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Information publication scheme
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What is the Information publication scheme?
The Information publication scheme (IPS) prescribed by the Freedom of Information Act 1988 (FOI Act) requires Commonwealth agencies to make a broad range of information available, where possible, online. You can find out more about the IPS at the website of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
This page provides a portal to accessing Fair Work Commission information required under the IPS. The information is provided in several ways:
- text alone
- a link to a relevant online page
- by broad description or type, with details as to how to access the full information.
Find out more
Comments welcome
The Fair Work Commission invites written comment on our Information publication scheme by email to foi@fwc.gov.au or by post to:
FOI Contact Officer
Fair Work Commission
GPO Box 1994
Melbourne Victoria 3001
Information publication plan
The Fair Work Commission has an Information publication plan which describes how the Commission is implementing and administering the IPS in respect of its own information holdings
Find out more
- Go to our Information publication plan
Who we are
The Fair Work Commission is Australia's national workplace relations commission. It is an independent body with power to carry out a range of functions.
Those who work for the Commission include statutory appointees appointed under the Fair Work Act 2009 and staff employed under the Public Service Act 1999. The statutory appointees are:
- members, including the President, vice presidents, deputy presidents and commissioners, who are appointed to age 65 and are full-time
- Minimum Wage Panel members who are appointed for a set period of not more than five years and are part-time
- members of state industrial tribunals who also hold an appointment with the Commission
- the General Manager.
Further information about Commission members is available on the following pages:
The General Manager of the Fair Work Commission is appointed by the Governor-General by written instrument for a term not exceeding 5 years.
The role of the General Manager is to assist the President of the Commission and to oversee the administration of Commission staff. Together the General Manager and Commission staff constitute a statutory agency with the General Manager the head of the agency.
Bernadette O'Neill was appointed General Manager on 24 February 2012 (following the former General Manager's appointment as a Commissioner to the former Fair Work Australia, now the Fair Work Commission).
Fair Work Commission staff are organised in the following branches:
- Client Services—Director: Louise Clarke
- Corporate Services—Director: Ailsa Carruthers
- Tribunal Services—Director: Murray Furlong.
The Commission has offices in all Australian capital cities. Contact details are available on the Contact us page.
What we do
The role and functions of the Fair Work Commission are described on the following pages:
Our reports
Under the Fair Work Act 2009, the President of the Fair Work Commission is required to prepare an annual report for tabling in the Australian Parliament and the General Manager is required to provide a number of research reports. In addition, the Fair Work Commission publishes quarterly statistical reports on its website.
Further information is available on the following pages:
Responses to Parliament
The Fair Work Commission's responses to questions asked during the Senate Estimates process, including any Questions on Notice, are available from the Australian Parliament's website at www.aph.gov.au:
- Go to the ParlInfo Search page and enter 'Fair Work Commission' as the search term.
Routinely requested information & disclosure log
Details of routinely requested information will be posted to the FOI disclosure log when requests have been received.
Consultation
The Fair Work Commission does not deal with specific policy proposals requiring consultation with the general public. The Commission primarily deals with applications from individuals and organisations according to processes confined to the direct parties and, where relevant, related parties.
The Fair Work Commission does, however, consult the public as part of its annual wage review process and as part of the General Manager's reporting requirements. Further information is available on the following pages:
Media & news
The Fair Work Commission provides a media liaison service as well as posting news items and media releases to its website. Further information is available on the following pages:
Our finances
The Fair Work Commission provides financial statements in the annual report presented to the Australian Parliament. Further information is available on the following pages:
Operational information
The Fair Work Commission is currently reviewing its operational information to determine which documents need to be published under the IPS. Available information includes:
Site map & search
Information on the Fair Work Commission website can be located using one of the following options:
- Site map
- Search Fair Work Commission documents
- Search pages on the website (search box located in top right-hand corner of each page).
Subscribe
A number of free subscription services are available through the website's Subscribe to updates page.
Last updated
09 June 2017