Workplace Relations Act 1996

Workplace Relations Act 1996
Parliament of Australia
Long title:	An Act relating to workplace relations, and for other purposes
Introduced by:
Dates
Date passed:
Date of Royal Assent:
Commencement:	1 January 1997
Other legislation
Amendments:	2005
Related legislation:	Industrial Relations Act 1988
Status: Substantially amended

The Workplace Relations Act 1996 is an Australian law passed by the Howard Government after coming into power in 1996. It replaced the previous Labor Government's Industrial Relations Act 1988. It started operation on 1 January 1997 and provided for the continuation of the federal award system which provides a minimum set of terms and conditions for employment. The Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) continues to determine federal awards but has been restricted by the Act to just 20 "allowable award matters", namely:

• classification of employees
• hours of work
• rates of pay
• piece rates, tallies and bonuses
• various forms of leave (eg. annual and long service leave)
• public holidays
• allowances
• penalty rates
• redundancy pay
• notice of termination
• dispute settling procedures
• stand down provisions
• jury service
• pay and conditions

Some of its provisions upon first being enacted included:

• the introduction of Australian Workplace Agreements, a form of individual contract which can override collective agreements;
• expansion of the use of enterprise bargaining agreements;
• a reduction of the allowable matters in Federal Awards to 20;
• restrictions on union activity; and
• outlawing closed shops.

The Workplace Relations Regulations 2006 repeal and replace the Workplace Relations Regulations 1996 to accommodate the WorkChoices amendments to the Workplace Relations Act 1996 introduced on 27 March 2006.

External links

• Workplace Relations Act 1996 on Austlii
• Work Place Relations Act 1996 DVD