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Budgets & expenditure
Introduction
The Fair Work Commission is required to provide detailed financial information each year in its annual report tabled in the Australian Parliament.
The first financial reporting period for the Commission (formerly Fair Work Australia) was 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010.
Annual reports of the Commission and its predecessors (Fair Work Australia, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and the Australian Industrial Registry) are available in the Annual reports section of this website.
Portfolio Budget Statements
Read the details of the Commission's Portfolio Budget Statements on the Department of Employment website:
Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements
The Employment Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (PAES) 2016–17 were tabled in Parliament on 9 February 2017. The PAES provides an update to government expenditure estimates for the 2016–17 Budget year and reflects changes since the Budget.
Legal services expenditure
This is a statement of legal services expenditure by the Fair Work Commission for 2015–16, published in compliance with paragraph 11.1(ba) of the Legal Services Directions 2005. All amounts are GST exclusive.
Totals
| Total (external + internal) expenditure | $1,790,902.91 |
| Total internal legal services expenditure | $873,913.12 |
| Total external legal services expenditure | $916,989.79 |
Summary of external legal services expenditure
| Total value of briefs to counsel | $256,158.51 |
| Total value of disbursements (excluding counsel) | $10,744.71 |
| Total value of professional fees paid | $650,086.57 |
| Total external legal services expenditure | $916,989.79 |
Counsel
| Number of direct briefs to male counsel | 17 |
| Number of direct briefs to female counsel | 2 |
| Total number of direct briefs to counsel | 19 |
| Number of indirect briefs to male counsel | 5 |
| Number of indirect briefs to female counsel | 0 |
| Total number of indirect briefs to counsel | 5 |
| For information only: Total number of briefs to male counsel | 22 |
| For information only: Total number of briefs to female counsel | 2 |
| For information only: Total number of briefs to counsel | 24 |
| Total value of direct briefs to male counsel | $178,021.93 |
| Total value of direct briefs to female counsel | $14,145.67 |
| Total value of direct briefs to counsel | $192,167.60 |
| Total value of indirect briefs to male counsel | $63,990.91 |
| Total value of indirect briefs to female counsel | $0.00 |
| Total value of indirect briefs to counsel | $63,990.91 |
| For information only: Total value of briefs to male counsel | $242,012.84 |
| For information only: Total value of briefs to female counsel | $14,145.67 |
| For information only: Total value of briefs to counsel | $256,158.51 |
Professional fees
| Ashurst | $53,843.21 |
| Australian Government Solicitor | $394,257.68 |
| Clayton Utz | $120,084.30 |
| Corrs Chambers Westgarth | $63,463.55 |
| Gardens Lawyers Melbourne | $18,437.83 |
| Other government legal service providers | $0.00 |
| Other non-LSMUL firms | $0.00 |
| Total value of professional fees paid | $650,086.57 |
Commentary
The Commission's internal legal services expenditure is higher than the previous year due to increased resourcing of the Commission's Regulatory Compliance Branch following the referral of matters by the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption. External legal expenditure has been reduced.
Last updated
10 May 2017