The Fair Work Act 2009 has fundamentally changed the Australian workplace relations system.  Key elements of the system are as follows:

• a legislated minimum safety net of 10 National Employment Standards
• the creation of modern awards
• revised enterprise bargaining arrangements
• streamlined protections dealing with workplace rights (including protection against discrimination) and industrial activities, and unfair dismissal
• two agencies to regulate the system: Fair Work Commission and the Fair Work Ombudsman.