Fair Work Commission

2009 AIRC

Award modernisation statements

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a statement in relation to variations to modern awards, and a statement in relation to the proposed restaurant and catering industry award.

26 June 2009

Fair Work Australia

The inaugural sitting of Fair Work Australia will be at 9.00 am on Wednesday, 1 July 2009 at 80 William Street, Sydney. The proceedings will be streamed live from the Fair Work Australia website (www.fwa.gov.au).

26 June 2009

Fair Work Australia

Fair Work Australia (FWA) will commence on 1 July 2009. It will be the new national workplace relations tribunal.

The Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) will continue to operate until 31 December 2009. During the transition period the AIRC will complete award modernisation and other matters relating to the period before 1 July 2009.

FWA and the AIRC will operate from the existing locations. More information about FWA is available from its website (www.fwa.gov.au) which will commence in the next few days.

25 June 2009

Termination of employment

New remuneration and compensation limits take effect for termination of employment applications from 1 July 2009.

22 June 2009

Award modernisation—proposed restaurant & catering modern award

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a statement and notice of listing relating to the 28 May 2009 variation of the request from the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the proposed restaurant and catering modern award.

5 June 2009

Award modernisation consultations—Stage 3

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a notice of listing detailing arrangements for public consultations on the Stage 3 exposure drafts to be held in June and July 2009.

5 June 2009

Award modernisation—amended request

On 29 May 2009 the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations sent to the President a letter outlining a variation to the award modernisation request and also provided a consolidated version of the request.

1 June 2009

Award modernisation statement

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a statement and the exposure drafts of the Stage 3 modern awards.

22 May 2009

Award modernisation quarterly report

The President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission has today issued the award modernisation quarterly report for the March quarter 2009.

8 May 2009

Award modernisation—amended request

On 7 May 2009 the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations sent to the President a letter outlining a variation to the award modernisation request and also provided a consolidated version of the request.

8 May 2009

Fair Work Australia—Conciliators

Applications are now being invited for Conciliator positions to be located in most capital cities.

27 April 2009

Award modernisation decision

The Award Modernisation Full Bench issued a decision and the Stage 2 modern awards today. The decision deals with the making of the Stage 2 modern awards.

3 April 2009

Award modernisation decision

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a notice of listing indicating that a decision and Stage 2 modern awards will be published on the AIRC website at 10.00 a.m. tomorrow, Friday 3 April 2009.

2 April 2009

Award modernisation consultations

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued an amended notice of listing detailing changes to the pre-drafting public consultations currently being held as part of Stage 3 of the award modernisation process.

18 March 2009

Award modernisation consultations

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a notice of listing detailing the arrangements for pre-drafting public consultations to be held in March 2009 as part of Stage 3 of the award modernisation process.

20 February 2009

Award modernisation quarterly report

The President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission today issued the award modernisation quarterly report for the December quarter 2008.

5 February 2009

Award modernisation consultations

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a notice of listing detailing the arrangements for public consultations on the Stage 2 exposure drafts to be held in February 2009.

4 February 2009

Award modernisation statement

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a statement in relation to Stage 3 of the award modernisation process.

30 January 2009

Award modernisation statement

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a statement and the exposure drafts of the Stage 2 modern awards.

23 January 2009

Kirby Archives—new website

The website of the Sir Richard Kirby Archives, a repository dedicated to preserving the history of the AIRC, has been redesigned and now includes a new section with information relating to more than 35 landmark industrial cases.

12 January 2009

Award modernisation request—consolidated version

A consolidated version of the Federal Government's award modernisation request, including the variation of 18 December 2008, is now available.

7 January 2009

Award modernisation request—consolidated version

A consolidated version of the Federal Government's award modernisation request, including the variation of 18 December 2008, is now available.

2008 AIRC

Award modernisation—amended request

On 18 December 2008 the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations signed a variation to the Federal Government's award modernisation request (PDF).

30 December 2008

Award modernisation consultation—National Training Wage Award

The AIRC today issued a notice of listing indicating that public consultation in relation to the National Training Wage Award will be held on Wednesday, 21 January 2009.

24 December 2008

AIRC News—new issue

The December 2008 issue of AIRC News is now available.

22 December 2008

Award modernisation decision

The Award Modernisation Full Bench issued a decision and the priority modern awards today. The decision deals with the making of the priority modern awards.

19 December 2008

Award modernisation decision

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a notice of listing indicating that a decision and the priority modern awards will be published on the AIRC website at 12 noon tomorrow, Friday 19 December.

18 December 2008

Award modernisation consultations

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a notice of listing detailing the order in which the priority industry exposure drafts will be dealt with on 31 October and 5 November 2008.

30 October 2008

Award modernisation consultations

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a notice of listing detailing the amended order in which the priority industry exposure drafts will be dealt with on 29-31 October 2008.

21 October 2008

Award modernisation quarterly report

The President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission today issued the award modernisation quarterly report for the September quarter 2008 (PDF).

20 October 2008

Annual reports

The 2007–08 annual reports of the AIRC and the Registry are now available online following their tabling today in the Australian Parliament.

15 October 2008

Award modernisation consultations

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a notice of listing detailing the arrangements for pre-drafting public consultations to be held in November–December 2008 as part of Stage 2 of the award modernisation process.

8 October 2008

Award modernisation consultations

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a notice of listing detailing the arrangements for public consultations on the priority modern award exposure drafts to be held in October 2008.

26 September 2008

Changes to the national industrial relations system

The Employment and Workplace Relations Minister yesterday released further details of the Federal Government's plans for the national industrial relations system in a speech to the National Press Club and a series of fact sheets.

18 September 2008

Award modernisation statement

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a statement in relation to the exposure drafts of the priority modern awards.

12 September 2008

Award modernisation statement

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a statement dealing with stages, 2, 3 and 4 of the award modernisation process.

3 September 2008

Award modernisation quarterly report

The President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission today issued the first award modernisation quarterly report. This report is for the June quarter 2008.

22 August 2008

AIRC News—new issue

The August 2008 issue of AIRC News is now available. Subscribe to receive future issues.

19 August 2008

Wages and Allowances Review 2008

A Full Bench today issued a notice of listing containing directions and hearing dates for the Wages and Allowances Review 2008. A website providing links to submissions, transcript and other material is now available.

29 July 2008

Award modernisation—change to timetable

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a statement dealing with changes to the timetable in relation to the making of priority modern awards set down in the Full Bench's decision of 20 June 2008. For further details see the notice of listing.

22 July 2008

Award modernisation—priority industries/occupations

Individual websites for each of the priority industries/occupations are now available in the Award modernisation—Full Bench proceedings section. These sites will provide links to submissions, transcripts, exhibits and other material for the relevant industry/occupation as they become available. Those interested in the sites may also wish to subscribe to updates or use the search facility.

9 July 2008

Award modernisation consultations

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a notice of listing detailing the arrangements for public consultations to be held in July–August 2008 as part of the award modernisation process in designated priority industries/occupations.

3 July 2008

Termination of employment—new remuneration and compensation limits and lodgment fee

New remuneration and compensation limits take effect for termination of employment applications under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 from 1 July 2008. 

25 June 2008

Award modernisation decision

The Award Modernisation Full Bench today issued a decision with respect to the award modernisation process. The decision deals with priority industries and occupations, a model award flexibility clause and a timetable for the completion of award modernisation.

20 June 2008

Award modernisation—amended request

On 16 June 2008 the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations sent to the AIRC a letter outlining a variation to the formal award modernisation request (PDF). The Minister also provided a consolidated version of the request and enclosed new National Employment Standards which will be used in the award modernisation process.

17 June 2008

Applications to vary and extend the expiry date of a pre-reform certified agreement

The Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008 introduced new provisions allowing parties to extend and/or vary pre-reform certified agreements. 

16 June 2008

Award modernisation—5 June 2008

The Award Modernisation Full Bench issued a statement today. The statement deals with an amendment to the award modernisation request by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the closing date for submissions and suggestions in relation to the current round of consultations.

5 June 2008

Award modernisation consultations begin

Consultations on the first phase of the award modernisation process began in Melbourne today 26 May 2008. Further consultations will take place in Melbourne on 27 May, Sydney on 28 May, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide on 29 May and Darwin (by videolink), Perth and Hobart on 30 May 2008. For further details see the notice of listing.

26 May 2008

AIRC Rules amendments

On 6 May 2008, the President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission signed amendments to the AIRC Rules. The amendments will commence tomorrow 15 May 2008. 

14 May 2008

Award modernisation Full Bench

Documents related to proceedings before the Award Modernisation Full Bench are now available in a new section on this website called Award modernisation—Full Bench proceedings.

13 May 2008

Award modernisation consultations

The AIRC will hold a series of award modernisation consultations from 26 to 30 May 2008. See the notice of listing detailing the dates, times and locations of the consultations.

6 May 2008

Award modernisation

The President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission today issued a statement in relation to the process for award modernisation. The statement follows the award modernisation request (PDF) signed by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations on 28 March 2008.

29 April 2008

AIRC News—new issue

The April 2008 issue of AIRC News is now available.

23 April 2008

Award modernisation—website

A new section dedicated to award modernisation.

14 April 2008

Award modernisation

The President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission on 1 April 2008 received an award modernisation request from the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. See the text of the request.

2 April 2008

Panel changes

The number of AIRC industry panels has been reduced from five to four as of 26 February 2008. To see the new panel arrangements go to the List of AIRC panels.

2007 AIRC

Annual reports

The 2006–07 annual reports of the AIRC and the Registry are now available online following their tabling today in the Australian Parliament.

20 December 2007

Kirby Archives' Exhibitions

The exhibition Alternative Dispute Resolution and the AIRC is now on display in the AIRC's Sydney premises. The photographic exhibition A Day in the Life of the AIRC is on display in the AIRC's Melbourne premises and has been extended to February 2008. Read more about Archives' exhibitions.

6 December 2007

Proforma arbitration agreement

A proforma document providing for the parties' agreement to the AIRC conducting arbitration as part of a dispute resolution process is now available in the Dispute resolution section.

26 November 2007

AIRC News—new issue

The November 2007 issue of AIRC News is now available.

22 November 2007

New AIRC website

The AIRC website today features a modern, new look following a major redesign. Those who use this site are advised to update their 'bookmarks' and 'favorites' to particular pages. See the media release about the new site.

12 November 2007

Harvester centenary

Today marks the 100-year anniversary of the 1907 Harvester judgment by Justice HB Higgins of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. See a page dedicated to the case.

8 November 2007

International conference

Presentations from the recent International Industrial Dispute Resolution Conference, hosted by the AIRC, are now available on the conference website.

12 October 2007

AIRC briefings on dispute resolution

The AIRC offers free, in-house briefings for unions, employer associations and employers on dispute resolution.

18 September 2007

Free subscriptions to AIRC News

The AIRC recently launched a new, bi-monthly, online publication called AIRC News. Go to the subscriptions page to subscribe to AIRC News.

10 September 2007

Conciliation process video online

A video explaining the conciliation process in AIRC termination of employment matters is now available online.

22 August 2007

Wages and Allowances Review 2007

This site provides links to submissions, transcript and other material for the Wages and Allowances Review 2007.