Review of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)
Speaking in Melbourne in late December, the Government’s new Workplace Relations Minister, Bill Shorten, said the review of the Fair Work Act would be conducted by Reserve Bank board member John Edwards, former Federal Court judge, Michael Moore, and workplace relations academic Professor Ron McCallum, reporting by 31 May 2012.
The review would examine and report on:
- the extent to which the Fair Work legislation was operating as intended including:
- the creation of a clear & stable framework of rights & obligations which is simple & straightforward to understand;
- the emphasis on enterprise-level collective bargaining underpinned by simple good faith bargaining obligations & related powers of Fair Work Australia;
- the promotion of fairness & representation at work;
- effective procedures to resolve grievances and disputes;
- genuine unfair dismissal protection;
- the creation of a new institutional framework & a single & accessible compliance regime; &
- any differential impacts across regions, industries, occupations & groups of workers including (but not limited to) women, young workers & people from non-English speaking backgrounds; plus
2. areas where the evidence indicates that the legislation’s operation could be improved consistent with its objectives.