                     (a)  the transferring employee is able to easily access a copy of the instrument in a particular way; and

                     (b)  the notice under subsection (3) tells the transferring employee that a copy of the instrument is accessible in that way.

Note:          Paragraph (a)—the copy may be available, for example, on the Internet.

             (6)  Subsection (2) does not apply if:

                     (a)  the transmitted instrument is an award and the new employer and the transferring employee become bound by an AWA or a collective agreement at the time of transmission or within 14 days after the time of transmission; or

                     (b)  the transmitted instrument is a workplace agreement and the new employer and the transferring employee become bound by an AWA within 14 days after the time of transmission.

603  Lodging copy of notice with Workplace Authority Director

Only one transferring employee

             (1)  If an employer:

                     (a)  gives a notice under subsection 602(2) to a transferring employee in relation to an AWA; or

                     (b)  gives a notice under subsection 602(2) to the only person who is a transferring employee in relation to a collective agreement or award;

the employer must lodge a copy of the notice with the Workplace Authority Director within 14 days after the notice is given to the transferring employee. The copy must be lodged in accordance with subsection (4).

Note 1:       This is a civil remedy provision, see section 605.

Note 2:       Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for providing false or misleading information or documents.

Multiple transferring employees and notices all given on the one day

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  an employer gives a number of notices under subsection 602(2) to people who are transferring employees in relation to a collective agreement or award; and

                     (b)  all of those notices are given on the one day;

the employer must lodge a copy of one of those notices with the Workplace Authority Director within 14 days after that notice is given. The copy must be lodged in accordance with subsection (4).

Note 1:       This is a civil remedy provision, see section 605.

Note 2:       Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for providing false or misleading information or documents.

Multiple transferring employees and notices given on different days

             (3)  If:

                     (a)  an employer gives a number of notices under subsection 602(2) to people who are transferring employees in relation to a collective agreement or award; and

                     (b)  the notices are given on different days;

the employer must lodge a copy of the notice, or one of the notices that was given on the earliest of those days, with the Workplace Authority Director within 14 days after that notice is given. The copy must be lodged in accordance with subsection (4).

Note 1:       This is a civil remedy provision, see section 605.

Note 2:       Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for providing false or misleading information or documents.

Lodgment with Workplace Authority Director

             (4)  A notice is lodged with the Workplace Authority Director in accordance with this subsection only if it is actually received by the Workplace Authority Director.

Note:          This means that section 29 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (to the extent that it deals with the time of service of documents) does not apply to lodgment of a notice.

603A  Informing transferring employees about transmission of preserved redundancy provisions

             (1)  This section applies if an employer is bound, by force of section 598A, by one or more redundancy provisions (within the meaning of that section) in relation to a transferring employee.

             (2)  Within 28 days after the transferring employee starts being employed by the employer, the employer must take reasonable steps to give the transferring employee a written notice that complies with subsection (3).

Note:          This is a civil remedy provision, see section 605.

             (3)  The notice must:

                     (a)  identify the redundancy provision or redundancy provisions; and

                     (b)  state that the employer is bound by the provision or provisions; and

                     (c)  specify the date that is 24 months after the time that the workplace agreement that included the provision or provisions ceased operating; and

                     (d)  state that the employer will remain bound by the provision or provisions until that date, or an earlier date in accordance with subsection 598A(3).

             (4)  Subsection (2) does not apply if a workplace agreement comes into operation in relation to the employer and the transferring employee within 14 days of the time of transmission.

603B  Lodging copy of notice about preserved redundancy provisions with Workplace Authority Director

             (1)  If an employer gives a notice under section 603A to a transferring employee, the employer must lodge a copy of the notice with the Workplace Authority Director within the period specified in subsection (2). The copy must be lodged in accordance with subsection (3).

Note 1:       This is a civil remedy provision, see section 605.

Note 2:       Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for providing false or misleading information or documents.

             (2)  The notice must be lodged within 14 days after the day specified in paragraph (a) or (b):

                     (a)  if the employer gives a notice to an employee in respect of a redundancy provision that was included in an AWA—the day on which that notice is given; or

                     (b)  if the employer gives one or more notices to one or more employees in respect of a redundancy provision that was included in a collective agreement—the earliest day on which a notice was given.

Lodgment with Workplace Authority Director

             (3)  A notice is lodged with the Workplace Authority Director in accordance with this subsection only if it is actually received by the Workplace Authority Director.

Note:          This means that section 29 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (to the extent that it deals with the time of service of documents) does not apply to lodgment of a notice.

604  Workplace Authority Director must issue receipt for lodgment

             (1)  If a notice is lodged under section 603 or 603B, the Workplace Authority Director must issue a receipt for the lodgment.

             (2)  The receipt must state that the notice was lodged under section 603 or 603B (as the case requires) on a particular day.

             (3)  The Workplace Authority Director must give a copy of the receipt to the person who lodged the notice under section 603 or 603B.

605  Civil penalties

             (1)  The following are civil remedy provisions for the purposes of this section:

                     (a)  subsection 599(4);

                     (b)  subsections 602(2) and (4);

                     (c)  subsections 603(1), (2) and (3);

                     (d)  subsection 603A(2);

                     (e)  subsection 603B(1).

Note:          Division 3 of Part 14 contains other provisions relevant to civil remedies.

             (2)  The Court may order a person who has contravened a civil remedy provision to pay a pecuniary penalty.

             (3)  The penalty cannot be more than 300 penalty units for a body corporate or 60 penalty units in other cases.

             (4)  An application for an order under subsection (2) in relation to subsection 599(4) (parental leave entitlements) may be made by:

                     (a)  a transferring employee mentioned in that subsection; or

                     (b)  an organisation of employees that is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of a transferring employee mentioned in that subsection and has been requested by the transferring employee to apply for the order on the transferring employee’s behalf; or

                     (c)  a workplace inspector; or

                     (d)  the new employer mentioned in that subsection.

             (5)  An application for an order under subsection (2) in relation to an instrument, or in relation to a preserved redundancy provision that was previously included in an instrument, listed in the following table may be made by a person specified in the item of the table relating to that kind of instrument:

 

Item	Instrument	People with standing to apply for order
1	AWA	(a) the transferring employee; or (b) an organisation of employees that is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of the transferring employee and has been requested by the transferring employee to apply for the order on the transferring employee’s behalf; or (c) a workplace inspector
2	collective agreement	(a) the transferring employee; or (b) an organisation of employees that is bound by the agreement or the redundancy provision; or (c) an organisation of employees that is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of a transferring employee and has been requested by the transferring employee to apply for the order on the transferring employee’s behalf; or (d) a workplace inspector
3	award	(a) a transferring employee; or (b) an organisation of employees that is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of a transferring employee; or (c) a workplace inspector

 

Division 9—Miscellaneous

606  Regulations

                   The regulations may make provision in relation to the effects that the succession, transmission or assignment of a business, or a part of a business, have on the obligations of employers and the terms and conditions of employees.

 

Part 12—Minimum entitlements of employees

Division 1—Entitlement to meal breaks

607  Meal breaks

                   An employer must not require an employee to work for more than 5 hours continuously without an unpaid interval of at least 30 minutes for a meal.

Note:          Compliance with this section is dealt with in Part 14.

608  Displacement of entitlement to meal breaks

                   Section 607 does not apply in relation to particular employment of an employee while any of the following operates in relation to the employee in relation to the employment:

                     (a)  an award;

                     (b)  a workplace agreement;

                     (c)  an industrial instrument prescribed by the regulations.

609  Model dispute resolution process

                   The model dispute resolution process applies to a dispute under this Division.

Note:          The model dispute resolution process is set out in Part 13.

610  Extraterritorial extension

             (1)  This Division, and the rest of this Act so far as it relates to this Division, extend:

                     (a)  to an employee outside Australia who meets any of the conditions in this section; and

                     (b)  to the employee’s employer (whether the employer is in or outside Australia); and

                     (c)  to acts, omissions, matters and things relating to the employee (whether they are in or outside Australia).

Note:          In this context, Australia includes the Territory of Christmas Island, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the coastal sea. See section 15B and paragraph 17(a) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

Employee in Australia’s exclusive economic zone

             (2)  One condition is that the employee is in Australia’s exclusive economic zone and either:

                     (a)  is an employee of an Australian employer and is not prescribed by the regulations as an employee to whom this subsection does not apply; or

                     (b)  is an employee prescribed by the regulations as an employee to whom this subsection applies.

Note:          The regulations may prescribe the employee by reference to a class. See subsection 13(3) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

On Australia’s continental shelf outside exclusive economic zone

             (3)  Another condition is that the employee:

                     (a)  is outside the outer limits of Australia’s exclusive economic zone, but is in, on or over a part of Australia’s continental shelf prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection, in connection with the exploration of the continental shelf or the exploitation of its natural resources; and

                     (b)  meets the requirements that are prescribed by the regulations for that part.

Note:          The regulations may prescribe different requirements relating to different parts of Australia’s continental shelf. The regulations may need to do so to give effect to Australia’s international obligations.

Outside Australia’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf

             (4)  Another condition is that the employee:

                     (a)  is neither in Australia’s exclusive economic zone nor in, on or over a part of Australia’s continental shelf described in paragraph (3)(a); and

                     (b)  is an Australian‑based employee of an Australian employer; and

                     (c)  is not prescribed by the regulations as an employee to whom this subsection does not apply.

Definition

             (5)  In this section:

this Act includes the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and regulations made under it.

 

Division 2—Entitlement to public holidays

611  Definition of public holiday

                   In this Division:

public holiday means:

                     (a)  each of these days:

                              (i)  1 January (New Year’s Day);

                             (ii)  26 January (Australia Day);

                            (iii)  Good Friday;

                            (iv)  Easter Monday;

                             (v)  25 April (Anzac Day);

                            (vi)  25 December (Christmas Day);

                           (vii)  26 December (Boxing Day); and

                    (aa)  a day that, under (or in accordance with a procedure under) a law of a State or Territory, is substituted for a day referred to in paragraph (a); and

                     (b)  any other day declared by or under a law of a State or Territory to be observed generally within the State or Territory, or a region of that State or Territory, as a public holiday by people who work in that State, Territory or region, other than:

                             (ii)  a union picnic day; or

                            (iii)  a day, or kind of day, that is excluded by regulations made for the purposes of this paragraph from counting as a public holiday.

612  Entitlement to public holidays

             (1)  An employee is entitled to a day off on a public holiday, subject to subsections (2) and (3).

             (2)  An employer may request an employee to work on a particular public holiday.

             (3)  The employee may refuse the request (and take the day off) if the employee has reasonable grounds for doing so.

             (4)  A term to the contrary in:

                     (a)  a workplace agreement; or

                     (b)  an award;

has no effect.

Note:          Compliance with this section is dealt with in Part 14.

613  Reasonableness of refusal

                   In determining whether an employee has reasonable grounds for refusing a request to work on a public holiday, regard must be had to:

                     (a)  the nature of the work performed by the employee; and

                     (b)  the type of employment (for example, whether full‑time, part‑time, casual or shift work); and

                     (c)  the nature of the employer’s workplace or enterprise (including its operational requirements); and

                     (d)  the employee’s reasons for refusing the request; and

                     (e)  the employee’s personal circumstances (including family responsibilities); and

                      (f)  whether the employee is entitled to additional remuneration or other benefits as a consequence of working on the public holiday; and

                     (g)  whether a workplace agreement, award, other industrial instrument, contract of employment or written guideline or policy that regulates the employee’s employment contemplates that the employer might require work on public holidays, or particular public holidays; and

                     (h)  whether the employee has acknowledged or could reasonably expect that the employer might require work on public holidays, or particular public holidays; and

                      (i)  the amount of notice in advance of the public holiday given by the employer when making the request; and

                      (j)  the amount of notice in advance of the public holiday given by the employee in refusing the request; and

                     (k)  whether an emergency or other unforeseen circumstances are involved; and

                      (l)  any other relevant factors.

614  Model dispute resolution process

                   The model dispute resolution process applies to a dispute under this Division.

Note:          The model dispute resolution process is set out in Part 13.

615  Employer not to prejudice employee for reasonable refusal

             (1)  An employer must not, for the reason, or for reasons including the reason, that an employee has refused on reasonable grounds to work on a particular public holiday, do or threaten to do any of the following:

                     (a)  dismiss an employee;

                     (b)  injure an employee in his or her employment;

                     (c)  alter the position of an employee to the employee’s prejudice.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

616  Penalties etc. for contravention of section 615

             (1)  The Court, or the Federal Magistrates Court, on application by an eligible person, may make one or more of the following orders in relation to an employer who has contravened section 615:

                     (a)  an order imposing a pecuniary penalty on the employer;

                     (b)  an order requiring the employer to pay a specified amount to the employee as compensation for damage suffered by the employee as a result of the contravention;

                     (c)  any other order that the court considers appropriate.

             (2)  The maximum pecuniary penalty under paragraph (1)(a) is 300 penalty units if the employer is a body corporate and otherwise 60 penalty units.

             (3)  The orders that may be made under paragraph (1)(c) include:

                     (a)  injunctions; and

                     (b)  any other orders that the court considers necessary to stop the conduct or remedy its effects.

             (4)  In this section:

eligible person means any of the following:

                     (a)  a workplace inspector;

                     (b)  an employee affected by the contravention;

                     (c)  an organisation of employees that:

                              (i)  has been requested in writing, by the employee concerned, to apply on the employee’s behalf; and

                             (ii)  has a member employed by the employee’s employer; and

                            (iii)  is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of the employee in relation to work carried on by the employee for the employer;

                     (d)  a person prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph.

             (5)  A regulation prescribing persons for the purposes of paragraph (d) of the definition of eligible person may provide that a person is prescribed only in relation to circumstances specified in the regulation.

617  Burden of proof in relation to reasonableness of refusal

                   In establishing, for the purposes of an application under section 616, whether an employee’s refusal to work on a particular public holiday was on reasonable grounds, the burden of proof lies on the applicant.

618  Proof not required of the reason for conduct

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  in an application under section 616 relating to a person’s conduct, it is alleged that the conduct was, or is being, carried out for a particular reason; and

                     (b)  for the person to carry out the conduct for that reason would constitute a contravention of section 615;

it is presumed, in proceedings under this Division arising from the application, that the conduct was, or is being, carried out for that reason, unless the person proves otherwise.

             (2)  This section does not apply in relation to the granting of an interim injunction.

Note:          See section 838 for interim injunctions.

619  Extraterritorial extension

             (1)  This Division, and the rest of this Act so far as it relates to this Division, extend:

                     (a)  to an employee outside Australia who meets any of the conditions in this section; and

                     (b)  to the employee’s employer (whether the employer is in or outside Australia); and

                     (c)  to acts, omissions, matters and things relating to the employee (whether they are in or outside Australia).

Note:          In this context, Australia includes the Territory of Christmas Island, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the coastal sea. See section 15B and paragraph 17(a) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

In Australia’s exclusive economic zone

             (2)  One condition is that the employee is in Australia’s exclusive economic zone and either:

                     (a)  is an employee of an Australian employer and is not prescribed by the regulations as an employee to whom this subsection does not apply; or

                     (b)  is an employee prescribed by the regulations as an employee to whom this subsection applies.

Note:          The regulations may prescribe the employee by reference to a class. See subsection 13(3) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

On Australia’s continental shelf outside exclusive economic zone

             (3)  Another condition is that the employee:

                     (a)  is outside the outer limits of Australia’s exclusive economic zone, but is in, on or over a part of Australia’s continental shelf that is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection, in connection with the exploration of the continental shelf or the exploitation of its natural resources; and

                     (b)  meets the requirements that are prescribed by the regulations for that part.

Note:          The regulations may prescribe different requirements relating to different parts of Australia’s continental shelf. The regulations may need to do so to give effect to Australia’s international obligations.

Definition

             (4)  In this section:

this Act includes the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and regulations made under it.

 

Division 3—Equal remuneration for work of equal value

620  Object

                   The object of this Division is to give effect, or further effect, to:

                     (a)  the Anti‑Discrimination Conventions; and

                     (b)  the Equal Remuneration Recommendation, 1951, which the General Conference of the International Labour Organisation adopted on 29 June 1951 and is also known as Recommendation No. 90; and

                     (c)  the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Recommendation, 1958, which the General Conference of the International Labour Organisation adopted on 25 June 1958 and is also known as Recommendation No. 111.

Note:          Employer, employee and employment have their ordinary meaning in this Division. See sections 5, 6 and 7 and Schedule 2.

621  Relationship of this Division to other laws providing alternative remedies

             (1)  The Commission must not deal with an application under this Division if the Commission is satisfied that there is available to the applicant, or to the employees whom the applicant represents, an adequate alternative remedy that:

                     (a)  exists under a law of the Commonwealth (other than this Division) or under a law of a State or Territory; and

                     (b)  will ensure, for the employees concerned, equal remuneration for work of equal value.

             (2)  The Commission must not deal with an application under this Division for an order to secure equal remuneration for work of equal value for an employee if proceedings for an alternative remedy:

                     (a)  to secure such remuneration for the employee; or

                     (b)  against unequal remuneration for work of equal value for the employee;

have begun:

                     (c)  under another provision of this Act; or

                     (d)  under another law of the Commonwealth; or

                     (e)  under a law of a State or Territory.

             (3)  Subsection (2) does not prevent the Commission from dealing with an application under this Division if the proceedings for the alternative remedy:

                     (a)  have been discontinued by the party who initiated the proceedings; or

                     (b)  have failed for want of jurisdiction.

             (4)  If an application has been made for an order under this Division to secure equal remuneration for work of equal value for an employee, a person is not entitled to take proceedings for an alternative remedy under a provision or law of a kind referred to in subsection (2):

                     (a)  to secure such remuneration for the employee; or

                     (b)  against unequal remuneration for work of equal value for the employee.

             (5)  Subsection (4) does not prevent the taking of proceedings for an alternative remedy if the proceedings under this Division:

                     (a)  have been discontinued by the party who initiated the proceedings; or

                     (b)  have failed for want of jurisdiction.

             (6)  A remedy under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory relating to discrimination in relation to employment, that consists solely of compensation for past actions, is not an alternative remedy, or an adequate alternative remedy, for the purposes of this section.

622  Relationship of this Division to AFPC decisions and the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard

             (1)  The Commission is to have regard to decisions of the AFPC in making orders under this Division.

             (2)  The Commission must not deal with an application for an order under this Division, to the extent to which the application is for an order relating to a basic periodic rate of pay, a basic piece rate of pay or casual loading, if:

                     (a)  the group of employees who would be covered by the order applied for; and

                     (b)  the comparator group of employees;

are both entitled to a rate of pay that is equal to the applicable guaranteed rate of pay under the provisions of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard contained in Division 2 of Part 7.

             (3)  To avoid doubt, subsection (2) does not apply if employees in one or both of the groups are entitled to a rate of pay higher than the applicable guaranteed rate.

             (4)  The Commission must not deal with an application for an order under this Division, to the extent to which the application is for an order relating to a basic periodic rate of pay, a basic piece rate of pay or casual loading, if:

                     (a)  the group of employees who would be covered by the order applied for is entitled to a rate of pay that is higher than the rate of pay the group would be entitled to under the provisions of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard contained in Division 2 of Part 7; and

                     (b)  the comparator group of employees is entitled to a rate of pay that is equal to the applicable guaranteed rate of pay under the provisions of the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard contained in Division 2 of Part 7.

             (5)  To avoid doubt, subsection (4) does not apply if the comparator group of employees is entitled to a rate of pay higher than the applicable guaranteed rate.

             (6)  To avoid doubt, subsections (2) and (4) apply regardless of the source of the employee’s entitlement to be paid the rate of pay.

             (7)  In this section:

basic periodic rate of pay has the same meaning as in Division 2 of Part 7.

basic piece rate of pay has the same meaning as in Division 2 of Part 7.

casual loading has the same meaning as in Division 2 of Part 7.

comparator group of employees means employees whom the applicant contends are performing work of equal value to the work performed by the employees to whom the application relates.

623  Equal remuneration for work of equal value

             (1)  A reference in this Division to equal remuneration for work of equal value is a reference to equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value.

             (2)  An expression has in subsection (1) the same meaning as in the Equal Remuneration Convention.

Note:   Article 1 of the Convention provides that the term “equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value” refers to rates of remuneration established without discrimination based on sex.

624  Orders requiring equal remuneration

             (1)  Subject to this Division, the Commission may make such orders as it considers appropriate to ensure that, for employees covered by the orders, there will be equal remuneration for work of equal value.

             (2)  Without limiting subsection (1), an order under this Division may provide for such increases in rates (other than those set by the AFPC) of remuneration (within the meaning of the Equal Remuneration Convention) as the Commission considers appropriate to ensure that, for employees covered by the order, there will be equal remuneration for work of equal value.

             (3)  However, the Commission may make an order under this Division only if:

                     (a)  the Commission is satisfied that, for the employees to be covered by the order, there is not equal remuneration for work of equal value; and

                     (b)  the order can reasonably be regarded as appropriate and adapted to giving effect to one or more of the following:

                              (i)  the Anti‑Discrimination Conventions;

                             (ii)  the provisions of Recommendations referred to in paragraphs 620(b) and (c).

625  Orders only on application

                   The Commission must only make such an order if it has received an application for the making of an order under this Division from:

                     (a)  an employee, or a trade union whose rules entitle it to represent the industrial interests of employees, to be covered by the order; or

                     (b)  the Sex Discrimination Commissioner.

626  Conciliation or mediation

             (1)  If an application is made for an order under this Division, the Commission must, before starting to hear and determine the matter to which the application relates:

                     (a)  attempt to settle the matter by conciliation; or

                     (b)  at the request or with the consent of both the applicant and any employer of employees who, if the order applied for were made, would be covered by it—refer the matter for mediation by an independent person specified in the request or consent.

             (2)  The Commission may order:

                     (a)  the applicant, or a representative of the applicant; and

                     (b)  each employer of employees who, if the order applied for were made, would be covered by it, or a representative of those employers;

to attend the conciliation or mediation.

             (3)  The Commission may order that the employees who, if the order applied for were made, would be covered by it, or a representative of those employees, be allowed to attend the conciliation or mediation.

             (4)  The Commission may order that:

                     (a)  the applicant; or

                     (b)  each employer of employees who, if the order applied for were made, would be covered by it;

inform the employees concerned of:

                     (c)  the making of the application for an order under this Division; and

                     (d)  the details of the application and the order applied for; and

                     (e)  the time and place at which conciliation or mediation will take place.

627  If conciliation or mediation is unsuccessful

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  the Commission forms the view that all reasonable attempts to settle the matter, or part of the matter, to which the application relates by conciliation have been unsuccessful; or

                     (b)  if the Commission referred the matter to an independent person for mediation—the independent person informs the Commission that all reasonable attempts to settle the matter, or part of the matter, by mediation have been unsuccessful;

the Commission must advise accordingly the applicant and each employer of employees who, if the order applied for were made, would be covered by it.

             (2)  The Commission may order that:

                     (a)  the applicant; or

                     (b)  each employer of employees who, if the order applied for were made, would be covered by it;

inform the employees concerned of the Commission’s advice under subsection (1).

             (3)  If the Commission advises persons under subsection (1), the Commission is to proceed to hear and determine the matter, or part, that was not settled.

628  Hearing of matter by member who conducted conciliation

             (1)  If a member of the Commission has exercised conciliation powers under section 626 in relation to a matter, the member must not hear or determine, or take part in the hearing or determination of, the matter if a person who was present at the conciliation objects.

             (2)  The member is not taken to have exercised conciliation powers in relation to the matter merely because:

                     (a)  the member arranged for a conference of the parties or their representatives to be presided over by the member, but the conference did not take place or was not presided over by the member; or

                     (b)  the member arranged for the parties or their representatives to confer among themselves at a conference at which the member was not present.

629  Immediate or progressive introduction of equal remuneration

                   The order may implement equal remuneration for work of equal value when the order takes effect. However, if it is not deemed feasible to implement it immediately, the order may implement it in stages (as provided in the order).

630  Employer not to reduce remuneration

             (1)  An employer must not reduce an employee’s remuneration (within the meaning of the Equal Remuneration Convention) for the reason, or for reasons including the reason, that an application or order has been made under this Division.

             (2)  If subsection (1) is contravened, the purported reduction is of no effect.

631  Employer not to prejudice employee

             (1)  An employer must not, for the reason, or for reasons including the reason, that an application or order has been made under this Division, do or threaten to do any of the following:

                     (a)  dismiss an employee;

                     (b)  injure an employee in his or her employment;

                     (c)  alter the position of an employee to the employee’s prejudice.

             (2)  Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.

632  Penalties etc. for contravention of section 631

             (1)  The Court, or the Federal Magistrates Court, on application by an eligible person, may make one or more of the following orders in relation to a person (the defendant) who has contravened section 631:

                     (a)  an order imposing a pecuniary penalty on the defendant;

                     (b)  an order requiring the defendant to pay a specified amount to another person as compensation for damage suffered by the other person as a result of the contravention;

                     (c)  any other order that the court considers appropriate.

             (2)  The maximum pecuniary penalty under paragraph (1)(a) is 300 penalty units if the defendant is a body corporate and otherwise 60 penalty units.

             (3)  The orders that may be made under paragraph (1)(c) include:

                     (a)  injunctions; and

                     (b)  any other orders that the court considers necessary to stop the conduct or remedy its effects.

             (4)  In this section:

eligible person means any of the following:

                     (a)  a workplace inspector;

                     (b)  a person affected by the contravention;

                     (c)  an organisation of employees that:

                              (i)  has been requested in writing, by the employee concerned, to apply on the employee’s behalf; and

                             (ii)  has a member employed by the employee’s employer; and

                            (iii)  is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of the employee in relation to work carried on by the employee for the employer;

                     (d)  the Sex Discrimination Commissioner;

                     (e)  a person prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph.

             (5)  A regulation prescribing persons for the purposes of paragraph (e) of the definition of eligible person may provide that a person is prescribed only in relation to circumstances specified in the regulation.

633  Proof not required of the reason for conduct

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  in an application under section 632 relating to a person’s conduct, it is alleged that the conduct was, or is being, carried out for a particular reason; and

                     (b)  for the person to carry out the conduct for that reason would constitute a contravention of section 631;

it is presumed, in proceedings under this Division arising from the application, that the conduct was, or is being, carried out for that reason, unless the person proves otherwise.

             (2)  This section does not apply in relation to the granting of an interim injunction.

Note:          See section 838 for interim injunctions.

634  Extraterritorial extension

             (1)  This Division, and the rest of this Act so far as it relates to this Division, extends to an employee whose remuneration is determined by or under this Act, a law of a State or Territory or a contract of employment made in Australia, even though one or both of the following apply:

                     (a)  the employee is employed wholly or partly in work outside Australia;

                     (b)  the employee’s employer operates, exists, is incorporated, or is otherwise established, outside Australia.

Note:          In this context, Australia includes the Territory of Christmas Island, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the coastal sea. See section 15B and paragraph 17(a) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

             (2)  In this section:

this Act includes the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and regulations made under it.

 

Division 4—Termination of employment

Subdivision A—Object, application and definitions

635  Object

             (1)  The principal object of this Division is:

                     (a)  to establish procedures for conciliation in relation to certain matters relating to the termination or proposed termination of an employee’s employment in certain circumstances; and

                     (b)  to provide, if the conciliation process is unsuccessful, for recourse to arbitration or to a court depending on the grounds on which the conciliation was sought; and

                     (c)  to provide for remedies appropriate to a case where, on arbitration, a termination is found to be harsh, unjust or unreasonable; and

                     (d)  to provide for sanctions where, on recourse to a court, a termination or proposed termination is found to be unlawful; and

                     (e)  by those procedures, remedies and sanctions, and by orders made in the circumstances set out in Subdivision D, to assist in giving effect to the Termination of Employment Convention.

             (2)  The procedures and remedies referred to in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b), and the manner of deciding on and working out such remedies, are intended to ensure that, in the consideration of an application in respect of a termination of employment, a “fair go all round” is accorded to both the employer and employee concerned.

Note:          The expression “fair go all round” was used by Sheldon J in in re Loty and Holloway v Australian Workers’ Union [1971] AR (NSW) 95.

636  Meaning of employee, employer and employment

                   In this Division, unless the contrary intention appears:

employee means:

                     (a)  to the extent that a provision applies to, or in relation to, the termination of employment of an employee within the meaning of subsection 5(1)—an employee within the meaning of that subsection; or

                     (b)  otherwise—an employee within the ordinary meaning of the expression.

employer means:

                     (a)  to the extent that a provision applies to, or in relation to, the termination of employment of an employee within the meaning of subsection 5(1)—an employer within the meaning of subsection 6(1); or

                     (b)  otherwise—an employer within the ordinary meaning of the expression.

employment means:

                     (a)  to the extent that a provision applies to, or in relation to, the termination of employment of an employee within the meaning of subsection 5(1)—employment within the meaning of subsection 7(1); or

                     (b)  otherwise—the employment of an employee (within the ordinary meaning of the expression) by an employer (within the ordinary meaning of the expression).

637  Application

             (1)  Subdivision B applies, in so far as it relates to an application to the Commission for relief in relation to the termination of employment of an employee on the ground that that termination was harsh, unjust or unreasonable, if the employee concerned was, before the termination, an employee within the meaning of subsection 5(1).

             (2)  Subdivision B applies, in so far as it relates to an application to the Commission for relief in relation to the termination of employment of an employee on the ground of a contravention of all or any of sections 659, 660 and 661, if the employee concerned is an employee in relation to whose termination of employment Subdivision C applies in accordance with this section.

             (3)  Subdivisions C and D apply in relation to the termination of employment of an employee.

             (4)  Without prejudice to their effect apart from this subsection, Subdivisions C and D also apply in relation to the termination of employment of an employee within the meaning of subsection 5(1).

             (5)  Without prejudice to their effect apart from this subsection, Subdivisions C and D also apply in relation to the termination of employment of an employee for the purpose of assisting in giving effect to the Termination of Employment Convention.

             (6)  Without prejudice to its effect apart from this subsection, section 659 also applies in relation to the termination of employment of an employee for the purpose of giving effect to the conventions and recommendation referred to in that section.

638  Exclusions

Exclusions from Subdivisions B, D and E and sections 660 and 661

             (1)  The following kinds of employee are excluded from the operation of Subdivisions B, D and E and sections 660 and 661:

                     (a)  an employee engaged under a contract of employment for a specified period of time;

                     (b)  an employee engaged under a contract of employment for a specified task;

                     (c)  an employee serving a period of probation, if the duration of the period or the maximum duration of the period, as the case may be, is determined in advance and, either:

                              (i)  the period, or the maximum duration, is 3 months or less; or

                             (ii)  the period, or the maximum duration:

                                        (A)  is more than 3 months; and

                                        (B)  is reasonable, having regard to the nature and circumstances of the employment;

                     (d)  a casual employee engaged for a short period, within the meaning of subsection (4);

                     (e)  a trainee whose employment under a traineeship agreement or an approved traineeship:

                              (i)  is for a specified period; or

                             (ii)  is, for any other reason, limited to the duration of the agreement;

                      (f)  an employee:

                              (i)  who is not employed under award‑derived conditions (see subsection 642(6)); and

                             (ii)  to whom subsection (6) or (7) applies;

                     (g)  an employee engaged on a seasonal basis, within the meaning of subsection (8).

Note 1:       The expression employee engaged under a contract of employment for a specified period of time (used in paragraph (a)) has been addressed in a number of cases before the Industrial Relations Court of Australia, including, in particular, Cooper v Darwin Rugby League Inc (1994) 57 IR 238, Andersen v Umbakumba Community Council (1994) 126 ALR 121, D’Lima v Board of Management, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (1995‑1996) 64 IR 19 and Fisher v Edith Cowan University (unreported judgment of Madgwick J, 12 November 1996, No. WI 1061 of 1996).

Note 2:       An employee who is excluded from the provisions of the Act specified in this subsection may still be eligible to apply for a remedy in relation to the termination of employment under a provision of a State law that is not excluded under section 16.

Note 3:       The definitions in section 642 apply for the purposes of this section.

             (2)  Despite the exclusion of an employee from the operation of Subdivisions B and E because of subsection (1):

                     (a)  the employee may make an application under section 643 for relief in respect of the termination of his or her employment on the ground of an alleged contravention of section 659; and

                     (b)  if the employee does so, those Subdivisions have effect, in so far as they relate to that application, as if the employee had not been excluded from their operation.

             (3)  Subsection (1) does not apply to an employee engaged under a contract of a kind mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) if a substantial purpose of the engagement of the employee under a contract of that kind is, or was at the time of the employee’s engagement, to avoid the employer’s obligations under Subdivision B or D or section 660 or 661.

             (4)  For the purpose of paragraph (1)(d), a casual employee is taken to be engaged for a short period unless:

                     (a)  subject to subsection (5)—the employee is engaged by a particular employer on a regular and systematic basis for a sequence of periods of employment during a period of at least 12 months; and

                     (b)  the employee has, or but for a decision by the employer to terminate the employee’s employment, would have had, a reasonable expectation of continuing employment by the employer.

             (5)  If:

                     (a)  a casual employee was engaged by a particular employer on a regular and systematic basis for a sequence of periods during a period (the first period of employment) of less than 12 months; and

                     (b)  at the end of the first period of employment, the casual employee ceased, on the employer’s initiative, to be so engaged by the employer; and

                     (c)  the employer subsequently again engages the employee on a regular and systematic basis for a further sequence of periods during a period (the second period of employment) that starts not more than 3 months after the end of the first period of employment; and

                     (d)  the total length of the first period of employment and the second period of employment is at least 12 months;

paragraph (4)(a) is taken to be satisfied in relation to the employment of the employee.

             (6)  For the purposes of subparagraph (1)(f)(ii), this subsection applies to an employee if:

                     (a)  the employee’s remuneration immediately before the termination of employment was not wholly or partly determined on the basis of commission or piece rates; and

                     (b)  the rate of remuneration applicable to the employee immediately before the termination exceeds a rate specified, or worked out in a manner specified, in the regulations (the specified rate).

             (7)  For the purposes of subparagraph (1)(f)(ii), this subsection applies to an employee if:

                     (a)  the employee’s remuneration immediately before the termination of employment was wholly or partly determined on the basis of commission or piece rates; and

                     (b)  in accordance with the regulations, the rate of remuneration that is taken to be applicable to the employee immediately before the termination exceeds the specified rate.

             (8)  For the purposes of paragraph (1)(g), an employee is engaged on a seasonal basis if the employee is engaged to perform work for the duration of a specified season.

             (9)  For the purposes of subsection (8), a season is a period that:

                     (a)  is determined at the commencement of the employee’s engagement (the commencement time); and

                     (b)  begins at the commencement time; and

                     (c)  ends at a time in the future that:

                              (i)  is uncertain at the commencement time; and

                             (ii)  is related to the nature of the work to be performed by the employee; and

                            (iii)  is objectively ascertainable when it occurs.

Note:          Examples of seasons are:

(a)           the part of a year characterised by particular conditions of weather or temperature;

(b)           the part of a year when a product is best or available;

(c)           the part of a year marked by certain conditions, festivities or other activities.

           (10)  The regulations may provide that a particular period is, or is not, a season for the purposes of subsection (8).

Exclusions from sections 660 and 661 and Subdivision D

           (11)  The following kinds of employee are excluded from the operation of sections 660 and 661 and Subdivision D:

                     (a)  a casual employee, except a casual employee engaged for a short period within the meaning of subsection (4);

                     (b)  a daily hire employee:

                              (i)  who is performing work in the building and construction industry (including work in, or in connection with, the erection, repair, renovation, maintenance, ornamentation or demolition of buildings or structures); or

                             (ii)  who is performing work in the meat industry in, or in connection with, the slaughter of livestock;

                     (c)  a weekly hire employee who is performing work in, or in connection with, the meat industry and whose termination of employment is determined solely by seasonal factors.

Note 1:       An employee who is excluded from the provisions of the Act specified in this subsection may still be eligible to apply for a remedy in relation to the termination of employment under a provision of a State law that is not excluded under section 16.

Note 2:       The definitions in section 642 apply for the purposes of this section.

Relationship between subsections (1) and (11)

           (12)  If, but for this subsection, an employee would be covered by both subsections (1) and (11), the employee is taken only to be covered by subsection (1) (and so is subject to the broader range of exclusions provided for by that subsection).

639  Regulations may provide for additional exclusions

                   The regulations may exclude from the operation of specified provisions of this Division specified classes of employees included in any of the following classes:

                     (a)  employees whose terms and conditions of employment are governed by special arrangements providing particular protection in respect of termination of employment either generally or in particular circumstances;

                     (b)  employees in relation to whom the operation of the provisions causes or would cause substantial problems because of:

                              (i)  their particular conditions of employment; or

                             (ii)  the size or nature of the undertakings in which they are employed.

640  People’s rights, liabilities and obligations the same as if certain provisions of the regulations had been valid

             (1)  In this section:

invalid provisions means paragraph 30B(1)(d), and subregulation 30B(3), of the Workplace Relations Regulations as purportedly amended by the relevant amending regulations.

relevant amending regulations means the Workplace Relations Regulations (Amendment), Statutory Rules 1996 No. 307.

             (2)  Subject to subsection (3), the rights and liabilities of all persons are, by force of this section, declared to be, and always to have been, the same as if:

                     (a)  section 170CC of this Act, as in force during the period (the validation period):

                              (i)  starting immediately before the time when the relevant amending regulations purported to commence; and

                             (ii)  ending on the commencement of this section;

                            had authorised the making of regulations containing the invalid provisions (in addition to what that section actually authorised to be dealt with in regulations); and

                     (b)  a regulation in the same terms as regulation 30B of the Workplace Relations Regulations, as purportedly amended by the relevant amending regulations:

                              (i)  had been made, and had commenced, immediately after the start of the validation period for the purposes of section 170CC as having effect as mentioned in paragraph (a); and

                             (ii)  had been amended by regulations in the same terms as, and commencing at the same time as, the provisions of the Workplace Relations Regulations (Amendment), Statutory Rules 1997 No. 101, that purported to amend regulation 30B; and

                            (iii)  had not subsequently been amended during the validation period.

             (3)  This section does not affect rights or liabilities arising between parties to proceedings heard and finally determined by the Commission or a court at or before the commencement of this section, to the extent that those rights or liabilities arose from, or were affected by, the invalidity of the invalid provisions.

641  Extraterritorial extension

             (1)  This Division, and the rest of this Act so far as it relates to this Division, extend to the termination, or proposed termination, of the employment of an Australian‑based employee even though one or both of the following apply:

                     (a)  the employee was employed outside Australia at the time of the termination, the proposed time of termination or the time of the making of the proposal to terminate;

                     (b)  the act causing termination, or the proposal to terminate, occurred outside Australia.

Note:          In this context, Australia includes the Territory of Christmas Island, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and the coastal sea. See section 15B and paragraph 17(a) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

             (2)  However, subsection (1) does not apply in relation to the employee if either:

                     (a)  all the following conditions are met at the time of the termination, the proposed time of termination or the time of the making of the proposal to terminate:

                              (i)  the employee’s employer is not an Australian employer;

                             (ii)  the employee’s primary place of work is in Australia’s exclusive economic zone or Australia’s continental shelf;

                            (iii)  the employee is not prescribed by the regulations as an employee in relation to whom subsection (1) applies despite this subsection; or

                     (b)  the employee is prescribed by the regulations as an employee in relation to whom subsection (1) does not apply.

             (3)  In this section:

Australian‑based employee means a person who would be an Australian‑based employee (as defined in subsection 4(1)) if the definition of employee in section 636 applied to the definition of Australian‑based employee in that subsection.

Australian employer means a person who would be an Australian employer (as defined in subsection 4(1)) if the definition of employer in section 636 applied to the definition of Australian employer in that subsection.

this Act includes the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule and regulations made under it.

642  Definitions

             (1)  In this Division:

Court means the Federal Court of Australia or the Federal Magistrates Court.

daily hire employee means an employee:

                     (a)  whose employment:

                              (i)  is regulated by an award or a workplace agreement; and

                             (ii)  under the award or workplace agreement is, or is normally, apart from the application to the employee of this Division:

                                        (A)  terminated at the end of each day or shift; or

                                        (B)  able to be terminated by the employer giving to the employee not more than 1 day’s notice; and

                     (b)  who is working in an industry or occupation which, on 16 November 1994, was subject to an award, State award, State employment agreement or old IR agreement which provided for the termination of an employee’s employment in the circumstances referred to in sub-subparagraph (a)(ii)(A) or (B).

relevant training award, in relation to an agreement, means:

                     (a)  if the agreement commenced before the commencement of this definition—the award known as the National Training Wage Interim Award 1994, as in force on 16 November 1994; or

                     (b)  if the agreement commences on or after the commencement of this definition—whichever of the following is in force when the agreement commences:

                              (i)  the award known as the National Training Wage Award 2000; or

                             (ii)  a later award that covers substantially the same subject matter as is covered by the award referred to in subparagraph (i).

termination or termination of employment means termination of employment at the initiative of the employer.

Territory employee means any person employed in a Territory other than Norfolk Island.

trainee means an employee (other than an apprentice) who is bound by a traineeship agreement.

traineeship agreement means an agreement between an employer and an employee:

                     (a)  that is consistent with the relevant training award; and

                     (b)  that is registered:

                              (i)  with the relevant State or Territory training authority; or

                             (ii)  under a law of a State or Territory relating to the training of employees.

             (2)  For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of daily hire employee in subsection (1), award, old IR agreement, State award and State employment agreement have the meanings given by subsection 4(1) of this Act as in force immediately before the reform commencement.

             (3)  For the purposes of this Division, termination or termination of employment does not include demotion in employment if:

                     (a)  the demotion does not involve a significant reduction in the remuneration or duties of the demoted employee; and

                     (b)  the demoted employee remains employed with the employer who effected the demotion.

             (4)  For the purposes of this Division, the resignation of an employee is taken to constitute the termination of the employment of that employee at the initiative of the employer if the employee can prove, on the balance of probabilities, that the employee did not resign voluntarily but was forced to do so because of conduct, or a course of conduct, engaged in by the employer.

             (5)  An expression used in this Subdivision or Subdivision C or D has the same meaning as in the Termination of Employment Convention.

             (6)  For the purposes of this Division, an employee is taken to be employed under award‑derived conditions if the employer is bound:

                     (a)  in relation to the employee’s wages and conditions of employment—by an award or a workplace agreement; or

                     (b)  in relation to:

                              (i)  the employee’s wages—by an APCS; and

                             (ii)  in relation to the employee’s conditions of employment—by an award or a workplace agreement.

Subdivision B—Application to Commission for relief in respect of termination of employment

643  Application to Commission to deal with termination under this Subdivision

             (1)  Subject to subsections (5), (6), (8) and (10), an employee whose employment has been terminated by the employer may apply to the Commission for relief in respect of the termination of that employment:

                     (a)  on the ground that the termination was harsh, unjust or unreasonable; or

                     (b)  on the ground of an alleged contravention of section 659, 660 or 661; or

                     (c)  on any combination of grounds in paragraph (b) or on a ground or grounds in paragraph (b) and the ground in paragraph (a).

             (2)  Subject to subsection (13), an employee whose employment is proposed to be terminated by the employer may apply to the Commission for relief on the ground of an alleged contravention of section 660.

             (3)  Subject to subsection (13), if:

                     (a)  an employee’s employment has been terminated by the employer; and

                     (b)  a trade union’s rules entitle it to represent the industrial interests of the employee;

the union may, on behalf of the employee, apply to the Commission for relief on the ground or grounds of an alleged contravention of one or more of sections 659 and 661.

             (4)  Subject to subsection (13), if an employee’s employment has been terminated, or is proposed to be terminated, by the employer:

                     (a)  an inspector; or

                     (b)  a trade union:

                              (i)  whose members include the employee; and

                             (ii)  whose rules entitle it to represent the industrial interests of the employee; or

                     (c)  an officer or employee of such a union—if the union’s rules authorise the officer or employee to act on the union’s behalf;

may apply to the Commission for relief on the ground of an alleged contravention of section 660.

             (5)  An application under subsection (1) may not be made:

                     (a)  on the ground referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or on grounds that include that ground—unless, under subsection 637(1), Subdivision B applies to that application; or

                     (b)  on a ground referred to in paragraph (1)(b)—unless Subdivision C applies to that application.

             (6)  An application under subsection (1) must not be made on the ground referred to in paragraph (1)(a), or on grounds that include that ground, unless the employee concerned had completed the qualifying period of employment with the employer at the earlier of the following times:

                     (a)  the time when the employer gave the employee the notice of termination;

                     (b)  the time when the employer terminated the employee’s employment.

             (7)  For the purposes of subsection (6), the qualifying period of employment is:

                     (a)  6 months; or

                     (b)  a shorter period, or no period, determined by written agreement between the employee and employer before the commencement of the employment; or

                     (c)  a longer period determined by written agreement between the employee and employer before the commencement of the employment, being a reasonable period having regard to the nature and circumstances of the employment.

             (8)  An application under subsection (1) must not be made on the ground referred to in paragraph (1)(a), or on grounds that include that ground, if the employee’s employment was terminated for genuine operational reasons or for reasons that include genuine operational reasons.

             (9)  For the purposes of subsection (8), operational reasons are reasons of an economic, technological, structural or similar nature relating to the employer’s undertaking, establishment, service or business, or to a part of the employer’s undertaking, establishment, service or business.

           (10)  An application under subsection (1) must not be made on the ground referred to in paragraph (1)(a), or on grounds that include that ground, if, at the relevant time, the employer employed 100 employees or fewer, including:

                     (a)  the employee whose employment was terminated; and

                     (b)  any casual employee who had been engaged by the employer on a regular and systematic basis for at least 12 months;

but not including any other casual employee.

           (11)  For the purposes of calculating the number of employees employed by an employer as mentioned in subsection (10), related bodies corporate (within the meaning of section 50 of the Corporations Act 2001) are taken to be one entity.

           (12)  For the purposes of subsection (10):

                     (a)  the relevant time is the time when the employer gave the employee the notice of termination, or the time when the employer terminated the employee’s employment, whichever happened first; and

                     (b)  for the purposes of calculating the number of employees employed by the employer, employee has the same meaning as in paragraph (b) of the definition of that term in section 636.

           (13)  An application under subsection (2), (3) or (4) may not be made on a ground referred to in that subsection unless Subdivision C applies to that application.

           (14)  An application under subsection (1) or (3) must be lodged within 21 days after the day on which the termination took effect, or within such period as the Commission allows on an application made during or after those 21 days.

           (15)  An application under subsection (2) or (4) must be lodged within 21 days after the employee is given notice of the decision to terminate the employee’s employment, or within such period as the Commission allows on an application made during or after those 21 days.

Note:          In Brodie‑Hanns v MTV Publishing Ltd (1995) 67 IR 298 the Industrial Relations Court of Australia set down principles relating to the exercise of its discretion under a similarly worded provision of the Industrial Relations Act 1988.

           (16)  An application under subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) may be discontinued by the applicant in accordance with rules made under section 124. The applicant may do so whether or not the employer and the employee have agreed to settle the matter.

644  Fees for lodging applications under section 643

Applications in respect of which a fee is payable

             (1)  A fee is payable for the lodging of an application under subsection 643(1), (2), (3) or (4).

Note:          This has effect subject to subsection (7) (which deals with hardship).

Amount of fee if application is lodged in first financial year

             (2)  If the application is lodged at a time that is:

                     (a)  after the commencement of this section; and

                     (b)  in the first financial year that ends after that commencement;

the amount of the fee is $50.

Amount of fee if application is lodged in later financial year

             (3)  If the application is lodged in a later financial year (the year of lodgment), the amount of the fee is to be worked out by:

                     (a)  taking the amount of the fee for an application lodged in the previous financial year; and

                     (b)  multiplying that amount by the indexation factor for the year of lodgment (see subsection (4)); and

                     (c)  rounding the result to the nearest multiple of 10 cents (rounding up if the result is exactly half‑way in between).

             (4)  For the purposes of subsection (3), the indexation factor for the year of lodgment is worked out using the following formula (then rounded under subsection (5)):

where:

index number, for a quarter, means the All Groups Consumer Price Index Number (being the weighted average of the 8 capital cities) published by the Australian Statistician for that quarter.

most recent March year means the period of 12 months ending on 31 March in the financial year that occurred immediately before the year of lodgment.

previous March year means the period of 12 months immediately preceding the most recent March year.

quarter means a period of 3 months ending on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September or 31 December.

             (5)  The result under subsection (4) must be rounded up or down to 3 decimal places (rounding up if the result is exactly half‑way in between).

             (6)  Calculations under subsection (4):

                     (a)  are to be made using only the index numbers published in terms of the most recently published reference base for the Consumer Price Index; and

                     (b)  are to be made disregarding index numbers that are published in substitution for previously published index numbers (unless the substituted numbers are published to take account of changes in the reference base).

Fee not payable in case of hardship

             (7)  If a Registrar is satisfied that the person lodging the application will suffer serious hardship if the person is required to pay the fee, no fee is payable for lodging the application.

Refund of fee if application discontinued in certain circumstances

             (8)  If:

                     (a)  the fee has been paid; and

                     (b)  the application is subsequently discontinued as mentioned in subsection 643(16); and

                     (c)  either:

                              (i)  at the time the application is discontinued, the application has not yet been listed for attention by the Commission; or

                             (ii)  if the application has, at or before that time, been listed for attention by the Commission on a specified date or dates—the discontinuance occurs at least 2 days before that date or the earlier of those dates;

an amount equal to the fee is to be repaid by the Commonwealth to the person who paid it.

645  Motions for dismissal of application for want of jurisdiction

             (1)  A respondent may move for the dismissal of an application under section 643 on the ground that the application is outside the jurisdiction of the Commission at any time, including a time before the Commission has begun dealing with the application.

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  the respondent moves for the dismissal of an application on such a ground and has not previously so moved; and

                     (b)  the respondent so moves before the matter is referred for conciliation by the Commission;

the Commission must deal with the motion before taking any action, or any further action, on that application, unless the respondent indicates that the matter may be dealt with at a later time.

             (3)  If the respondent moves for the dismissal of an application on such a ground, having already so moved on a previous occasion, the Commission must deal with the motion but may do so at any time it considers appropriate.

             (4)  If a respondent has moved for the dismissal of an application made, or purported to have been made, under subsection 643(1):

                     (a)  on the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a); or

                     (b)  on grounds that include that ground;

subsection (5) applies to the application.

             (5)  If the Commission is satisfied that an application to which this subsection applies cannot be made under subsection 643(1) on the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a):

                     (a)  because the employee is excluded from the operation of Subdivision B by section 638; or

                     (b)  because of the operation of subsection 643(6) (which relates to qualifying periods); or

                     (c)  because of the operation of subsection 643(10) (which relates to employers of 100 employees or fewer);

the Commission must:

                     (d)  if paragraph (4)(a) applies—make an order dismissing the application; or

                     (e)  if paragraph (4)(b) applies—make an order dismissing the application to the extent that it is made on the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a).

             (6)  If:

                     (a)  a respondent has moved for the dismissal of an application to which subsection (5) applies; and

                     (b)  the Commission is not satisfied as mentioned in paragraph (5)(a), (b) or (c) in relation to the application;

the Commission must make an order refusing the motion for dismissal.

             (7)  The Commission is not required to hold a hearing in relation to the making of an order under subsection (5) or (6).

646  Applications that are frivolous, vexatious or lacking in substance

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  an application is made, or purported to have been made, under subsection 643(1):

                              (i)  on the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a); or

                             (ii)  on grounds that include that ground; and

                     (b)  the respondent moves for dismissal of the application on the ground that it is frivolous, vexatious or lacking in substance; and

                     (c)  the Commission is satisfied that the application is frivolous, vexatious or lacking in substance, in relation to the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a);

the Commission must:

                     (d)  if subparagraph (a)(i) applies—make an order dismissing the application; or

                     (e)  if subparagraph (a)(ii) applies—make an order dismissing the application to the extent that it is made on the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a).

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  an application is made, or purported to have been made, under subsection 643(1):

                              (i)  on the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a); or

                             (ii)  on grounds that include that ground; and

                     (b)  the respondent moves for dismissal of the application on the ground that it is frivolous, vexatious or lacking in substance; and

                     (c)  the Commission is not satisfied that the application is frivolous, vexatious or lacking in substance, in relation to the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a);

the Commission must:

                     (d)  if subparagraph (a)(i) applies—make an order refusing the motion for dismissal; or

                     (e)  if subparagraph (a)(ii) applies—make an order refusing the motion for dismissal, to the extent that the application is made on the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a).

             (3)  The Commission is not required to hold a hearing in relation to the making of an order under subsection (1) or (2).

647  Extension of time applications may be decided without a hearing

                   If:

                     (a)  an employee whose employment has been terminated by an employer makes an application (the extension of time application) under subsection 643(14) requesting the Commission to allow an application to be lodged under subsection 643(1) after the period of 21 days after the termination took effect; and

                     (b)  the proposed application under subsection 643(1) is an application:

                              (i)  on the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a); or

                             (ii)  on grounds that include that ground;

the Commission is not required to hold a hearing in relation to the extension of time application.

648  Matters that do not require a hearing

             (1)  The Commission must, in deciding whether or not to hold a hearing for the purposes of deciding:

                     (a)  whether to make an order under subsection 645(5) or (6) or 646(1) or (2); or

                     (b)  whether to grant an extension of time application within the meaning of section 647;

take into account the cost that would be caused to the business of the employer concerned by requiring the employer to attend a hearing.

             (2)  If the Commission decides not to hold a hearing, the Commission must, before making a decision:

                     (a)  invite the employee and the employer concerned to provide further information that relates to whether the order should be made or the extension of time granted; and

                     (b)  take account of any such information.

             (3)  If, as a result of information provided as mentioned in subsection (2), the Commission considers that it would be desirable to hold a hearing, the Commission may do so.

             (4)  An invitation under paragraph (2)(a) must:

                     (a)  be given by notice in writing to the employee and the employer concerned; and

                     (b)  specify the time by which the information referred to in the invitation is to be provided.

649  Dismissal of application relating to termination for operational reasons

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  an application is made, or is purported to have been made, under subsection 643(1):

                              (i)  on the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a); or

                             (ii)  on grounds that include that ground; and

                     (b)  either:

                              (i)  the respondent has moved for the dismissal of the application on the ground that the application is outside the jurisdiction of the Commission because the employee’s employment was terminated for genuine operational reasons or for reasons that include genuine operational reasons; or

                             (ii)  it appears to the Commission, on the face of all the materials before it, that the employee’s employment may have been terminated for genuine operational reasons or for reasons that include genuine operational reasons;

the Commission must hold a hearing to deal with the operational reasons issue before taking any further action in relation to the application, other than dealing with a matter on the papers as provided by section 645, 646, 647 or 648.

             (2)  If, as a result of the hearing, the Commission is satisfied that the operational reasons relied on by the respondent were genuine, the Commission must:

                     (a)  if subparagraph (1)(a)(i) applies—make an order dismissing the application; or

                     (b)  if subparagraph (1)(a)(ii) applies—make an order dismissing the application to the extent that it is made on the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a).

             (3)  Subject to any right of appeal to a Full Bench of the Commission, a finding by the Commission that it is not satisfied that the operational reasons relied on by the respondent were genuine is final and binding between the parties in any proceedings before the Commission.

             (4)  To avoid doubt, this section does not require the Commission to hold a hearing in relation to an application that has been dismissed under subsection 645(5) or 646(1).

             (5)  In this section:

operational reasons has the meaning given by subsection 643(9).

650  Conciliation

             (1)  When an application is lodged with the Commission, the Commission must attempt to settle the matter to which the application relates by conciliation.

             (2)  If the Commission is satisfied that all reasonable attempts to settle the matter by conciliation are, or are likely to be, unsuccessful so far as concerns at least one ground of the application, the Commission:

                     (a)  must issue a certificate in writing stating that it is so satisfied in respect of that ground or each such ground; and

                     (b)  must indicate to the parties the Commission’s assessment of the merits of the application in so far as it relates to that ground or to each such ground; and

                     (c)  if the Commission thinks fit, may recommend that the applicant elect not to pursue a ground or grounds of the application (whether or not also recommending other means of resolving the matter); and

                     (d)  if the Commission considers, having regard to all the materials before the Commission, that the application has no reasonable prospect of success, it must advise the parties accordingly.

             (3)  If:

                     (a)  the ground or one of the grounds of the application is the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a); and

                     (b)  the Commission has indicated that the applicant’s claim in respect of the ground so referred has no reasonable prospect of success;

the Commission must invite the applicant to provide further information in support of that ground within a period specified by the Commission.

             (4)  If, in relation to an application to which subsection (3) applies:

                     (a)  the applicant does not provide further information regarding the applicant’s claim in respect of the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a); or

                     (b)  after consideration of the original application and the further material provided by the applicant in support of that ground;

the Commission concludes that the application has no reasonable prospect of success at arbitration, it must issue a certificate to that effect.

             (5)  If the Commission issues a certificate under subsection (4) in respect of an applicant’s claim in respect of the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a), the application is dismissed, insofar as it relates to that ground, with effect from the date of issue of the certificate.

651  Elections to proceed to arbitration or to begin court proceedings

             (1)  If the certificate given by the Commission under subsection 650(2) identifies only the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a) as a ground where conciliation is, or is likely to be, unsuccessful, the applicant must elect either to proceed to arbitration to determine whether the termination was harsh, unjust or unreasonable or not to proceed.

Note:          If a certificate under subsection 650(2) identifies both the ground in paragraph 643(1)(a) and a ground or grounds of an alleged contravention of Subdivision C, and the Commission has issued a certificate under subsection 650(4) in relation to the ground in paragraph 643(1)(a), an applicant must make an election as if the certificate under subsection 650(2) identified only the ground or grounds in Subdivision C.

             (2)  If the certificate given by the Commission under subsection 650(2) identifies only:

                     (a)  the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a); and

                     (b)  the ground of an alleged contravention of section 661;

as grounds where conciliation is, or is likely to be, unsuccessful, the applicant must elect to do either, both, or neither of the following:

                     (c)  to proceed to arbitration to determine whether the termination was harsh, unjust or unreasonable;

                     (d)  to begin proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction for an order under section 665 in respect of the alleged contravention of section 661.

             (3)  If the certificate given by the Commission under subsection 650(2) identifies:

                     (a)  the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a); and

                     (b)  a ground or grounds of an alleged contravention of one or more of sections 659 and 660;

as grounds where conciliation is, or is likely to be, unsuccessful, the applicant must elect to do either or neither of the following:

                     (c)  to proceed to arbitration to determine whether the termination was harsh, unjust or unreasonable;

                     (d)  to begin proceedings in the Court for an order under section 665 in respect of the alleged contravention, or of any one or more of the alleged contraventions.

             (4)  If the certificate given by the Commission under subsection 650(2) identifies only a ground or grounds of an alleged contravention of one or more of sections 659, 660 and 661 as the ground or grounds where conciliation is, or is likely to be, unsuccessful, the applicant must elect to do either, both or neither of the following:

                     (a)  so far as concerns an alleged contravention of a section or sections other than section 661—to begin proceedings in the Court for an order under section 665 in respect of the alleged contravention, or of any one or more of the alleged contraventions;

                     (b)  so far as concerns an alleged contravention of section 661—to begin proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction for an order under section 665 in respect of the alleged contravention.

             (5)  If the certificate given by the Commission under subsection 650(2) identifies:

                     (a)  the ground referred to in paragraph 643(1)(a); and

                     (b)  the ground of an alleged contravention of section 661; and

                     (c)  a ground or grounds of an alleged contravention of one or more of sections 659 and 660;

as grounds where conciliation is, or is likely to be, unsuccessful, the applicant must elect:

                     (d)  to do either or both of the things permitted in subsection (2); or

                     (e)  to do either or both of the things permitted in subsection (4); or

                      (f)  to do none of those things.

             (6)  An election under subsection (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) must:

                     (a)  be made in writing; and

                     (b)  be lodged with the Commission:

                              (i)  if the certificate given by the Commission under subsection 650(2) identifies the ground of an alleged contravention of section 659 as a ground on which conciliation is, or is likely to be, unsuccessful (whether or not one or more other grounds are so identified)—not later than 28 days after the day of issue of the certificate; or

                             (ii)  in any other case—not later than 7 days after the day of issue of the certificate.

             (7)  If an applicant fails to lodge with the Commission an election under subsection (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) within the period required under subsection (6), the application concerned is taken to have been discontinued by the applicant at the end of that period.

             (8)  The Commission must not, under any provision of this Act, extend the period within which an election is required by subsection (6) to be lodged, other than as mentioned in subsection (9).

             (9)  The Commission may accept an election referred to in subparagraph (6)(b)(i) that is lodged out of time if the Commission considers that it would be unfair not to do so, and, if the Commission accepts such an election, the original application is taken not to have been discontinued in spite of subsection (7).

           (10)  An appeal to a Full Bench under section 120 may not be made in relation to the discontinuance of an application under subsection (7).

652  Arbitration

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  the Commission has issued a certificate under subsection 650(2) regarding conciliation of an application relating to a termination of employment; and

                     (b)  the applicant has made an election under subsection 651(1), (2), (3) or (5) to proceed to arbitration to determine whether the termination was harsh, unjust or unreasonable;

the Commission may so proceed to arbitrate the matter.

             (2)  Neither the making of an election under subsection 651(1), (2), (3) or (5) to proceed to arbitration nor the commencement of that arbitration prevents further conciliation of the matter being attempted, or the parties from settling the matter, at any time before an order is made under section 654.

             (3)  In determining, for the purposes of the arbitration, whether a termination was harsh, unjust or unreasonable, the Commission must have regard to:

                     (a)  whether there was a valid reason for the termination related to the employee’s capacity or conduct (including its effect on the safety and welfare of other employees); and

                     (b)  whether the employee was notified of that reason; and

                     (c)  whether the employee was given an opportunity to respond to any reason related to the capacity or conduct of the employee; and

                     (d)  if the termination related to unsatisfactory performance by the employee—whether the employee had been warned about that unsatisfactory performance before the termination; and

                     (e)  the degree to which the size of the employer’s undertaking, establishment or service would be likely to impact on the procedures followed in effecting the termination; and

                      (f)  the degree to which the absence of dedicated human resource management specialists or expertise in the undertaking, establishment or service would be likely to impact on the procedures followed in effecting the termination; and

                     (g)  any other matters that the Commission considers relevant.

653  Exercise of arbitration powers by member who has exercised conciliation powers

             (1)  If a member of the Commission has exercised conciliation powers in relation to an application under this Division, the member must not exercise, or take part in the exercise of, arbitration powers in relation to the application if a party to the arbitration proceeding objects.

             (2)  The member is not taken to have exercised conciliation powers in relation to the application merely because:

                     (a)  the member arranged for a conference of the parties or their representatives to be presided over by the member, but the conference did not take place or was not presided over by the member; or

                     (b)  the member arranged for the parties or their representatives to confer among themselves at a conference at which the member was not present.

654  Remedies on arbitration

             (1)  Subject to this section, the Commission may, on completion of the arbitration, make an order that provides for a remedy of a kind referred to in subsection (3), (4) or (7) if it has determined that the termination was harsh, unjust or unreasonable.

             (2)  The Commission must not make an order under subsection (1) unless the Commission is satisfied, having regard to all the circumstances of the case including:

                     (a)  the effect of the order on the viability of the employer’s undertaking, establishment or service; and

                     (b)  the length of the employee’s service with the employer; and

                     (c)  the remuneration that the employee would have received, or would have been likely to receive, if the employee’s employment had not been terminated; and

                     (d)  the efforts of the employee (if any) to mitigate the loss suffered by the employee as a result of the termination; and

                     (e)  any other matter that the Commission considers relevant;

that the remedy ordered is appropriate.

             (3)  If the Commission considers it appropriate, the Commission may make an order requiring the employer to reinstate the employee by:

                     (a)  reappointing the employee to the position in which the employee was employed immediately before the termination.

                     (b)  appointing the employee to another position on terms and conditions no less favourable than those on which the employee was employed immediately before the termination.

             (4)  If the Commission makes an order under subsection (3) and considers it appropriate to do so, the Commission may also make:

                     (a)  any order that the Commission thinks appropriate to maintain the continuity of the employee’s employment; and

                     (b)  subject to subsections (5) and (6)—any order that the Commission thinks appropriate to cause the employer to pay to the employee an amount in respect of the remuneration lost, or likely to have been lost, by the employee because of the termination.

             (5)  In determining an amount for the purposes of an order under paragraph (4)(b), the Commission must have regard to:

                     (a)  the amount of any income earned by the employee from employment or other work during the period between the termination and the making of the order for reinstatement; and

                     (b)  the amount of any income reasonably likely to be so earned by the employee during the period between the making of the order for reinstatement and the actual reinstatement.

             (6)  If, as a result of an application under section 663, a court has awarded an amount of damages for a failure to give notice of a termination as required by section 661, any amount ordered to be paid by the Commission under paragraph (4)(b) in respect of the termination is to be reduced accordingly.

             (7)  If the Commission thinks that the reinstatement of the employee is inappropriate, the Commission may, if the Commission considers it appropriate in all the circumstances of the case, make an order requiring the employer to pay the employee an amount ordered by the Commission in lieu of reinstatement.

             (8)  Subject to subsections (9), (10), (11) and (12), in determining an amount for the purposes of an order under subsection (7), the Commission must have regard to all the circumstances of the case including:

                     (a)  the effect of the order on the viability of the employer’s undertaking, establishment or service; and

                     (b)  the length of the employee’s service with the employer; and

                     (c)  the remuneration that the employee would have received, or would have been likely to receive, if the employee’s employment had not been terminated; and

                     (d)  the efforts of the employee (if any) to mitigate the loss suffered by the employee as a result of the termination; and

                     (e)  any misconduct of the employee that contributed to the employer’s decision to terminate the employee’s employment; and

                      (f)  any other matter that the Commission considers relevant.

             (9)  An amount ordered by the Commission under subsection (4) or (7) to be paid to an employee may not include a component by way of compensation for shock, distress or humiliation, or other analogous hurt, caused to the employee by the manner of terminating the employee’s employment.

           (10)  If the Commission is satisfied that misconduct of the employee contributed to the employer’s decision to terminate the employee’s employment, the Commission must reduce the amount it would otherwise fix under subsection (7) by an appropriate amount on account of the misconduct.

           (11)  In fixing an amount under subsection (7) for an employee who was employed under award‑derived conditions (see subsection 642(6)) immediately before the termination, the Commission must not fix an amount that exceeds the total of the following amounts:

                     (a)  the total amount of remuneration:

                              (i)  received by the employee; or

                             (ii)  to which the employee was entitled;

                            (whichever is higher) for any period of employment with the employer during the period of 6 months immediately before the termination (other than any period of leave without full pay); and

                     (b)  if the employee was on leave without pay or without full pay while so employed during any part of that period—the amount of remuneration taken to have been received by the employee for the period of leave in accordance with the regulations.

           (12)  In fixing an amount under subsection (7) for an employee who was not employed under award‑derived conditions (see subsection 642(6)) immediately before the termination, the Commission must not fix an amount that exceeds:

                     (a)  the total of the amounts determined under subsection (11) if the employee were an employee covered by the subsection; or

                     (b)  the amount of $32,000, as indexed from time to time in accordance with a formula prescribed by the regulations;

whichever is the lower amount.

           (13)  For the avoidance of doubt, an order by the Commission under paragraph (4)(b) or under subsection (7) may permit the employer concerned to pay the amount required in instalments specified in the order.

655  Orders made on arbitration are binding

                   Subject to any right of appeal to a Full Bench of the Commission, an order made by the Commission under section 654 is final and binding between the parties.

656  Representatives to disclose contingency fee agreements

Representatives other than legal practitioners

             (1)  In a proceeding before the Commission, the Commission must ask a representative appearing on behalf of a party to the proceeding if the representative has been retained by the party under a costs arrangement as to the representative’s costs.

Legal practitioners

             (2)  In a proceeding before the Commission, the Commission must ask a legal practitioner appearing on behalf of a party to the proceeding if the practitioner has been retained by the party under a contingency fee agreement as to the practitioner’s costs.

Obligation of representative or practitioner

             (3)  If the representative or legal practitioner has been retained under a costs arrangement or contingency fee agreement (as the case may be), the representative or practitioner must inform the Commission of that fact.

No effect on law relating to legal professional privilege

             (4)  This section does not affect the law relating to legal professional privilege.

Definitions in this section

             (5)  In this section:

costs arrangement means an arrangement between people under which:

                     (a)  a person agrees to provide representation for another person before the Commission; and

                     (b)  the payment of all, or a substantial proportion, of the representative’s costs is contingent on the outcome of the proceeding before the Commission in which the representative represents the person.

proceeding before the Commission means one of the following proceedings in respect of an application under section 643 by an employee whose employment has been terminated on the ground, or on grounds that include the ground, that the termination was harsh, unjust or unreasonable:

                     (a)  a proceeding for dismissal of the application on the ground that the application is outside jurisdiction;

                     (b)  conciliation proceedings under section 650;

                     (c)  arbitration proceedings under section 652.

representative means a person, other than a legal practitioner, appearing on behalf of a party to a proceeding before the Commission.

657  Commission may dismiss application if applicant fails to attend

                   If an applicant in a proceeding relating to an application under section 643 fails to attend the proceeding, the Commission, after giving the applicant reasonable notice and a reasonable opportunity to be heard, may dismiss the application under section 643.

658  Commission may order payment of costs

             (1)  If the Commission is satisfied:

                     (a)  that a person (first party):

                              (i)  made an application under section 643; or

                             (ii)  began proceedings relating to an application; and

                     (b)  the first party did so in circumstances where it should have been reasonably apparent to the first party that he or she had no reasonable prospect of success in relation to the application or proceeding;

the Commission may, on application under this section by the other party to the application or proceeding, make an order for costs against the first party.

             (2)  If the Commission is satisfied that a party (first party) to a proceeding relating to an application under section 643 has acted unreasonably in failing:

                     (a)  to discontinue the proceeding; or

                     (b)  to agree to terms of settlement that could lead to the discontinuance of the application;

the Commission may, on an application under this section by the other party to the proceeding, make an order for costs against the first party.

             (3)  If the Commission is satisfied:

                     (a)  that a party (first party) to a proceeding relating to an application made under section 643 caused costs to be incurred by the other party to the proceeding; and

                     (b)  that the first party caused the costs to be incurred because of the first party’s unreasonable act or omission in connection with the conduct of the proceeding;

the Commission may, on an application by the other party under this section, make an order for costs against the first party.

             (4)  If the Commission is satisfied:

                     (a)  that a person (the representative) representing a party to a proceeding relating to an application made under section 643 caused costs to be incurred by the other party to the proceeding; and

                     (b)  that the representative caused the costs to be incurred because of the representative’s unreasonable act or omission in connection with the conduct of the proceeding;

the Commission may, on an application by the other party, make an order for costs against the representative.

             (5)  In making a decision under this section, the Commission may have regard to any certificate issued or advice given under section 650 and whether a party pursued a course of action contrary to any such certificate or advice.

             (6)  An application for an order for costs under this section must be made within 14 days after the determination, discontinuance, settlement or dismissal of the application under section 643 or proceeding relating to an application under section 643 (as the case may be).

             (7)  A schedule of costs may be prescribed in relation to items of expenditure likely to be incurred in respect of:

                     (a)  an application to the Commission under section 643; and

                     (b)  a proceeding in respect of an application under section 643.

             (8)  Without limiting, by implication, the generality of the items of expenditure for which the schedule may provide, those items may include:

                     (a)  legal and professional costs and disbursements; and

                     (b)  expenses arising from the representation of a party by a person or organisation other than on a legal professional basis; and

                     (c)  expenses of witnesses.

             (9)  If a schedule of costs is prescribed for the purposes of subsection (7), then, in awarding costs under this section, the Commission:

                     (a)  is not limited to the items of expenditure appearing in the schedule; but

                     (b)  if an item does appear in the schedule—must not award costs in respect of that item at a rate or of an amount in excess of the rate or amount appearing in the schedule.

           (10)  For the purposes of this section, the following proceedings are examples of proceedings relating to an application under section 643 in respect of which the Commission may make an order for costs:

                     (a)  a proceeding for dismissal of an application under section 643 on the ground that the application is outside jurisdiction;

                     (b)  conciliation proceedings under section 650;

                     (c)  arbitration proceedings under section 652;

                     (d)  an appeal to the Full Bench from an order of the Commission under section 654 or a costs order under section 658;

                     (e)  a proceeding concerning an application for costs by one party in respect of another party’s application for costs.

Subdivision C—Unlawful termination of employment by employer

659  Employment not to be terminated on certain grounds

             (1)  In addition to the principal object of this Division set out in section 635, the additional object of this section is to make provisions that are intended to assist in giving effect to:

                     (a)  the Convention concerning Discrimination in respect of Employment and Occupation, a copy of the English text of which is set out in Schedule 1 to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986; and

                     (b)  the Family Responsibilities Convention; and

                     (c)  the Termination of Employment Recommendation, 1982, which the General Conference of the International Labour Organisation adopted on 22 June 1982 and is also known as Recommendation No. 166.

             (2)  Except as provided by subsection (3) or (4), an employer must not terminate an employee’s employment for any one or more of the following reasons, or for reasons including any one or more of the following reasons:

                     (a)  temporary absence from work because of illness or injury within the meaning of the regulations;

                     (b)  trade union membership or participation in trade union activities outside working hours or, with the employer’s consent, during working hours;

                     (c)  non‑membership of a trade union;

                     (d)  seeking office as, or acting or having acted in the capacity of, a representative of employees;

                     (e)  the filing of a complaint, or the participation in proceedings, against an employer involving alleged violation of laws or regulations or recourse to competent administrative authorities;

                      (f)  race, colour, sex, sexual preference, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin;

                     (g)  refusing to negotiate in connection with, make, sign, extend, vary or terminate an AWA;

                     (h)  absence from work during maternity leave or other parental leave;

                      (i)  temporary absence from work because of the carrying out of a voluntary emergency management activity, where the absence is reasonable having regard to all the circumstances.

             (3)  Subsection (2) does not prevent a matter referred to in paragraph (2)(f) from being a reason for terminating employment if the reason is based on the inherent requirements of the particular position concerned.

             (4)  Subsection (2) does not prevent a matter referred to in paragraph (2)(f) from being a reason for terminating a person’s employment as a member of the staff of an institution that is conducted in accordance with the doctrines, tenets, beliefs or teachings of a particular religion or creed, if the employer terminates the employment in good faith to avoid injury to the religious susceptibilities of adherents of that religion or creed.

             (5)  To avoid doubt, if:

                     (a)  an employer terminates an employee’s employment; and

                     (b)  the reason, or a reason, for the termination is that the position held by the employee no longer exists, or will no longer exist; and

                     (c)  the reason, or a reason, that the position held by the employee no longer exists, or will no longer exist, is the employee’s absence, or proposed or probable absence, during maternity leave or other parental leave;

the employee’s employment is taken, for the purposes of paragraph (2)(h), to have been terminated for the reason, or for reasons including the reason, of absence from work during maternity leave or other parental leave.

             (6)  For the purposes of this section, an employee carries out a voluntary emergency management activity if, and only if:

                     (a)  the employee carries out an activity that involves dealing with an emergency or natural disaster; and

                     (b)  the employee carries out the activity on a voluntary basis; and

                     (c)  the employee is a member of, or has a member‑like association with, a recognised emergency management body; and

                     (d)  either:

                              (i)  the employee was requested by or on behalf of the body to carry out the activity; or

                             (ii)  no such request was made, but it would be reasonable to expect that, if the circumstances had permitted the making of such a request, it is likely that such a request would have been made.

             (7)  For the purposes of paragraph (6)(b), an employee carries out an activity on a voluntary basis even if the employee directly or indirectly takes or agrees to take:

                     (a)  an honorarium; or

                     (b)  a gratuity; or

                     (c)  a similar payment;

wholly or partly for carrying out the activity.

             (8)  In this section:

body includes a part of a body.

designated disaster plan means a plan that:

                     (a)  is for coping with emergencies and/or disasters; and

                     (b)