Contents
Chapter 1—Introduction 1
Part 1‑1—Introduction 1
Division 1—Preliminary 1
1............ Short title............................................................................................. 1
2............ Commencement................................................................................... 1
Division 2—Object of this Act 4
3............ Object of this Act................................................................................ 4
Division 3—Guide to this Act 6
4............ Guide to this Act................................................................................. 6
5............ Terms and conditions of employment (Chapter 2).............................. 7
6............ Rights and responsibilities of employees, employers, organisations etc. (Chapter 3) 8
7............ Compliance and enforcement (Chapter 4)........................................... 9
8............ Administration (Chapter 5)................................................................. 9
9............ Miscellaneous (Chapter 6)................................................................ 10
9A......... Application, transitional and saving provisions for amendments (Schedules) 11
Part 1‑2—Definitions 12
Division 1—Introduction 12
10.......... Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 12
11.......... Meanings of employee and employer................................................ 12
Division 2—The Dictionary 13
12.......... The Dictionary.................................................................................. 13
Division 3—Definitions relating to the meanings of employee, employer etc. 46
13.......... Meaning of national system employee.............................................. 46
14.......... Meaning of national system employer.............................................. 46
14A....... Transitional matters relating to employers etc. becoming, or ceasing to be, national system employers etc. 48
15.......... Ordinary meanings of employee and employer................................. 49
Division 4—Other definitions 50
16.......... Meaning of base rate of pay............................................................. 50
17.......... Meaning of child of a person............................................................ 51
17A....... Meaning of directly and indirectly (in relation to TCF work)............ 51
18.......... Meaning of full rate of pay................................................................ 52
19.......... Meaning of industrial action............................................................. 53
20.......... Meaning of ordinary hours of work for award/agreement free employees 54
21.......... Meaning of pieceworker................................................................... 55
22.......... Meanings of service and continuous service..................................... 56
23.......... Meaning of small business employer................................................ 59
23A....... Terms relating to superannuation...................................................... 60
Part 1‑3—Application of this Act 62
Division 1—Introduction 62
24.......... Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 62
25.......... Meanings of employee and employer................................................ 62
Division 2—Interaction with State and Territory laws 63
26.......... Act excludes State or Territory industrial laws.................................. 63
27.......... State and Territory laws that are not excluded by section 26............. 65
28.......... Act excludes prescribed State and Territory laws.............................. 66
29.......... Interaction of modern awards and enterprise agreements with State and Territory laws 67
30.......... Act may exclude State and Territory laws etc. in other cases............ 67
Division 2A—Application of this Act in States that refer matters before 1 July 2009 68
30A....... Meaning of terms used in this Division............................................ 68
30B....... Meaning of referring State................................................................ 73
30C....... Extended meaning of national system employee............................... 76
30D....... Extended meaning of national system employer............................... 76
30E........ Extended ordinary meanings of employee and employer................... 77
30F........ Extended meaning of outworker entity.............................................. 77
30G....... General protections........................................................................... 78
30H....... Division only has effect if supported by reference............................ 78
Division 2B—Application of this Act in States that refer matters after 1 July 2009 but on or before 1 January 2010 79
30K....... Meaning of terms used in this Division............................................ 79
30L........ Meaning of referring State................................................................ 84
30M...... Extended meaning of national system employee............................... 87
30N....... Extended meaning of national system employer............................... 87
30P........ Extended ordinary meanings of employee and employer................... 88
30Q....... Extended meaning of outworker entity.............................................. 88
30R....... General protections........................................................................... 89
30S........ Division only has effect if supported by reference............................ 89
Division 3—Geographical application of this Act 90
31.......... Exclusion of persons etc. insufficiently connected with Australia..... 90
32.......... Regulations may modify application of this Act in certain parts of Australia 90
32A....... Rules may modify application of this Act in Norfolk Island............. 91
33.......... Extension of this Act to the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf 92
34.......... Extension of this Act beyond the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf 93
35.......... Meanings of Australian employer and Australian‑based employee.. 95
35A....... Regulations excluding application of Act.......................................... 95
36.......... Geographical application of offences................................................ 96
Division 4—Miscellaneous 97
37.......... Act binds Crown............................................................................... 97
38.......... Act not to apply so as to exceed Commonwealth power................... 97
39.......... Acquisition of property..................................................................... 98
40.......... Interaction between fair work instruments and public sector employment laws 98
40A....... Application of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901................................ 99
Chapter 2—Terms and conditions of employment 100
Part 2‑1—Core provisions for this Chapter 100
Division 1—Introduction 100
41.......... Guide to this Part............................................................................ 100
42.......... Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 101
Division 2—Core provisions for this Chapter 102
Subdivision A—Terms and conditions of employment provided under this Act 102
43.......... Terms and conditions of employment provided under this Act....... 102
Subdivision B—Terms and conditions of employment provided by the National Employment Standards 103
44.......... Contravening the National Employment Standards......................... 103
Subdivision C—Terms and conditions of employment provided by a modern award 103
45.......... Contravening a modern award........................................................ 103
46.......... The significance of a modern award applying to a person............... 103
47.......... When a modern award applies to an employer, employee, organisation or outworker entity 104
48.......... When a modern award covers an employer, employee, organisation or outworker entity 105
49.......... When a modern award is in operation............................................. 106
Subdivision D—Terms and conditions of employment provided by an enterprise agreement 107
50.......... Contravening an enterprise agreement............................................. 107
51.......... The significance of an enterprise agreement applying to a person... 107
52.......... When an enterprise agreement applies to an employer, employee or employee organisation 107
53.......... When an enterprise agreement covers an employer, employee or employee organisation 108
54.......... When an enterprise agreement is in operation................................. 109
Division 3—Interaction between the National Employment Standards, modern awards and enterprise agreements 111
Subdivision A—Interaction between the National Employment Standards and a modern award or an enterprise agreement 111
55.......... Interaction between the National Employment Standards and a modern award or enterprise agreement 111
56.......... Terms of a modern award or enterprise agreement contravening section 55 have no effect 113
Subdivision B—Interaction between modern awards and enterprise agreements 114
57.......... Interaction between modern awards and enterprise agreements...... 114
57A....... Designated outworker terms of a modern award continue to apply. 114
Subdivision C—Interaction between one or more enterprise agreements 115
58.......... Only one enterprise agreement can apply to an employee............... 115
Part 2‑2—The National Employment Standards 117
Division 1—Introduction 117
59.......... Guide to this Part............................................................................ 117
60.......... Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 118
Division 2—The National Employment Standards 119
61.......... The National Employment Standards are minimum standards applying to employment of employees 119
Division 3—Maximum weekly hours 120
62.......... Maximum weekly hours................................................................. 120
63.......... Modern awards and enterprise agreements may provide for averaging of hours of work 121
64.......... Averaging of hours of work for award/agreement free employees. 122
Division 4—Requests for flexible working arrangements 123
65.......... Requests for flexible working arrangements................................... 123
66.......... State and Territory laws that are not excluded................................. 125
Division 5—Parental leave and related entitlements 126
Subdivision A—General 126
67.......... General rule—employee must have completed at least 12 months of service 126
68.......... General rule for adoption‑related leave—child must be under 16 etc. 128
69.......... Transfer of employment situations in which employee is entitled to continue on leave etc. 128
Subdivision B—Parental leave 129
70.......... Entitlement to unpaid parental leave................................................ 129
71.......... The period of leave—other than for members of an employee couple who each intend to take leave 129
72.......... The period of leave—members of an employee couple who each intend to take leave 131
73.......... Pregnant employee may be required to take unpaid parental leave within 6 weeks before the birth 133
74.......... Notice and evidence requirements................................................... 135
75.......... Extending period of unpaid parental leave—extending to use more of available parental leave period 136
76.......... Extending period of unpaid parental leave—extending for up to 12 months beyond available parental leave period........................................................................................................ 138
77.......... Reducing period of unpaid parental leave........................................ 139
77A....... Pregnancy ends (other than by birth of a living child) or child born alive dies 139
78.......... Employee who ceases to have responsibility for care of child......... 141
79.......... Interaction with paid leave............................................................... 142
79A....... Keeping in touch days..................................................................... 142
79B....... Unpaid parental leave not extended by paid leave or keeping in touch days 143
Subdivision C—Other entitlements 144
80.......... Unpaid special maternity leave........................................................ 144
81.......... Transfer to a safe job....................................................................... 145
81A....... Paid no safe job leave...................................................................... 146
82.......... Employee on paid no safe job leave may be asked to provide a further medical certificate 146
82A....... Unpaid no safe job leave................................................................. 147
83.......... Consultation with employee on unpaid parental leave..................... 147
84.......... Return to work guarantee................................................................ 148
84A....... Replacement employees.................................................................. 148
85.......... Unpaid pre‑adoption leave.............................................................. 149
Division 6—Annual leave 151
86.......... Division applies to employees other than casual employees............ 151
87.......... Entitlement to annual leave.............................................................. 151
88.......... Taking paid annual leave................................................................. 152
89.......... Employee not taken to be on paid annual leave at certain times....... 153
90.......... Payment for annual leave................................................................ 153
91.......... Transfer of employment situations that affect entitlement to payment for period of untaken paid annual leave 153
92.......... Paid annual leave must not be cashed out except in accordance with permitted cashing out terms 154
93.......... Modern awards and enterprise agreements may include terms relating to cashing out and taking paid annual leave........................................................................................................ 154
94.......... Cashing out and taking paid annual leave for award/agreement free employees 155
Division 7—Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave 157
Subdivision A—Paid personal/carer’s leave 157
95.......... Subdivision applies to employees other than casual employees...... 157
96.......... Entitlement to paid personal/carer’s leave........................................ 157
97.......... Taking paid personal/carer’s leave.................................................. 157
98.......... Employee taken not to be on paid personal/carer’s leave on public holiday 158
99.......... Payment for paid personal/carer’s leave.......................................... 158
100........ Paid personal/carer’s leave must not be cashed out except in accordance with permitted cashing out terms 158
101........ Modern awards and enterprise agreements may include terms relating to cashing out paid personal/carer’s leave 158
Subdivision B—Unpaid carer’s leave 159
102........ Entitlement to unpaid carer’s leave.................................................. 159
103........ Taking unpaid carer’s leave............................................................. 159
Subdivision C—Compassionate leave 160
104........ Entitlement to compassionate leave................................................. 160
105........ Taking compassionate leave............................................................ 160
106........ Payment for compassionate leave (other than for casual employees) 161
Subdivision D—Notice and evidence requirements 161
107........ Notice and evidence requirements................................................... 161
Division 8—Community service leave 163
108........ Entitlement to be absent from employment for engaging in eligible community service activity 163
109........ Meaning of eligible community service activity............................... 163
110........ Notice and evidence requirements................................................... 165
111........ Payment to employees (other than casuals) on jury service............. 165
112........ State and Territory laws that are not excluded................................. 167
Division 9—Long service leave 169
113........ Entitlement to long service leave..................................................... 169
113A..... Enterprise agreements may contain terms discounting service under prior agreements etc. in certain circumstances........................................................................................................ 171
Division 10—Public holidays 173
114........ Entitlement to be absent from employment on public holiday......... 173
115........ Meaning of public holiday.............................................................. 174
116........ Payment for absence on public holiday........................................... 175
Division 11—Notice of termination and redundancy pay 176
Subdivision A—Notice of termination or payment in lieu of notice 176
117........ Requirement for notice of termination or payment in lieu................ 176
118........ Modern awards and enterprise agreements may provide for notice of termination by employees 177
Subdivision B—Redundancy pay 177
119........ Redundancy pay.............................................................................. 177
120........ Variation of redundancy pay for other employment or incapacity to pay 178
121........ Exclusions from obligation to pay redundancy pay......................... 179
122........ Transfer of employment situations that affect the obligation to pay redundancy pay 179
Subdivision C—Limits on scope of this Division 181
123........ Limits on scope of this Division..................................................... 181
Division 12—Fair Work Information Statement 183
124........ Fair Work Ombudsman to prepare and publish Fair Work Information Statement 183
125........ Giving new employees the Fair Work Information Statement......... 183
Division 13—Miscellaneous 185
126........ Modern awards and enterprise agreements may provide for school‑based apprentices and trainees to be paid loadings in lieu.................................................................................................. 185
127........ Regulations about what modern awards and enterprise agreements can do 185
128........ Relationship between National Employment Standards and agreements etc. permitted by this Part for award/agreement free employees................................................................................ 186
129........ Regulations about what can be agreed to etc. in relation to award/agreement free employees 186
130........ Restriction on taking or accruing leave or absence while receiving workers’ compensation 186
131........ Relationship with other Commonwealth laws................................. 187
Part 2‑3—Modern awards 188
Division 1—Introduction 188
132........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 188
133........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 189
Division 2—Overarching provisions 191
134........ The modern awards objective.......................................................... 191
135........ Special provisions relating to modern award minimum wages........ 192
Division 3—Terms of modern awards 193
Subdivision A—Preliminary 193
136........ What can be included in modern awards......................................... 193
137........ Terms that contravene section 136 have no effect........................... 194
138........ Achieving the modern awards objective.......................................... 194
Subdivision B—Terms that may be included in modern awards 194
139........ Terms that may be included in modern awards—general................ 194
140........ Outworker terms............................................................................. 195
141........ Industry‑specific redundancy schemes............................................ 196
142........ Incidental and machinery terms....................................................... 197
Subdivision C—Terms that must be included in modern awards 198
143........ Coverage terms of modern awards other than modern enterprise awards and State reference public sector modern awards........................................................................................................ 198
143A..... Coverage terms of modern enterprise awards................................. 200
143B..... Coverage terms of State reference public sector modern awards..... 202
144........ Flexibility terms.............................................................................. 203
145........ Effect of individual flexibility arrangement that does not meet requirements of flexibility term 204
145A..... Consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work................. 205
146........ Terms about settling disputes.......................................................... 205
147........ Ordinary hours of work.................................................................. 206
148........ Base and full rates of pay for pieceworkers.................................... 206
149........ Automatic variation of allowances.................................................. 206
149B..... Term requiring avoidance of liability to pay superannuation guarantee charge 207
149C..... Default fund terms.......................................................................... 207
149D..... Default fund term must provide for contributions to be made to certain funds 207
Subdivision D—Terms that must not be included in modern awards 209
150........ Objectionable terms......................................................................... 209
151........ Terms about payments and deductions for benefit of employer etc. 209
152........ Terms about right of entry............................................................... 210
153........ Terms that are discriminatory.......................................................... 210
154........ Terms that contain State‑based differences...................................... 211
155........ Terms dealing with long service leave............................................. 211
Division 4—4 yearly reviews of modern awards 212
156........ 4 yearly reviews of modern awards to be conducted....................... 212
Division 4A—4 yearly reviews of default fund terms of modern awards 214
Subdivision A—4 yearly reviews of default fund terms 214
156A..... 4 yearly reviews of default fund terms............................................ 214
Subdivision B—The first stage of the 4 yearly review 215
156B..... Making the Default Superannuation List......................................... 215
156C..... Applications to list a standard MySuper product............................ 215
156D..... Submissions on applications to list a standard MySuper product... 216
156E...... Determining applications to list a standard MySuper product......... 217
156F...... First stage criteria............................................................................ 217
Subdivision C—Second stage of the 4 yearly review 218
156G..... Review of the default fund term of modern awards........................ 218
156H..... Default fund term must specify certain superannuation funds......... 219
156J...... Variation to comply with section 149D........................................... 220
156K..... Transitional authorisation for certain superannuation funds............ 220
Subdivision D—The Schedule of Approved Employer MySuper Products 220
156L...... The Schedule of Approved Employer MySuper Products.............. 220
156M.... FWC to invite applications to include employer MySuper products on schedule 221
156N..... Making applications to include employer MySuper products on schedule 221
156P...... FWC to determine applications....................................................... 222
156Q..... The first stage test........................................................................... 223
156R..... Submissions about the first stage test.............................................. 223
156S...... The second stage test....................................................................... 224
156T...... Submissions about the second stage test......................................... 224
Subdivision E—Publishing documents under this Division 225
156U..... Publishing documents under this Division...................................... 225
Division 5—Exercising modern award powers outside 4 yearly reviews and annual wage reviews 226
Subdivision A—Exercise of powers if necessary to achieve modern awards objective 226
157........ FWC may vary etc. modern awards if necessary to achieve modern awards objective 226
158........ Applications to vary, revoke or make modern award...................... 227
Subdivision B—Other situations 229
159........ Variation of modern award to update or omit name of employer, organisation or outworker entity 229
159A..... Variation of default fund term of modern award............................. 230
160........ Variation of modern award to remove ambiguity or uncertainty or correct error 231
161........ Variation of modern award on referral by Australian Human Rights Commission 232
Division 6—General provisions relating to modern award powers 233
162........ General............................................................................................ 233
163........ Special criteria relating to changing coverage of modern awards.... 233
164........ Special criteria for revoking modern awards................................... 234
165........ When variation determinations come into operation, other than determinations setting, varying or revoking modern award minimum wages.............................................................................. 234
166........ When variation determinations setting, varying or revoking modern award minimum wages come into operation 235
167........ Special rules relating to retrospective variations of awards............. 236
168........ Varied modern award must be published........................................ 237
Division 7—Additional provisions relating to modern enterprise awards 238
168A..... Modern enterprise awards............................................................... 238
168B..... The modern enterprise awards objective......................................... 239
168C..... Rules about making and revoking modern enterprise awards......... 239
168D..... Rules about changing coverage of modern enterprise awards......... 241
Division 8—Additional provisions relating to State reference public sector modern awards 242
168E...... State reference public sector modern awards................................... 242
168F...... The State reference public sector modern awards objective............. 242
168G..... Making State reference public sector modern awards on application 243
168H..... State reference public sector modern awards may contain State‑based differences 244
168J...... When State reference public sector modern awards come into operation 244
168K..... Rules about revoking State reference public sector modern awards 245
168L...... Rules about varying coverage of State reference public sector modern awards 246
Part 2‑4—Enterprise agreements 247
Division 1—Introduction 247
169........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 247
170........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 248
171........ Objects of this Part.......................................................................... 249
Division 2—Employers and employees may make enterprise agreements 250
172........ Making an enterprise agreement...................................................... 250
Division 3—Bargaining and representation during bargaining 253
173........ Notice of employee representational rights...................................... 253
174........ Content and form of notice of employee representational rights...... 254
176........ Bargaining representatives for proposed enterprise agreements that are not greenfields agreements 255
177........ Bargaining representatives for proposed enterprise agreements that are greenfields agreements 257
178........ Appointment of bargaining representatives—other matters............. 258
178A..... Revocation of appointment of bargaining representatives etc.......... 259
178B..... Notified negotiation period for a proposed single‑enterprise agreement that is a greenfields agreement 260
Division 4—Approval of enterprise agreements 261
Subdivision A—Pre‑approval steps and applications for the FWC’s approval 261
180........ Employees must be given a copy of a proposed enterprise agreement etc. 261
181........ Employers may request employees to approve a proposed enterprise agreement 262
182........ When an enterprise agreement is made............................................ 263
183........ Entitlement of an employee organisation to have an enterprise agreement cover it 264
184........ Multi‑enterprise agreement to be varied if not all employees approve the agreement 265
185........ Bargaining representative must apply for the FWC’s approval of an enterprise agreement 266
185A..... Material that must accompany an application under subsection 182(4) for approval of a greenfields agreement 267
Subdivision B—Approval of enterprise agreements by the FWC 267
186........ When the FWC must approve an enterprise agreement—general requirements 267
187........ When the FWC must approve an enterprise agreement—additional requirements 269
188........ When employees have genuinely agreed to an enterprise agreement 271
189........ FWC may approve an enterprise agreement that does not pass better off overall test—public interest test 271
190........ FWC may approve an enterprise agreement with undertakings....... 272
191........ Effect of undertakings..................................................................... 273
192........ When the FWC may refuse to approve an enterprise agreement..... 274
Subdivision C—Better off overall test 274
193........ Passing the better off overall test..................................................... 274
Subdivision D—Unlawful terms 276
194........ Meaning of unlawful term............................................................... 276
195........ Meaning of discriminatory term..................................................... 277
Subdivision E—Approval requirements relating to particular kinds of employees 278
196........ Shiftworkers................................................................................... 278
197........ Pieceworkers—enterprise agreement includes pieceworker term.... 279
198........ Pieceworkers—enterprise agreement does not include a pieceworker term 279
199........ School‑based apprentices and school‑based trainees....................... 280
200........ Outworkers..................................................................................... 281
Subdivision F—Other matters 281
201........ Approval decision to note certain matters........................................ 281
Division 5—Mandatory terms of enterprise agreements 283
202........ Enterprise agreements to include a flexibility term etc..................... 283
203........ Requirements to be met by a flexibility term................................... 284
204........ Effect of arrangement that does not meet requirements of flexibility term 285
205........ Enterprise agreements to include a consultation term etc................. 286
Division 6—Base rate of pay under enterprise agreements 288
206........ Base rate of pay under an enterprise agreement must not be less than the modern award rate or the national minimum wage order rate etc.......................................................................... 288
Division 7—Variation and termination of enterprise agreements 290
Subdivision A—Variation of enterprise agreements by employers and employees 290
207........ Variation of an enterprise agreement may be made by employers and employees 290
208........ Employers may request employees to approve a proposed variation of an enterprise agreement 291
209........ When a variation of an enterprise agreement is made...................... 291
210........ Application for the FWC’s approval of a variation of an enterprise agreement 292
211........ When the FWC must approve a variation of an enterprise agreement 292
212........ FWC may approve a variation of an enterprise agreement with undertakings 295
213........ Effect of undertakings..................................................................... 295
214........ When the FWC may refuse to approve a variation of an enterprise agreement 296
215........ Approval decision to note undertakings.......................................... 296
216........ When variation comes into operation.............................................. 297
Subdivision B—Variations of enterprise agreements where there is ambiguity, uncertainty or discrimination 297
217........ Variation of an enterprise agreement to remove an ambiguity or uncertainty 297
217A..... FWC may deal with certain disputes about variations..................... 297
218........ Variation of an enterprise agreement on referral by Australian Human Rights Commission 298
Subdivision C—Termination of enterprise agreements by employers and employees 299
219........ Employers and employees may agree to terminate an enterprise agreement 299
220........ Employers may request employees to approve a proposed termination of an enterprise agreement 299
221........ When termination of an enterprise agreement is agreed to............... 300
222........ Application for the FWC’s approval of a termination of an enterprise agreement 300
223........ When the FWC must approve a termination of an enterprise agreement.. 301
224........ When termination comes into operation.......................................... 302
Subdivision D—Termination of enterprise agreements after nominal expiry date 302
225........ Application for termination of an enterprise agreement after its nominal expiry date 302
226........ When the FWC must terminate an enterprise agreement................. 302
227........ When termination comes into operation.......................................... 303
Division 8—FWC’s general role in facilitating bargaining 304
Subdivision A—Bargaining orders 304
228........ Bargaining representatives must meet the good faith bargaining requirements 304
229........ Applications for bargaining orders.................................................. 305
230........ When the FWC may make a bargaining order................................. 306
231........ What a bargaining order must specify............................................. 307
232........ Operation of a bargaining order...................................................... 309
233........ Contravening a bargaining order..................................................... 309
Subdivision B—Serious breach declarations 309
234........ Applications for serious breach declarations................................... 309
235........ When the FWC may make a serious breach declaration.................. 310
Subdivision C—Majority support determinations and scope orders 312
236........ Majority support determinations..................................................... 312
237........ When the FWC must make a majority support determination......... 312
238........ Scope orders................................................................................... 313
239........ Operation of a scope order.............................................................. 315
Subdivision D—FWC may deal with a bargaining dispute on request 316
240........ Application for the FWC to deal with a bargaining dispute............. 316
Division 9—Low‑paid bargaining 317
241........ Objects of this Division.................................................................. 317
242........ Low‑paid authorisations.................................................................. 317
243........ When the FWC must make a low‑paid authorisation...................... 318
244........ Variation of low‑paid authorisations—general................................ 320
245........ Variation of low‑paid authorisations—enterprise agreement etc. comes into operation 321
246........ FWC’s assistance for the low‑paid................................................. 321
Division 10—Single interest employer authorisations 323
Subdivision A—Declaration that employers may bargain together for a proposed enterprise agreement 323
247........ Ministerial declaration that employers may bargain together for a proposed enterprise agreement 323
Subdivision B—Single interest employer authorisations 324
248........ Single interest employer authorisations........................................... 324
249........ When the FWC must make a single interest employer authorisation 324
250........ What a single interest employer authorisation must specify............ 326
251........ Variation of single interest employer authorisations........................ 326
252........ Variation to extend period single interest employer authorisation is in operation 327
Division 11—Other matters 328
253........ Terms of an enterprise agreement that are of no effect.................... 328
254........ Applications by bargaining representatives..................................... 328
255........ Part does not empower the FWC to make certain orders................. 329
255A..... Limitations relating to greenfields agreements................................. 329
256........ Prospective employers and employees............................................ 330
256A..... How employees, employers and employee organisations are to be described 330
257........ Enterprise agreements may incorporate material in force from time to time etc. 331
Part 2‑5—Workplace determinations 332
Division 1—Introduction 332
258........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 332
259........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 333
Division 2—Low‑paid workplace determinations 334
260........ Applications for low‑paid workplace determinations...................... 334
261........ When the FWC must make a consent low‑paid workplace determination 335
262........ When the FWC must make a special low‑paid workplace determination—general requirements 336
263........ When the FWC must make a special low‑paid workplace determination—additional requirements 337
264........ Terms etc. of a low‑paid workplace determination.......................... 338
265........ No other terms................................................................................ 338
Division 3—Industrial action related workplace determinations 339
266........ When the FWC must make an industrial action related workplace determination 339
267........ Terms etc. of an industrial action related workplace determination.. 340
268........ No other terms................................................................................ 341
Division 4—Bargaining related workplace determinations 342
269........ When the FWC must make a bargaining related workplace determination 342
270........ Terms etc. of a bargaining related workplace determination............ 343
271........ No other terms................................................................................ 345
271A..... Limitations relating to greenfields agreements................................. 345
Division 5—Core terms, mandatory terms and agreed terms of workplace determinations etc. 346
272........ Core terms of workplace determinations......................................... 346
273........ Mandatory terms of workplace determinations............................... 347
274........ Agreed terms for workplace determinations.................................... 348
275........ Factors the FWC must take into account in deciding terms of a workplace determination 349
Division 6—Operation, coverage and interaction etc. of workplace determinations 350
276........ When a workplace determination operates etc................................. 350
277........ Employers, employees and employee organisations covered by a workplace determination 350
278........ Interaction of a workplace determination with enterprise agreements etc. 351
279........ Act applies to a workplace determination as if it were an enterprise agreement 352
Division 7—Other matters 354
280........ Contravening a workplace determination........................................ 354
281........ Applications by bargaining representatives..................................... 354
281A..... How employees, employers and employee organisations are to be described 355
Part 2‑6—Minimum wages 356
Division 1—Introduction 356
282........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 356
283........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 357
Division 2—Overarching provisions 358
284........ The minimum wages objective........................................................ 358
Division 3—Annual wage reviews 360
Subdivision A—Main provisions 360
285........ Annual wage reviews to be conducted............................................ 360
286........ When annual wage review determinations varying modern awards come into operation 360
287........ When national minimum wage orders come into operation etc........ 361
Subdivision B—Provisions about conduct of annual wage reviews 363
288........ General............................................................................................ 363
289........ Everyone to have a reasonable opportunity to make and comment on submissions 363
290........ President may direct investigations and reports............................... 364
291........ Research must be published............................................................ 365
292........ Varied wage rates must be published.............................................. 365
Division 4—National minimum wage orders 366
293........ Contravening a national minimum wage order................................ 366
294........ Content of national minimum wage order—main provisions.......... 366
295........ Content of national minimum wage order—other matters............... 367
296........ Variation of national minimum wage order to remove ambiguity or uncertainty or correct error 368
297........ When determinations varying national minimum wage orders come into operation 368
298........ Special rule about retrospective variations of national minimum wage orders 369
299........ When a national minimum wage order is in operation..................... 370
Part 2‑7—Equal remuneration 371
Division 1—Introduction 371
300........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 371
301........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 371
Division 2—Equal remuneration orders 372
302........ FWC may make an order requiring equal remuneration.................. 372
303........ Equal remuneration order may increase, but must not reduce, rates of remuneration 373
304........ Equal remuneration order may implement equal remuneration in stages.. 373
305........ Contravening an equal remuneration order...................................... 373
306........ Inconsistency with modern awards, enterprise agreements and orders of the FWC 374
Part 2‑8—Transfer of business 375
Division 1—Introduction 375
307........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 375
308........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 375
309........ Object of this Part........................................................................... 376
Division 2—Transfer of instruments 377
310........ Application of this Division............................................................ 377
311........ When does a transfer of business occur.......................................... 377
312........ Instruments that may transfer.......................................................... 379
313........ Transferring employees and new employer covered by transferable instrument 379
314........ New non‑transferring employees of new employer may be covered by transferable instrument 380
315........ Organisations covered by transferable instrument........................... 381
316........ Transferring employees who are high income employees............... 382
Division 3—Powers of the FWC 384
317........ FWC may make orders in relation to a transfer of business............ 384
318........ Orders relating to instruments covering new employer and transferring employees 384
319........ Orders relating to instruments covering new employer and non‑transferring employees 386
320........ Variation of transferable instruments.............................................. 388
Part 2‑9—Other terms and conditions of employment 390
Division 1—Introduction 390
321........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 390
322........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 390
Division 2—Payment of wages 391
323........ Method and frequency of payment.................................................. 391
324........ Permitted deductions....................................................................... 392
325........ Unreasonable requirements to spend amount.................................. 392
326........ Certain terms have no effect............................................................ 393
327........ Things given or provided, and amounts required to be spent, in contravention of this Division 394
Division 3—Guarantee of annual earnings 395
328........ Employer obligations in relation to guarantee of annual earnings.... 395
329........ High income employee.................................................................... 396
330........ Guarantee of annual earnings and annual rate of guarantee............. 397
331........ Guaranteed period........................................................................... 398
332........ Earnings.......................................................................................... 398
333........ High income threshold.................................................................... 399
333A..... Prospective employees.................................................................... 400
Chapter 3—Rights and responsibilities of employees, employers, organisations etc. 401
Part 3‑1—General protections 401
Division 1—Introduction 401
334........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 401
335........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 401
336........ Objects of this Part.......................................................................... 402
Division 2—Application of this Part 403
337........ Application of this Part................................................................... 403
338........ Action to which this Part applies..................................................... 403
339........ Additional effect of this Part........................................................... 404
Division 3—Workplace rights 406
340........ Protection........................................................................................ 406
341........ Meaning of workplace right............................................................ 406
342........ Meaning of adverse action.............................................................. 408
343........ Coercion.......................................................................................... 411
344........ Undue influence or pressure........................................................... 411
345........ Misrepresentations.......................................................................... 412
Division 4—Industrial activities 413
346........ Protection........................................................................................ 413
347........ Meaning of engages in industrial activity....................................... 413
348........ Coercion.......................................................................................... 414
349........ Misrepresentations.......................................................................... 414
350........ Inducements—membership action.................................................. 415
Division 5—Other protections 416
351........ Discrimination................................................................................. 416
352........ Temporary absence—illness or injury............................................. 417
353........ Bargaining services fees.................................................................. 417
354........ Coverage by particular instruments................................................. 418
355........ Coercion—allocation of duties etc. to particular person.................. 418
356........ Objectionable terms......................................................................... 419
Division 6—Sham arrangements 420
357........ Misrepresenting employment as independent contracting arrangement 420
358........ Dismissing to engage as independent contractor............................. 420
359........ Misrepresentation to engage as independent contractor................... 420
Division 7—Ancillary rules 422
360........ Multiple reasons for action.............................................................. 422
361........ Reason for action to be presumed unless proved otherwise............ 422
362........ Advising, encouraging, inciting or coercing action......................... 422
363........ Actions of industrial associations.................................................... 422
364........ Unincorporated industrial associations............................................ 424
Division 8—Compliance 425
Subdivision A—Contraventions involving dismissal 425
365........ Application for the FWC to deal with a dismissal dispute............... 425
366........ Time for application........................................................................ 425
367........ Application fees.............................................................................. 425
368........ Dealing with a dismissal dispute (other than by arbitration)............ 426
369........ Dealing with a dismissal dispute by arbitration............................... 427
370........ Taking a dismissal dispute to court................................................. 428
Subdivision B—Other contraventions 428
372........ Application for the FWC to deal with a non‑dismissal dispute....... 428
373........ Application fees.............................................................................. 429
374........ Conferences.................................................................................... 429
375........ Advice on general protections court application.............................. 429
Subdivision C—Appeals and costs orders 430
375A..... Appeal rights................................................................................... 430
375B..... Costs orders against parties............................................................. 430
376........ Costs orders against lawyers and paid agents................................. 430
377........ Applications for costs orders.......................................................... 431
377A..... Schedule of costs............................................................................ 431
378........ Contravening costs orders............................................................... 432
Part 3‑2—Unfair dismissal 433
Division 1—Introduction 433
379........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 433
380........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 433
381........ Object of this Part........................................................................... 433
Division 2—Protection from unfair dismissal 435
382........ When a person is protected from unfair dismissal........................... 435
383........ Meaning of minimum employment period...................................... 435
384........ Period of employment..................................................................... 435
Division 3—What is an unfair dismissal 437
385........ What is an unfair dismissal............................................................. 437
386........ Meaning of dismissed..................................................................... 437
387........ Criteria for considering harshness etc............................................. 438
388........ The Small Business Fair Dismissal Code....................................... 439
389........ Meaning of genuine redundancy..................................................... 439
Division 4—Remedies for unfair dismissal 440
390........ When the FWC may order remedy for unfair dismissal.................. 440
391........ Remedy—reinstatement etc............................................................. 440
392........ Remedy—compensation................................................................. 442
393........ Monetary orders may be in instalments........................................... 443
Division 5—Procedural matters 444
394........ Application for unfair dismissal remedy......................................... 444
395........ Application fees.............................................................................. 444
396........ Initial matters to be considered before merits.................................. 445
397........ Matters involving contested facts.................................................... 445
398........ Conferences.................................................................................... 445
399........ Hearings.......................................................................................... 446
399A..... Dismissing applications.................................................................. 446
400........ Appeal rights................................................................................... 447
400A..... Costs orders against parties............................................................. 447
401........ Costs orders against lawyers and paid agents................................. 447
402........ Applications for costs orders.......................................................... 448
403........ Schedule of costs............................................................................ 448
404........ Security for costs............................................................................ 449
405........ Contravening orders under this Part................................................ 449
Part 3‑3—Industrial action 450
Division 1—Introduction 450
406........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 450
407........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 451
Division 2—Protected industrial action 452
Subdivision A—What is protected industrial action 452
408........ Protected industrial action............................................................... 452
409........ Employee claim action..................................................................... 452
410........ Employee response action............................................................... 454
411........ Employer response action............................................................... 454
412........ Pattern bargaining........................................................................... 455
Subdivision B—Common requirements for industrial action to be protected industrial action 456
413........ Common requirements that apply for industrial action to be protected industrial action 456
414........ Notice requirements for industrial action......................................... 458
Subdivision C—Significance of industrial action being protected industrial action 459
415........ Immunity provision......................................................................... 459
416........ Employer response action—employer may refuse to make payments to employees 459
416A..... Employer response action does not affect continuity of employment 459
Division 3—No industrial action before nominal expiry date of enterprise agreement etc. 461
417........ Industrial action must not be organised or engaged in before nominal expiry date of enterprise agreement etc. 461
Division 4—FWC orders stopping etc. industrial action 463
418........ FWC must order that industrial action by employees or employers stop etc. 463
419........ FWC must order that industrial action by non‑national system employees or non‑national system employers stop etc......................................................................................................... 464
420........ Interim orders etc............................................................................ 465
421........ Contravening an order etc............................................................... 465
Division 5—Injunction against industrial action if pattern bargaining is being engaged in 467
422........ Injunction against industrial action if a bargaining representative is engaging in pattern bargaining 467
Division 6—Suspension or termination of protected industrial action by the FWC 468
423........ FWC may suspend or terminate protected industrial action—significant economic harm etc. 468
424........ FWC must suspend or terminate protected industrial action—endangering life etc. 470
425........ FWC must suspend protected industrial action—cooling off.......... 471
426........ FWC must suspend protected industrial action—significant harm to a third party 472
427........ FWC must specify the period of suspension................................... 473
428........ Extension of a period of suspension............................................... 474
429........ Employee claim action without a further protected action ballot after a period of suspension etc. 474
430........ Notice of employee claim action engaged in after a period of suspension etc. 475
Division 7—Ministerial declarations 477
431........ Ministerial declaration terminating industrial action........................ 477
432........ Informing people of declaration...................................................... 477
433........ Ministerial directions to remove or reduce threat............................. 478
434........ Contravening a Ministerial direction............................................... 478
Division 8—Protected action ballots 479
Subdivision A—Introduction 479
435........ Guide to this Division..................................................................... 479
436........ Object of this Division.................................................................... 479
Subdivision B—Protected action ballot orders 480
437........ Application for a protected action ballot order................................. 480
438........ Restriction on when application may be made................................. 481
439........ Joint applications............................................................................. 481
440........ Notice of application....................................................................... 482
441........ Application to be determined within 2 days after it is made............ 482
442........ Dealing with multiple applications together..................................... 482
443........ When the FWC must make a protected action ballot order.............. 483
444........ FWC may decide on ballot agent other than the Australian Electoral Commission and independent advisor 484
445........ Notice of protected action ballot order............................................. 485
446........ Protected action ballot order may require 2 or more protected action ballots to be held at the same time 485
447........ Variation of protected action ballot order........................................ 486
448........ Revocation of protected action ballot order..................................... 486
Subdivision C—Conduct of protected action ballot 486
449........ Protected action ballot to be conducted by Australian Electoral Commission or other specified ballot agent 486
450........ Directions for conduct of protected action ballot............................. 487
451........ Timetable for protected action ballot................................................ 488
452........ Compilation of roll of voters........................................................... 489
453........ Who is eligible to be included on the roll of voters......................... 489
454........ Variation of roll of voters................................................................ 490
455........ Protected action ballot papers.......................................................... 492
456........ Who may vote in protected action ballot.......................................... 492
457........ Results of protected action ballot..................................................... 492
458........ Report about conduct of protected action ballot............................... 492
Subdivision D—Effect of protected action ballot 494
459........ Circumstances in which industrial action is authorised by protected action ballot 494
460........ Immunity for persons who act in good faith on protected action ballot results 495
461........ Validity of protected action ballot etc. not affected by technical breaches 496
Subdivision E—Compliance 497
462........ Interferences etc. with protected action ballot.................................. 497
463........ Contravening a protected action ballot order etc.............................. 499
Subdivision F—Liability for costs of protected action ballot 499
464........ Costs of protected action ballot conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission 499
465........ Costs of protected action ballot conducted by protected action ballot agent other than the Australian Electoral Commission.................................................................................... 500
466........ Costs of legal challenges................................................................. 500
Subdivision G—Miscellaneous 501
467........ Information about employees on roll of voters not to be disclosed. 501
468........ Records........................................................................................... 502
469........ Regulations..................................................................................... 502
Division 9—Payments relating to periods of industrial action 503
Subdivision A—Protected industrial action 503
470........ Payments not to be made relating to certain periods of industrial action 503
471........ Payments relating to partial work bans............................................ 504
472........ Orders by the FWC relating to certain partial work bans................ 506
473........ Accepting or seeking payments relating to periods of industrial action 507
Subdivision B—Industrial action that is not protected industrial action 508
474........ Payments not to be made relating to certain periods of industrial action 508
475........ Accepting or seeking payments relating to periods of industrial action 509
Subdivision C—Miscellaneous 510
476........ Other responses to industrial action unaffected............................... 510
Division 10—Other matters 511
477........ Applications by bargaining representatives..................................... 511
Part 3‑4—Right of entry 512
Division 1—Introduction 512
478........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 512
479........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 512
480........ Object of this Part........................................................................... 513
Division 2—Entry rights under this Act 514
Subdivision A—Entry to investigate suspected contravention 514
481........ Entry to investigate suspected contravention................................... 514
482........ Rights that may be exercised while on premises............................. 515
483........ Later access to record or document................................................. 516
483AA.. Application to the FWC for access to non‑member records............ 517
Subdivision AA—Entry to investigate suspected contravention relating to TCF award workers 518
483A..... Entry to investigate suspected contravention relating to TCF award workers 518
483B..... Rights that may be exercised while on premises............................. 520
483C..... Later access to record or document................................................. 521
483D..... Entry onto other premises to access records and documents........... 522
483E...... Later access to record or document—other premises...................... 523
Subdivision B—Entry to hold discussions 524
484........ Entry to hold discussions................................................................ 524
Subdivision C—Requirements for permit holders 525
486........ Permit holder must not contravene this Subdivision....................... 525
487........ Giving entry notice or exemption certificate.................................... 525
488........ Contravening entry permit conditions............................................. 526
489........ Producing authority documents....................................................... 526
490........ When right may be exercised.......................................................... 527
491........ Occupational health and safety requirements................................... 527
492........ Location of interviews and discussions........................................... 527
492A..... Route to location of interview and discussions............................... 528
493........ Residential premises........................................................................ 528
Division 3—State or Territory OHS rights 529
494........ Official must be permit holder to exercise State or Territory OHS right.. 529
495........ Giving notice of entry..................................................................... 530
496........ Contravening entry permit conditions............................................. 531
497........ Producing entry permit.................................................................... 531
498........ When right may be exercised.......................................................... 531
499........ Occupational health and safety requirements................................... 531
Division 4—Prohibitions 533
500........ Permit holder must not hinder or obstruct....................................... 533
501........ Person must not refuse or delay entry............................................. 533
502........ Person must not hinder or obstruct permit holder........................... 533
503........ Misrepresentations about things authorised by this Part................. 534
504........ Unauthorised use or disclosure of information or documents......... 534
Division 5—Powers of the FWC 536
Subdivision A—Dealing with disputes 536
505........ FWC may deal with a dispute about the operation of this Part........ 536
505A..... FWC may deal with a dispute about frequency of entry to hold discussions 538
506........ Contravening order made to deal with dispute................................ 539
Subdivision B—Taking action against permit holder 539
507........ FWC may take action against permit holder.................................... 539
Subdivision C—Restricting rights of organisations and officials where misuse of rights 540
508........ FWC may restrict rights if organisation or official has misused rights 540
509........ Contravening order made for misuse of rights................................ 541
Subdivision D—When the FWC must revoke or suspend entry permits 541
510........ When the FWC must revoke or suspend entry permits................... 541
Subdivision E—General rules for suspending entry permits 543
511........ General rules for suspending entry permits..................................... 543
Division 6—Entry permits, entry notices and certificates 544
Subdivision A—Entry permits 544
512........ FWC may issue entry permits......................................................... 544
513........ Considering application................................................................... 544
514........ When the FWC must not issue permit............................................. 545
515........ Conditions on entry permit.............................................................. 545
516........ Expiry of entry permit..................................................................... 546
517........ Return of entry permits to the FWC................................................ 547
Subdivision B—Entry notices 547
518........ Entry notice requirements................................................................ 547
Subdivision C—Exemption certificates 549
519........ Exemption certificates..................................................................... 549
Subdivision D—Affected member certificates 550
520........ Affected member certificates........................................................... 550
Subdivision E—Miscellaneous 550
521........ Regulations dealing with instruments under this Part...................... 550
Division 7—Accommodation and transport arrangements in remote areas 552
521A..... Meaning of accommodation arrangement...................................... 552
521B..... Meaning of transport arrangement................................................ 552
521C..... Accommodation arrangements for remote areas.............................. 553
521D..... Transport arrangements for remote areas........................................ 554
Part 3‑5—Stand down 556
Division 1—Introduction 556
522........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 556
523........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 556
Division 2—Circumstances allowing stand down 557
524........ Employer may stand down employees in certain circumstances...... 557
525........ Employee not stood down during a period of authorised leave or absence 558
Division 3—Dealing with disputes 559
526........ FWC may deal with a dispute about the operation of this Part........ 559
527........ Contravening an FWC order dealing with a dispute about the operation of this Part 559
Part 3‑6—Other rights and responsibilities 560
Division 1—Introduction 560
528........ Guide to this Part............................................................................ 560
529........ Meanings of employee and employer.............................................. 560
Division 2—Notification and consultation relating to certain dismissals 561
Subdivision A—Requirement to notify Centrelink 561
530........ Employer to notify Centrelink of certain proposed dismissals........ 561
Subdivision B—Failure to notify or consult registered employee associations 562
531........ FWC may make orders where failure to notify or consult registered employee associations about dismissals 562
532........ Orders that the FWC may make...................................................... 563
533........ Application for an FWC order........................................................ 564
Subdivision C—Limits on scope of this Division 564
534........ Limits on scope of this Division..................................................... 564
Division 3—Employer obligations in relation to employee records and pay slips 566
535........ Employer obligations in relation to employee records..................... 566
536........ Employer obligations in relation to pay slips................................... 566
An Act relating to workplace relations, and for related purposes
Chapter 1—Introduction
Part 1‑1—Introduction
Division 1—Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Fair Work Act 2009.
2 Commencement
(1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
| Commencement information |
| Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 |
| Provision(s) | Commencement | Date/Details |
| 1. Sections 1 and 2 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table | The day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent. | 7 April 2009 |
| 2. Sections 3 to 40 | A single day to be fixed by Proclamation. However, if any of the provision(s) do not commence within the period of 12 months beginning on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent, they commence on the first day after the end of that period. | 26 May 2009 (see F2009L01818) |
| 3. Sections 41 to 572 | A day or days to be fixed by Proclamation. A Proclamation must not specify a day that occurs before the day on which the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 receives the Royal Assent. However, if any of the provision(s) do not commence within the period of 12 months beginning on the day on which the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 receives the Royal Assent, they commence on the first day after the end of that period. | Sections 41–43, 50–54, 58, 169–281A, 300–327, 332, 333, 334–572: 1 July 2009 (see F2009L02563) Sections 44–49, 55–57A, 59–168, 282–299, 328–331, 333A: 1 January 2010 (see F2009L02563) |
| 4. Sections 573 to 718 | At the same time as the provision(s) covered by table item 2. | 26 May 2009 |
| 5. Sections 719 to 800 | A day or days to be fixed by Proclamation. A Proclamation must not specify a day that occurs before the day on which the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 receives the Royal Assent. However, if any of the provision(s) do not commence within the period of 12 months beginning on the day on which the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 receives the Royal Assent, they commence on the first day after the end of that period. | Sections 719–740, 769–800: 1 July 2009 (see F2009L02563) Sections 741–768: 1 January 2010 (see F2009L02563) |
| 6. Schedule 1 | At the same time as the provision(s) covered by table item 2. | 26 May 2009 |
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally passed by both Houses of the Parliament and assented to. It will not be expanded to deal with provisions inserted in this Act after assent.
(2) Column 3 of the table contains additional information that is not part of this Act. Information in this column may be added to or edited in any published version of this Act.
Division 2—Object of this Act
3 Object of this Act
The object of this Act is to provide a balanced framework for cooperative and productive workplace relations that promotes national economic prosperity and social inclusion for all Australians by:
(a) providing workplace relations laws that are fair to working Australians, are flexible for businesses, promote productivity and economic growth for Australia’s future economic prosperity and take into account Australia’s international labour obligations; and
(b) ensuring a guaranteed safety net of fair, relevant and enforceable minimum terms and conditions through the National Employment Standards, modern awards and national minimum wage orders; and
(c) ensuring that the guaranteed safety net of fair, relevant and enforceable minimum wages and conditions can no longer be undermined by the making of statutory individual employment agreements of any kind given that such agreements can never be part of a fair workplace relations system; and
(d) assisting employees to balance their work and family responsibilities by providing for flexible working arrangements; and
(e) enabling fairness and representation at work and the prevention of discrimination by recognising the right to freedom of association and the right to be represented, protecting against unfair treatment and discrimination, providing accessible and effective procedures to resolve grievances and disputes and providing effective compliance mechanisms; and
(f) achieving productivity and fairness through an emphasis on enterprise‑level collective bargaining underpinned by simple good faith bargaining obligations and clear rules governing industrial action; and
(g) acknowledging the special circumstances of small and medium‑sized businesses.
Division 3—Guide to this Act
4 Guide to this Act
Overview of this Act
(1) This Act is about workplace relations. It:
(a) provides for terms and conditions of employment (Chapter 2); and
(b) sets out rights and responsibilities of employees, employers and organisations in relation to that employment (Chapter 3); and
(c) provides for compliance with, and enforcement of, this Act (Chapter 4); and
(d) provides for the administration of this Act by establishing the Fair Work Commission and the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman (Chapter 5); and
(e) deals with other matters relating to the above (Chapter 6).
Overview of the rest of this Chapter
(2) The rest of this Chapter deals with:
(a) definitions that are used in this Act (Part 1‑2); and
(b) the application of this Act (Part 1‑3), including how this Act interacts with certain State and Territory laws and its geographical application.
Definitions
(3) Many of the terms in this Act are defined. The Dictionary in section 12 contains a list of every term that is defined in this Act.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for amendments
(4) Schedule 1 contains application, saving and transitional provisions relating to amendments of this Act.
5 Terms and conditions of employment (Chapter 2)
(1) Chapter 2 provides for terms and conditions of employment of national system employees.
(2) Part 2‑1 has the core provisions for the Chapter. It deals with compliance with, and interaction between, the sources of the main terms and conditions provided under this Act—the National Employment Standards, modern awards and enterprise agreements.
Note: Workplace determinations are another source of main terms and conditions. In most cases, this Act applies to a workplace determination as if it were an enterprise agreement in operation (see section 279).
Main terms and conditions
(3) Part 2‑2 contains the National Employment Standards, which are minimum terms and conditions that apply to all national system employees.
(4) Part 2‑3 is about modern awards. A modern award is made for a particular industry or occupation and provides additional minimum terms and conditions for those national system employees to whom it applies. A modern award can have terms that are ancillary or supplementary to the National Employment Standards.
(5) Part 2‑4 is about enterprise agreements. An enterprise agreement is made at the enterprise level and provides terms and conditions for those national system employees to whom it applies. An enterprise agreement can have terms that are ancillary or supplementary to the National Employment Standards.
(6) Part 2‑5 is about workplace determinations. A workplace determination provides terms and conditions for those national system employees to whom it applies. A workplace determination is made by the FWC if certain conditions are met.
(7) Part 2‑8 provides for the transfer of certain modern awards, enterprise agreements, workplace determinations and other instruments if there is a transfer of business from one national system employer to another national system employer.
Other terms and conditions
(8) In addition, other terms and conditions of employment for national system employees include those:
(a) provided by a national minimum wage order (see Part 2‑6) or an equal remuneration order (see Part 2‑7); and
(b) provided by Part 2‑9 (which deals with the frequency and method of making payments to employees, deductions from payments and high‑income employees).
6 Rights and responsibilities of employees, employers, organisations etc. (Chapter 3)
(1) Chapter 3 sets out rights and responsibilities of national system employees, national system employers, organisations and others (such as independent contractors and industrial associations).
(2) Part 3‑1 provides general workplace protections. It:
(a) protects workplace rights; and
(b) protects freedom of association and involvement in lawful industrial activities; and
(c) provides other protections, including protection from discrimination.
(3) Part 3‑2 deals with unfair dismissal of national system employees, and the granting of remedies when that happens.
(4) Part 3‑3 deals mainly with industrial action by national system employees and national system employers and sets out when industrial action is protected industrial action. No action lies under any law in force in a State or Territory in relation to protected industrial action except in certain circumstances.
(5) Part 3‑4 is about the rights of officials of organisations who hold entry permits to enter premises for purposes related to their representative role under this Act and under State or Territory OHS laws. In exercising those rights, permit holders must comply with the requirements set out in the Part.
(6) Part 3‑5 allows a national system employer to stand down a national system employee without pay in certain circumstances.
(7) Part 3‑6 deals with other rights and responsibilities of national system employers in relation to:
(a) termination of employment; and
(b) keeping records and giving payslips.
7 Compliance and enforcement (Chapter 4)
(1) Chapter 4 provides for compliance with, and enforcement of, this Act.
(2) Part 4‑1 is about civil remedies. Certain provisions in this Act impose obligations on certain persons. Civil remedies may be sought in relation to contraventions of these civil remedy provisions. Part 4‑1:
(a) deals with applications for orders for contraventions of civil remedy provisions; and
(b) sets out the orders the courts can make in relation to a contravention of a civil remedy provision.
(3) Part 4‑2 is about the jurisdiction and powers of the courts in relation to matters arising under this Act.
8 Administration (Chapter 5)
(1) Chapter 5 provides for the administration of this Act by establishing the Fair Work Commission and the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman.
(2) Part 5‑1 is about the Fair Work Commission. It:
(a) establishes and confers functions on the FWC; and
(b) sets out how matters before the FWC are to be conducted (for example, how the FWC is to deal with applications made to it).
(3) Part 5‑2 is about the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman. It:
(a) establishes and confers functions on the Fair Work Ombudsman; and
(b) confers functions and powers on Fair Work Inspectors.
9 Miscellaneous (Chapter 6)
(1) Chapter 6 is a collection of miscellaneous matters that relate to the other Chapters.
(2) Part 6‑1 provides rules relating to applications for remedies under this Act. It prevents certain applications if other remedies are available and prevents multiple applications or complaints in relation to the same conduct.
(3) Part 6‑2 is about dealing with disputes between national system employees and their employers under modern awards, enterprise agreements and contracts of employment.
(4) Part 6‑3 extends the National Employment Standards relating to unpaid parental leave and notice of termination to non‑national system employees.
(4A) Part 6‑3A provides for the transfer of terms and conditions of employment that are provided for in particular State industrial instruments if there is a transfer of business from a non‑national system employer that is a State public sector employer of the State to a national system employer.
(5) Part 6‑4 contains provisions to give effect, or further effect, to certain international agreements relating to termination of employment.
(5A) Part 6‑4A contains special provisions about TCF outworkers.
(5B) Part 6‑4B allows a worker who has been bullied at work to apply to the FWC for an order to stop the bullying.
(6) Part 6‑5 deals with miscellaneous matters such as delegations and regulations.
9A Application, transitional and saving provisions for amendments (Schedules)
The Schedules contain application, transitional and saving provisions relating to amendments of this Act.
Note: Application, transitional and saving provisions relating to the enactment of this Act, and States becoming referring States, are in the Transitional Act.
Part 1‑2—Definitions
Division 1—Introduction
10 Guide to this Part
This Part is about the terms that are defined in this Act.
Division 2 has the Dictionary (see section 12). The Dictionary is a list of every term that is defined in this Act. A term will either be defined in the Dictionary itself, or in another provision of this Act. If another provision defines the term, the Dictionary will have a signpost to that definition.
Division 3 has definitions relating to the meanings of employee and employer.
Division 4 has some other definitions that apply across this Act.
11 Meanings of employee and employer
In this Part, employee and employer have their ordinary meanings.
Note: See also Division 2 of Part 6‑4A (TCF contract outworkers taken to be employees in certain circumstances).
Division 2—The Dictionary
12 The Dictionary
In this Act:
4 yearly review of modern awards: see subsection 156(1).
access period for a proposed enterprise agreement: see subsection 180(4).
accommodation arrangement: see subsections 521A(1) and (2).
action includes an omission.
adoption‑related leave: see subsection 67(5).
adverse action: see section 342.
affected employees for a variation of an enterprise agreement: see subsection 207(2).
affected employer:
(a) in relation to an entry under Subdivision A of Division 2 of Part 3‑4: see subsection 482(2); and
(aa) in relation to an entry under section 483A other than a designated outworker terms entry: see paragraph 483B(3)(a); and
(ab) in relation to a designated outworker terms entry under section 483A: see paragraph 483B(3)(b); and
(b) in relation to an entry in accordance with Division 3 of Part 3‑4: see paragraph 495(2)(a); and
(c) in relation to a State or Territory OHS right to inspect or otherwise access an employee record: see paragraph 495(2)(b).
affected member certificate: see subsection 520(1).
Age Discrimination Commissioner means the Age Discrimination Commissioner appointed under the Age Discrimination Act 2004.
agreed terms for a workplace determination: see section 274.
agreed to in relation to a termination of an enterprise agreement: see section 221.
annual rate of an employee’s guaranteed annual earnings: see subsection 330(3).
annual wage review: see subsection 285(1).
anti‑discrimination law: see subsection 351(3).
apparent indirectly responsible entity: see subsection 789CC(2).
applicable agreement‑derived long service leave terms: see subsection 113(5).
applicable award‑derived long service leave terms: see subsection 113(3).
application or complaint under another law: see subsection 732(2).
applies:
(a) in relation to a modern award: see section 47; and
(b) in relation to an enterprise agreement: see section 52; and
(c) in relation to a copied State instrument: see section 768AM.
applies to employment generally: see subsection 26(4).
appointment of a bargaining representative means an appointment of a bargaining representative under paragraph 176(1)(c) or (d) or 177(c).
appropriate safe job: see subsection 81(3).
approved by the FWC, in relation to an enterprise agreement, means approved by the FWC under section 186 or 189.
associated entity has the meaning given by section 50AAA of the Corporations Act 2001.
Australia means the Commonwealth of Australia and, when used in a geographical sense, includes Norfolk Island, the Territory of Christmas Island and the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, but does not include any other external Territory.
Australian‑based employee: see subsections 35(2) and (3).
Australian employer: see subsection 35(1).
Australian ship means a ship that has Australian nationality under section 29 of the Shipping Registration Act 1981.
authority documents: see subsection 489(3).
available parental leave period: see subsection 75(2).
award/agreement free employee means a national system employee to whom neither a modern award nor an enterprise agreement applies.
award covered employee for an enterprise agreement: see subsection 193(4).
award modernisation process means:
(a) the process of making modern awards under Part 10A of the Workplace Relations Act 1996, as continued by Part 2 of Schedule 5 of the Transitional Act; and
(b) the enterprise instrument modernisation process provided for by Part 2 of Schedule 6 of the Transitional Act; and
(c) the State reference public sector transitional award modernisation process provided for by Part 2 of Schedule 6A of the Transitional Act.
ballot paper: see subsection 455(2).
bargaining order: see subsection 229(1).
bargaining related workplace determination: see subsection 269(1).
bargaining representative for a proposed enterprise agreement: see sections 176 and 177.
bargaining services: see subsection 353(3).
bargaining services fee: see subsection 353(2).
base rate of pay: see section 16.
birth‑related leave: see subsection 67(4).
bullied at work: see subsection 789FD(1).
child of a person: see subsection 17(1).
civil remedy provision: see subsections 539(1) and (3).
Commissioner means a Commissioner of the FWC.
common requirements in relation to industrial action: see section 413.
Commonwealth means the Commonwealth of Australia and, when used in a geographical sense, includes Norfolk Island, the Territory of Christmas Island and the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, but does not include any other external Territory.
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 a Territory; and
(ii) in which the Commonwealth has a controlling interest.
Commonwealth outworker entity means an entity that is an outworker entity otherwise than because of section 30F or 30Q.
Note: Sections 30F and 30Q extend the meaning of outworker entity in relation to a referring State.
Commonwealth place means a place referred to in paragraph 52(i) of the Constitution, other than the seat of government.
compassionate leave means compassionate leave to which a national system employee is entitled under section 104.
complaint about an FWC Member means a complaint referred to in paragraph 581A(1)(a) or section 641A.
complaint handler means:
(a) the President; or
(b) a person who is authorised by the President under subsection 581A(3); or
(c) a person who is a member of a body that is authorised by the President under subsection 581A(3).
compliance powers: see section 703.
compliance purposes: see subsection 706(1).
concurrent leave: see subsection 72(5).
conduct includes an omission.
conduct of a protected action ballot: see subsection 458(5).
connected with a Territory: an arrangement for work to be performed for a person (either directly or indirectly) is connected with a Territory if one or more of the following apply:
(a) at the time the arrangement is made, one or more parties to the arrangement is in a Territory in Australia;
(b) the work is to be performed in such a Territory;
(c) the person carries on an activity (whether of a commercial, governmental or other nature) in such a Territory, and the work is reasonably likely to be performed in that Territory;
(d) the person carries on an activity (whether of a commercial, governmental or other nature) in such a Territory, and the work is to be performed in connection with that activity.
Note: In this context, Australia includes Norfolk Island, the Territory of Christmas Island and the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands (see the definition of Australia).
consent low‑paid workplace determination: see subsection 260(2).
consistent with the Small Business Fair Dismissal Code: see subsection 388(2).
consolidation order:
(a) in relation to a transferring employee—see subsection 768BD(1); and
(b) in relation to a non‑transferring employee—see subsection 768BG(1).
constitutional corporation means a corporation to which paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution applies.
constitutionally‑covered business: see subsection 789FD(3).
constitutionally‑covered entity: see subsection 338(2).
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.
continental shelf means the continental shelf (as defined in the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973) of Australia (including its external Territories).
continuous service has a meaning affected by section 22.
copied State award: see subsection 768AI(1).
copied State collective employment agreement: see subsection 768AK(4).
copied State employment agreement: see subsection 768AK(1).
copied State individual employment agreement: see subsection 768AK(5).
copied State instrument: see section 768AH.
corporate MySuper product: see subsection 23A(3).
coverage terms:
(a) in relation to a modern award (other than a modern enterprise award): see section 143; and
(b) in relation to a modern enterprise award: see section 143A; and
(c) in relation to a State reference public sector modern award: see section 143B.
covers:
(a) in relation to a modern award: see section 48; and
(b) in relation to an enterprise agreement: see section 53; and
(c) in relation to a workplace determination: see section 277; and
(d) in relation to a copied State instrument: see section 768AN.
day of placement: see subsection 67(6).
de facto partner of a national system employee:
(a) means a person who, although not legally married to the employee, lives with the employee in a relationship as a couple on a genuine domestic basis (whether the employee and the person are of the same sex or different sexes); and
(b) includes a former de facto partner of the employee.
default fund employee: see subsection 149C(2).
default fund term: see subsection 149C(2).
Default Superannuation List: see subsection 156B(1).
defined benefit member has the meaning given by the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992.
Deputy President means a Deputy President of the FWC.
designated outworker term of a modern award, enterprise agreement, workplace determination or other instrument, means any of the following terms, so far as the term relates to outworkers in the textile, clothing or footwear industry:
(a) a term that deals with the registration of an employer or outworker entity;
(b) a term that deals with the making and retaining of, or access to, records about work to which outworker terms of a modern award apply;
(c) a term imposing conditions under which an arrangement may be entered into by an employer or an outworker entity for the performance of work, where the work is of a kind that is often performed by outworkers;
(d) a term relating to the liability of an employer or outworker entity for work undertaken by an outworker under such an arrangement, including a term which provides for the outworker to make a claim against an employer or outworker entity;
(e) a term that requires minimum pay or other conditions, including the National Employment Standards, to be applied to an outworker who is not an employee;
(f) any other terms prescribed by the regulations.
designated outworker terms entry: see subsection 483A(5).
directly, when used in relation to TCF work: see section 17A.
Disability Discrimination Commissioner means the Disability Discrimination Commissioner appointed under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
discriminatory term of an enterprise agreement: see section 195.
dismissal remedy bargaining order application: see subsection 726(2).
dismissed: see section 386.
earnings: see subsections 332(1) and (2).
eligible community service activity: see section 109.
eligible State or Territory court means one of the following courts:
(a) a District, County or Local Court;
(b) a magistrates court;
(c) the Industrial Relations Court of South Australia;
(ca) the Industrial Court of New South Wales;
(d) any other State or Territory court that is prescribed by the regulations.
employee is defined in the first Division of each Part (other than Part 1‑1) in which the term appears.
Note 1: The definition in the Part will define employee either as a national system employee or as having its ordinary meaning. However, there may be particular provisions in the Part where a different meaning for the term is specified.
Note 2: If the term has its ordinary meaning, see further subsections 15(1), 30E(1) and 30P(1).
Note 3: See also Division 2 of Part 6‑4A (TCF contract outworkers taken to be employees in certain circumstances).
employee A, in relation to a transfer of business referred to in Part 6‑3A: see subsections 768BD(1) and 768BG(1).
employee claim action: see section 409 and paragraph 471(4A)(c).
employee couple: 2 national system employees are an employee couple if each of the employees is the spouse or de facto partner of the other.
employee organisation means an organisation of employees.
employee record, in relation to an employee, means:
(a) something that is an employee record, in relation to the employee, for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988; or
(b) in the case of a TCF contract outworker who is taken to be an employee by Division 2 of Part 6‑4A of this Act—something that would be an employee record, in relation to the outworker, for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988, if the outworker were an employee for the purposes of that Act.
employee response action: see section 410 and paragraph 471(4A)(d).
employee with a disability means a national system 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.
employer is defined in the first Division of each Part (other than Part 1‑1) in which the term appears.
Note 1: The definition in the Part will define employer either as a national system employer or as having its ordinary meaning. However, there may be particular provisions in the Part where a different meaning for the term is specified.
Note 2: If the term has its ordinary meaning, see further subsections 15(2), 30E(2) and 30P(2).
Note 3: See also Division 2 of Part 6‑4A (TCF contract outworkers taken to be employees in certain circumstances).
employer MySuper product: see subsection 23A(1B).
employer organisation means an organisation of employers.
employer response action: see section 411.
employing authority: see subsection 795(6).
engages in industrial activity: see section 347.
enterprise means a business, activity, project or undertaking.
enterprise agreement means:
(a) a single‑enterprise agreement; or
(b) a multi‑enterprise agreement.
entry notice: see subsection 487(2).
entry permit: see section 512.
equal remuneration for work of equal or comparable value: see subsection 302(2).
equal remuneration order: see subsection 302(1).
exclusive economic zone means the exclusive economic zone (as defined in the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973) of Australia (including its external Territories).
exemption certificate: see subsection 519(1).
exempt public sector superannuation scheme has the meaning given by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993.
Expert Panel means an Expert Panel constituted under section 620.
Expert Panel Member means an Expert Panel Member of the FWC.
extended notice of termination provisions: see subsection 759(3).
extended parental leave provisions: see subsection 744(3).
Fair Work Commission or FWC means the body continued in existence by section 575.
Fair Work Information Statement: see subsection 124(1).
Fair Work Inspector means:
(a) a person appointed as a Fair Work Inspector under section 700; or
(b) the Fair Work Ombudsman in his or her capacity as a Fair Work Inspector under section 701.
fair work instrument means:
(a) a modern award; or
(b) an enterprise agreement; or
(c) a workplace determination; or
(d) an FWC order.
Federal Circuit Court means the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
Federal Court means the Federal Court of Australia.
first employer, in relation to a transfer of employment: see subsection 22(7).
first stage criteria: see section 156F.
first stage test: see section 156Q.
fixed platform means an artificial island, installation or structure permanently attached to the sea‑bed for the purpose of exploration for, or exploitation of, resources or for other economic purposes.
flexibility term:
(a) in relation to a modern award—see subsection 144(1); and
(b) in relation to an enterprise agreement—see subsection 202(1).
flight crew officer means a person who performs (whether with or without other duties) duties as a pilot, navigator or flight engineer of aircraft, and includes a person being trained for the performance of such duties.
franchise has the meaning given by the Corporations Act 2001.
Full Bench means a Full Bench of the FWC constituted under section 618.
full rate of pay: see section 18.
FWC: see Fair Work Commission.
FWC Member means the President, a Vice President, a Deputy President, a Commissioner or an Expert Panel Member.
General Manager means the General Manager of the FWC.
general protections court application: see subsection 368(4).
general protections FWC application: see subsection 727(2).
general State industrial law: see subsection 26(3).
genuinely agreed in relation to an enterprise agreement: see section 188.
genuine redundancy: see section 389.
good faith bargaining requirements: see section 228.
greenfields agreement: see subsection 172(4).
guaranteed period for a guarantee of annual earnings: see section 331.
guarantee of annual earnings: see subsection 330(1).
handle a complaint about an FWC Member means do one or more of the following acts relating to the complaint:
(a) consider the complaint;
(b) investigate the complaint;
(c) report on an investigation of the complaint;
(d) deal with a report of an investigation of the complaint;
(e) dispose of the complaint;
(f) refer the complaint to a person or body.
high income employee: see section 329.
high income threshold: see section 333.
ILO means the International Labour Organization.
immediate family of a national system employee means:
(a) a spouse, de facto partner, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild or sibling of the employee; or
(b) a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild or sibling of a spouse or de facto partner of the employee.
independent advisor for a protected action ballot means the person (if any) specified in the protected action ballot order as the independent advisor for the ballot.
independent contractor is not confined to an individual.
indirectly, when used in relation to TCF work: see section 17A.
indirectly responsible entity, in relation to TCF work performed by a TCF outworker: see subsections 789CA(3), (4) and (5).
individual flexibility arrangement:
(a) in relation to a modern award—see subsection 144(1); and
(b) in relation to an enterprise agreement—see paragraph 202(1)(a).
industrial action: see section 19.
industrial action related workplace determination: see subsection 266(1).
industrial association means:
(a) an association of employees or independent contractors, or both, or an association of employers, that is registered or recognised as such an association (however described) under a workplace law; or
(b) an association of employees, or independent contractors, or both (whether formed formally or informally), a purpose of which is the protection and promotion of their interests in matters concerning their employment, or their interests as independent contractors (as the case may be); or
(c) an association of employers a principal purpose of which is the protection and promotion of their interests in matters concerning employment and/or independent contractors;
and includes:
(d) a branch of such an association; and
(e) an organisation; and
(f) a branch of an organisation.
industrial body means:
(a) the FWC; or
(b) a court or commission (however described) performing or exercising, under an industrial law, functions and powers corresponding to those conferred on the FWC by this Act; or
(c) a court or commission (however described) performing or exercising, under a workplace law, functions and powers corresponding to those conferred on the FWC by the Registered Organisations Act.
industrial law means:
(a) this Act; or
(b) the Registered Organisations Act; or
(c) a law of the Commonwealth, however designated, that regulates the relationships between employers and employees; or
(d) a State or Territory industrial law.
industry‑specific redundancy scheme means redundancy or termination payment arrangements in a modern award that are described in the award as an industry‑specific redundancy scheme.
inspector means a Fair Work Inspector.
interim application period: see paragraph 156N(2)(b).
involved in: see section 550.
irregularity, in relation to the conduct of a protected action ballot: see subsection 458(6).
junior employee means a national system employee who is under 21.
jury service pay: see subsection 111(6).
jury service summons: see subsection 111(7).
keeping in touch day: see subsections 79A(2) and (3).
law enforcement officer has the same meaning as in subsection 30K(1).
lawyer means a person who is admitted to the legal profession by a Supreme Court of a State or Territory.
local government employee has the same meaning as in subsection 30K(1).
local government employer has the same meaning as in subsection 30K(1).
lock out: see subsection 19(3).
long term casual employee: a national system employee of a national system employer is a long term casual employee at a particular time if, at that time:
(a) the employee is a casual employee; and
(b) the employee has been employed by the employer on a regular and systematic basis for a sequence of periods of employment during a period of at least 12 months.
low‑paid authorisation: see subsection 242(1).
low‑paid workplace determination means:
(a) a consent low‑paid workplace determination; or
(b) a special low‑paid workplace determination.
made:
(a) in relation to an enterprise agreement: see section 182; and
(b) in relation to a variation of an enterprise agreement: see section 209.
magistrates court means:
(a) a court constituted by a police, stipendiary or special magistrate; or
(b) a court constituted by an industrial magistrate; or
(c) the Local Court of the Northern Territory.
majority support determination: see subsection 236(1).
maritime employee means a person who is, or whose occupation is that of, a master as defined in subsection 14(1) of the Navigation Act 2012, a seafarer as so defined or a pilot as so defined.
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.
membership action: see subsection 350(3).
minimum employment period: see section 383.
minimum wages objective: see subsection 284(1).
miscellaneous modern award: see subsection 163(4).
model consultation term: see subsection 205(3).
model flexibility term: see subsection 202(5).
modern award means a modern award made under Part 2‑3.
modern award minimum wages: see subsection 284(3).
modern award powers: see subsection 134(2).
modern awards objective: see subsection 134(1).
modern enterprise award: see subsection 168A(2).
modern enterprise awards objective: see subsection 168B(1).
modifications includes additions, omissions and substitutions.
multi‑enterprise agreement means an enterprise agreement made as referred to in subsection 172(3).
MySuper product: see subsection 23A(1).
named employer award: see subsection 312(2).
National Employment Standards: see subsection 61(3).
national minimum wage order means a national minimum wage order made in an annual wage review.
national system employee: see section 13.
Note 1: Sections 30C and 30M extend the meaning of national system employee in relation to a referring State.
Note 2: See also Division 2 of Part 6‑4A (TCF contract outworkers taken to be employees in certain circumstances).
national system employer: see section 14.
Note 1: Sections 30D and 30N extend the meaning of national system employer in relation to a referring State.
Note 2: See also Division 2 of Part 6‑4A (TCF contract outworkers taken to be employees in certain circumstances).
new employer:
(a) in relation to a transfer of business referred to in Part 2‑8—see subsection 311(1); and
(b) in relation to a transfer of business referred to in Part 6‑3A—see subsection 768AD(1).
nominal expiry date:
(a) of an enterprise agreement approved under section 186, means the date specified in the agreement as its nominal expiry date; or
(b) of an enterprise agreement approved under section 189 (which deals with agreements that do not pass the better off overall test): see subsection 189(4); or
(c) of a workplace determination, means the date specified in the determination as its nominal expiry date; or
(d) of a copied State employment agreement: see subsection 768AO(5).
non‑excluded matters: see subsection 27(2).
non‑member record or document: see subsection 482(2A).
non‑monetary benefits: see subsection 332(3).
non‑national system employee means an employee who is not a national system employee.
non‑national system employer means an employer that is not a national system employer.
non‑transferring employee:
(a) in relation to a transfer of business referred to in Part 2‑8—see subsection 314(2); and
(b) in relation to a transfer of business referred to in Part 6‑3A—see subsection 768BG(2).
notification time for a proposed enterprise agreement: see subsection 173(2).
notified negotiation period for a proposed single‑enterprise agreement that is a greenfields agreement: see section 178B.
objectionable term means a term that:
(a) requires, has the effect of requiring, or purports to require or have the effect of requiring; or
(b) permits, has the effect of permitting, or purports to permit or have the effect of permitting;
either of the following:
(c) a contravention of Part 3‑1 (which deals with general protections);
(d) the payment of a bargaining services fee.
occupier, of premises, includes a person in charge of the premises.
office, in an industrial association, means:
(a) an office of president, vice president, secretary or assistant secretary of the association; or
(b) the office of a voting member of a collective body of the association, being a collective body that has power in relation to any of the following functions:
(i) the management of the affairs of the association;
(ii) the determination of policy for the association;
(iii) the making, alteration or rescission of rules of the association;
(iv) the enforcement of rules of the association, or the performance of functions in relation to the enforcement of such rules; or
(c) an office the holder of which is, under the rules of the association, entitled to participate directly in any of the functions referred to in subparagraphs (b)(i) and (iv), other than an office the holder of which participates only in accordance with directions given by a collective body or another person for the purpose of implementing:
(i) existing policy of the association; or
(ii) decisions concerning the association; or
(d) an office the holder of which is, under the rules of the association, entitled to participate directly in any of the functions referred to in subparagraphs (b)(ii) and (iii); or
(e) the office of a person holding (whether as trustee or otherwise) property:
(i) of the association; or
(ii) in which the association has a beneficial interest.
Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman means the body established by section 696.
officer, of an industrial association, means:
(a) an official of the association; or
(b) a delegate or other representative of the association.
official, of an industrial association, means a person who holds an office in, or is an employee of, the association.
old employer, in relation to a transfer of business: see subsection 311(1).
old State employer: see subsection 768AD(1).
ordinary hours of work of an award/agreement free employee: see section 20.
organisation means an organisation registered under the Registered Organisations Act.
original State agreement, in relation to a copied State employment agreement: see paragraph 768AK(1)(a).
original State award, in relation to a copied State award: see paragraph 768AI(1)(a).
outworker means:
(a) an employee who, for the purpose of the business of his or her employer, performs work at residential premises or at other premises that would not conventionally be regarded as being business premises; or
(b) an individual who, for the purpose of a contract for the provision of services, performs work:
(i) in the textile, clothing or footwear industry; and
(ii) at residential premises or at other premises that would not conventionally be regarded as being business premises.
outworker entity means any of the following entities, other than in the entity’s capacity as a national system employer:
(a) a constitutional corporation;
(b) the Commonwealth;
(c) a Commonwealth authority;
(d) a body corporate incorporated in a Territory;
(e) a person so far as:
(i) the person arranges for work to be performed for the person (either directly or indirectly); and
(ii) the work is of a kind that is often performed by outworkers; and
(iii) the arrangement is connected with a Territory.
Note: Sections 30F and 30Q extend the meaning of outworker entity in relation to a referring State.
outworker terms: see subsection 140(3).
paid agent, in relation to a matter before the FWC, means an agent (other than a bargaining representative) who charges or receives a fee to represent a person in the matter.
paid annual leave means paid annual leave to which a national system employee is entitled under section 87.
paid no safe job leave means paid no safe job leave to which a national system employee is entitled under section 81A.
paid personal/carer’s leave means paid personal/carer’s leave to which a national system employee is entitled under section 96.
paid work means work for financial gain or reward (whether as an employee, a self‑employed person or otherwise).
partial work ban: see subsection 470(3).
part of a single enterprise: see subsection 168A(6).
passes the better off overall test:
(a) in relation to an enterprise agreement that is not a greenfields agreement: see subsection 193(1); and
(b) in relation to a greenfields agreement: see subsection 193(3).
pattern bargaining: see section 412.
peak council means a national or State council or federation that is effectively representative of a significant number of organisations (within the ordinary meaning of the term) representing employers or employees in a range of industries.
pecuniary penalty order means an order under subsection 546(1).
penalty unit has the meaning given by section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914.
period of employment: see section 384.
permissible occasion: see sections 102 and 104.
permit holder means a person who holds an entry permit.
permit qualification matters: see subsection 513(1).
permitted matters in relation to an enterprise agreement: see subsection 172(1).
pieceworker: see section 21.
pilot, in relation to an aircraft, includes a pilot in command, co‑pilot or pilot of any other description.
post‑declaration negotiating period: see subsection 269(2).
post‑industrial action negotiating period: see subsection 266(3).
premises includes:
(a) any land, building, structure, mine, mine working, aircraft, ship, vessel, vehicle or place; and
(b) a part of premises (including premises referred to in paragraph (a)).
pre‑parental leave position: see subsection 83(2).
prescribed State industrial authority means a State board, court, tribunal, body or official prescribed by the regulations.
President means the President of the FWC.
procedural rules means the procedural rules of the FWC made under section 609.
process or proceedings under a workplace law or workplace instrument: see subsection 341(2).
prospective award covered employee for an enterprise agreement: see subsection 193(5).
protected action ballot means a ballot conducted under Division 8 of Part 3‑3.
protected action ballot agent for a protected action ballot means the person that conducts the protected action ballot.
protected action ballot order: see subsection 437(1).
protected from unfair dismissal: see section 382.
protected industrial action: see section 408.
public holiday: see section 115.
public sector employment: see subsections 795(4) and (5).
public sector employment law: see subsection 40(3).
recognised emergency management body: see subsection 109(3).
reduction in take‑home pay: see subsection 768BR(3).
re‑employment time, in relation to a transferring employee covered by a transfer of business referred to in Part 6‑3A: see subsection 768AE(3).
registered employee association means:
(a) an employee organisation; or
(b) an association of employees or independent contractors, or both, that is registered or recognised as such an association (however described) under a State or Territory industrial law.
Registered Organisations Act means the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009.
reinstatement includes appointment by an associated entity in the circumstances provided for in an order to which subsection 391(1A) applies.
related body corporate has the meaning given by the Corporations Act 2001.
relevant belief: a person has a relevant belief in relation to a complaint about an FWC Member if:
(a) the person believes that if one or more of the circumstances that gave rise to the complaint were substantiated, the circumstances would justify considering:
(i) terminating the appointment of the FWC Member in accordance with section 641; or
(ii) (other than if the FWC Member is the President) suspending the FWC Member from office in accordance with section 642; or
(b) the person believes that if one or more of the circumstances that gave rise to the complaint were substantiated, the circumstances may:
(i) adversely affect, or have adversely affected, the performance of duties by the FWC Member; or
(ii) have the capacity to adversely affect, or have adversely affected, the reputation of the FWC.
Note: Sections 641 and 642 deal with termination of appointment and suspension on the grounds of misbehaviour or incapacity.
relevant employee organisation, in relation to a greenfields agreement, means an employee organisation that is entitled to represent the industrial interests of one or more of the employees who will be covered by the agreement, in relation to work to be performed under the agreement.
responsible person, in relation to TCF work performed by a TCF outworker: see subsection 789CA(1).
risk period: see subsections 81(1) and (5).
safety net contractual entitlement means an entitlement under a contract between an employee and an employer that relates to any of the subject matters described in:
(a) subsection 61(2) (which deals with the National Employment Standards); or
(b) subsection 139(1) (which deals with modern awards).
Schedule of Approved Employer MySuper Products: see paragraph 156L(1)(a).
school age, for a child, means the age at which the child is required by a law of the State or Territory in which the child lives to attend school.
school‑based apprentice means a national system employee who is an apprentice to whom a school‑based training arrangement applies.
school‑based trainee means a national system employee (other than a school‑based apprentice) to whom a school‑based training arrangement applies.
school‑based training arrangement means a training arrangement undertaken as part of a course of secondary education.
scope order: see subsection 238(1).
second employer, in relation to a transfer of employment: see subsection 22(7).
second stage test:
(a) in relation to a standard MySuper product—see subsection 156H(2); and
(b) in relation to an employer MySuper product—see section 156S.
serious breach declaration: see section 234.
serious misconduct has the meaning prescribed by the regulations.
service: see section 22.
setting modern award minimum wages: see subsection 284(4).
Sex Discrimination Commissioner means the Sex Discrimination Commissioner appointed under the Sex Discrimination Act 1984.
ship includes a barge, lighter, hulk or other vessel.
single enterprise: see section 168A.
single‑enterprise agreement means an enterprise agreement made as referred to in subsection 172(2).
single interest employer authorisation: see subsection 248(1).
small business employer: see section 23.
Small Business Fair Dismissal Code means the Small Business Fair Dismissal Code declared under subsection 388(1).
special low‑paid workplace determination: see subsection 260(4).
spouse includes a former spouse.
standard application period: see paragraph 156N(2)(a).
standard MySuper product: see subsection 23A(1A).
State award: see section 768AJ.
State collective employment agreement: see subsection 768AL(3).
State employment agreement: see subsections 768AL(1) and (2).
State individual employment agreement: see subsection 768AL(4).
State industrial instrument means an award, an agreement (whether individual or collective), or another industrial instrument or order, that:
(a) is made under, or recognised by, a law of a State that is a State or Territory industrial law; and
(b) determines terms and conditions of employment.
State industrial law means a law of a State that is a State or Territory industrial law.
state of mind: see subsection 793(3).
State or Territory industrial law: see subsection 26(2).
State or Territory OHS law: see subsection 494(3).
State or Territory OHS right: see subsection 494(2).
State public sector employee, of a State, means:
(a) an employee of a State public sector employer of the State; or
(b) any other non‑national system employee in the State of a kind specified in the regulations;
and includes a law enforcement officer of the State but does not include a local government employee of the State.
State public sector employer, of a State, means a non‑national system employer that is:
(a) the State, the Governor of the State or a Minister of the State; or
(b) a body corporate that is established for a public purpose by or under a law of the State, by the Governor of the State or by a Minister of the State; or
(c) a body corporate in which the State has a controlling interest; or
(d) a person who employs individuals for the purposes of an unincorporated body that is established for a public purpose by or under a law of the State, by the Governor of the State or by a Minister of the State; or
(e) any other employer in the State of a kind specified in the regulations;
and includes a non‑national system employer of a law enforcement officer of the State but does not include a local government employer of the State.
State reference public sector employee: see subsection 168E(3).
State reference public sector employer: see subsection 168E(4).
State reference public sector modern award: see subsection 168E(2).
State reference public sector modern awards objective: see section 168F.
step‑child: without limiting who is a step‑child of a person, someone who is a child of the person’s de facto partner is a step‑child of a person, if he or she would be the person’s step‑child except that the person is not legally married to the de facto partner.
superannuation fund means a superannuation fund or a superannuation scheme.
tailored MySuper product: see subsection 23A(2).
take‑home pay: see subsection 768BR(2).
take‑home pay order: see subsection 768BS(1).
TCF award means an instrument prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition.
TCF award worker: see subsection 483A(1A).
TCF contract outworker: see subsection 789BB(2).
TCF outwork code: see section 789DA.
TCF outworker means an outworker in the textile, clothing or footwear industry.
TCF work means work in the textile, clothing or footwear industry.
termination of industrial action instrument: see subsection 266(2).
termination time, in relation to a transferring employee covered by a transfer of business referred to in Part 6‑3A: see subsection 768AE(2).
territorial sea, in relation to Australia, has the meaning given by Division 1 of Part II of the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973.
Territory employer: see subsection 338(4).
test time: see subsection 193(6).
this Act includes the regulations.
trade and commerce employer: see subsection 338(3).
training arrangement means a combination of work and training that is subject to a training agreement, or a training contract, that takes effect under a law of a State or Territory relating to the training of employees.
transferable instrument: see subsection 312(1).
transfer of business:
(a) for a transfer of business between a national system employer and another national system employer—see subsection 311(1); and
(b) for a transfer of business between a non‑national system employer that is a State public sector employer and a national system employer—see subsection 768AD(1).
transfer of employment: see subsection 22(7).
transfer of employment between associated entities: see paragraph 22(8)(a).
transfer of employment between non‑associated entities: see paragraph 22(8)(b).
transferring employee:
(a) in relation to a transfer of business referred to in Part 2‑8—see subsection 311(2); and
(b) in relation to a transfer of business referred to in Part 6‑3A—see subsection 768AE(1).
transferring work:
(a) in relation to a transfer of business referred to in Part 2‑8—see paragraph 311(1)(c); and
(b) in relation to a transfer of business referred to in Part 6‑3A—see paragraph 768AD(1)(c).
Transitional Act means the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009.
transport arrangement: see subsections 521B(1) and (2).
unfair dismissal application: see subsection 729(2).
unfairly dismissed: see section 385.
unlawful term of an enterprise agreement: see section 194.
unlawful termination court application: see subsection 776(4).
unlawful termination FWC application: see subsection 730(2).
unpaid amount, in relation to TCF work performed by a TCF outworker: see subsections 789CA(1) and (4).
unpaid carer’s leave means unpaid carer’s leave to which a national system employee is entitled under section 102.
unpaid no safe job leave means unpaid no safe job leave to which a national system employee is entitled under section 82A.
unpaid parental leave means unpaid parental leave to which a national system employee is entitled under section 70.
unpaid pre‑adoption leave means unpaid pre‑adoption leave to which a national system employee is entitled under section 85.
unpaid special maternity leave means unpaid special maternity leave to which a national system employee is entitled under section 80.
varying modern award minimum wages: see subsection 284(4).
Vice President means a Vice President of the FWC.
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.
voluntary emergency management activity: see subsection 109(2).
waters above the continental shelf means any part of the area in, on or over the continental shelf.
waterside worker<