Recordings and transcript

Audio recordings help us deal with cases heard by the Commission and make transcripts. They also give an accurate record of proceedings so people can consider their appeal rights.

We edit the recordings to remove sections that are not relevant, such as breaks (known as adjournments) and periods before the case starts and after the proceedings close.

Personal information is collected in audio recordings. This may include personal and sensitive information about anyone who is there, including parties and witnesses or other people who are not parties in the case. For information on how we handle personal information, see our Privacy policy.

An audio recording is not an official record of the proceedings. For some cases we order a written transcript to be made as an official record. If you ask for a transcript of a recording you may have to pay a fee. More information is available below.

A Commission Member may make a confidentiality order if they think it is necessary. They may order that:

• all or part of a hearing is held in private
• the names and addresses of people appearing at a hearing cannot be published
• the release of certain evidence is prohibited or restricted
• publishing the decision or reasons in a case is prohibited or restricted.

We do not provide access to recordings of confidential conferences.

You can ask for access to a free online audio recording of the proceeding if you are:

• a party to a case
• a party’s representative.

You can only ask for access within 3 months of the date a final decision or order for the case. is issued.

We have the right to decide whether or not to allow access. We usually give access, unless:

• a transcript is already available on our website (see the list at the end of this page to find out which transcripts we publish) a Commission Member has made a confidentiality order, and it would not be practical to remove the material covered by the order from the audio recording
• the party or their representative has previously broken the terms of use of an audio recording.

If agree to your request, you will receive an email from Epiq, the company that manages our audio portal.

Epiq will give you a unique user name and password. Your access will expire after 6 months.

To download or play the recording, you must agree to the audio recording terms of use. These are on the request form.

You can download the recording or play it through the Epiq website. You will not be able to find, stream or download any other audio recordings.

It’s important to know that in most cases we do not order transcript. If we order transcript we will send a free copy to the parties in the case and their representatives.

If we do not order a transcript in your case you will have to pay a fee to get one. To check if a transcript of your hearing has been ordered, please email the Chambers of the Member who heard the case.

If you would like to buy a copy of the transcript of your hearing you can contact Epiq, the company that manages our transcripts, at fwcorders@epiqglobal.com. Epiq will give you an estimate of how much it will cost before they process your order.

Published transcripts

We sometimes publish transcripts of:

• Major cases
• Applications to create or change an award
• Regulated worker and road transport contractual chain standards cases, and
• Ceremonial sittings.