Work Relations Act
Work Relations Act
No. 8, 2008
An Act to amend the Workplace Relations Act 1996, and for related purposes
Contents
1 2 3 Short title ...........................................................................................1 Commencement.................................................................................2 Schedule(s) ........................................................................................2
Schedule 1Workplace agreements and the no-disadvantage test Part 1Main amendments
Workplace Relations Act 1996
3 3 3 40 40
Part 3Other amendments of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 Part 4Amendments of other Acts
Airports (Transitional) Act 1996 APEC Public Holiday Act 2007 Australian Federal Police Act 1979 Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Act 1992 Commonwealth Serum Laboratories Act 1961 Health Insurance Commission (Reform and Separation of Functions) Act 1997 Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976 Parliamentary Service Act 1999 Public Service Act 1999 Skilling Australias Workforce Act 2005 Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 Telstra Corporation Act 1991 Tradesmens Rights Regulation Act 1946
48 89 89 89 89 89 90 90 90 91 91 91 91 91 92 92 93 93 94
Schedule 2Awards
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122 122
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No. 8, 2008 ii
An Act to amend the Workplace Relations Act 1996, and for related purposes
[Assented to 20 March 2008]
No. 8, 2008 1
2 Commencement
(1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
Commencement information Column 1 Provision(s) 1. Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table 2. Schedules 1 to 7 Column 2 Commencement The day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent. Column 3 Date/Details 20 March 2008
A single day to be fixed by Proclamation. However, if any of the provision(s) do not commence within the period of 6 months beginning on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent, they commence on the first day after the end of that period.
Note:
This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally passed by both Houses of the Parliament and assented to. It will not be expanded to deal with provisions inserted in this Act after assent.
(2) Column 3 of the table contains additional information that is not part of this Act. Information in this column may be added to or edited in any published version of this Act.
3 Schedule(s)
Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.
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(3) The kinds of agreements for the purposes of paragraph (2)(a) and subparagraph (2)(b)(ii) are the following: (a) an AWA within the meaning of Schedule 7A;
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(b) a pre-reform AWA; (c) a preserved individual State agreement within the meaning of Schedule 8; (d) an employment agreement within the meaning of section 887. (4) The fact that a period of work performed by a casual employee has ended does not of itself bring an end to the employees employment relationship with the employer for the purposes of subparagraph (2)(b)(ii). (5) An ITEA may be made before the commencement of the employment.
2 Division 5A of Part 8
Repeal the Division, substitute:
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reference instrument has the meaning given by subsection 346E(1). relevant collective instrument has the meaning given by subsection 346E(2). relevant general instrument has the meaning given by subsection 346E(4). (2) Unless the contrary intention appears, this Division (other than sections 346K and 346L and Subdivision D) applies to a workplace agreement as varied under Division 8 in a corresponding way to the way in which it applies to a workplace agreement.
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deal with a short-term crisis in, and to assist in the revival of, the employers business. (5) If the Workplace Authority Director decides under subsection (3) that an agreement is taken to pass the no-disadvantage test, the Workplace Authority Director must publish his or her reasons for the decision on the Workplace Authoritys website. (6) An ITEA is taken to pass the no-disadvantage test if there is no reference instrument in relation to the employee whose employment is subject to the agreement. (7) A collective agreement is taken to pass the no-disadvantage test if there is no reference instrument in relation to any of the employees whose employment is subject to the agreement. (8) To avoid doubt, if there is a reference instrument in relation to one or more, but not all, of the employees whose employment is subject to a collective agreement: (a) in a case where the agreement passes the no-disadvantage test under subsection (2)it passes the test in relation to all employees whose employment is subject to the agreement; or (b) in a case where the agreement does not pass the no-disadvantage test under subsection (2)it does not pass the test in relation to any employees whose employment is subject to the agreement.
Note 1: In addition to the no-disadvantage test, the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard prevails over a workplace agreement to the extent to which the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard provides a more favourable outcome for the employee or employeessee section 172. This section applies to a workplace agreement as varied under Division 8 in a corresponding way to the way in which it applies to a workplace agreementsee subsection 346B(2). See subsection 346J(1) for how the Workplace Authority Director makes decisions under this section.
Note 2:
Note 3:
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(ii) any relevant collective instrument and any relevant general instrument, to the extent that the instruments operate concurrently; or (iii) if there is no relevant collective instrumentany relevant general instrument; or (iv) if there is no relevant collective instrument or relevant general instrumentany designated award; for the employee; or (b) in relation to employees whose employment is subject to a collective agreement: (i) any relevant general instrument; or (ii) if there is no relevant general instrumentany designated award; for one or more of the employees. (2) A relevant collective instrument, for an employee whose employment is subject to a workplace agreement, is an instrument of a kind specified in subsection (3): (a) that regulates, or would but for an ITEA, pre-reform AWA or AWA (within the meaning of Schedule 7A) having come into operation regulate, any term or condition of employment of persons engaged in the same kind of work as that performed or to be performed by the employee under the workplace agreement; and (b) that was binding, or would but for an ITEA, pre-reform AWA or AWA (within the meaning of Schedule 7A) having come into operation have been binding, on the employees employer immediately before the day on which the workplace agreement was lodged. (3) The kinds of instruments for the purposes of subsection (2) are any of the following: (a) a collective agreement; (b) a pre-reform certified agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7); (c) an old IR agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7); (d) a preserved collective State agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 8); (e) a workplace determination; (f) a section 170MX award (within the meaning of Schedule 7).
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(4) A relevant general instrument, for an employee whose employment is subject to a workplace agreement, is an instrument of a kind specified in subsection (5): (a) that regulates, or would but for a workplace agreement or another industrial instrument having come into operation regulate, any term or condition of employment of persons engaged in the same kind of work as that performed or to be performed by the employee under the workplace agreement; and (b) that was binding, or would but for a workplace agreement or another industrial instrument having come into operation have been binding, on the employees employer immediately before the day on which the workplace agreement was lodged. (5) The kinds of instruments for the purposes of subsection (4) are any of the following: (a) an award; (b) a common rule in operation under Schedule 6; (c) a transitional Victorian reference award (within the meaning of Part 7 of Schedule 6); (d) a transitional award (within the meaning of Schedule 6), other than a Victorian reference award (within the meaning of that Schedule), to the extent that the award regulates excluded employers in respect of the employment of employees in Victoria; (e) a notional agreement preserving State awards (within the meaning of Schedule 8).
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(3) If a variation to a workplace agreement is lodged before the Workplace Authority Director has decided whether the agreement passes the no-disadvantage test under section 346D: (a) the Workplace Authority Director must consider the workplace agreement and the workplace agreement as varied as part of the same process; and (b) to avoid doubt, the Workplace Authority Director must consider, and make a separate decision in respect of, both the workplace agreement and the workplace agreement as varied. (4) For the purposes of applying subsection 346D(1) or (2), assume that the employment relationship of the employee or employees referred to in either of those subsections was in existence immediately before the day on which the ITEA or collective agreement was lodged.
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(a) must be an award or awards regulating, or that would, but for a workplace agreement or another industrial instrument having come into operation, regulate, terms or conditions of employment of employees engaged in the same kind of work as the work performed or to be performed by the employee or employees; and (b) must, in the opinion of the Workplace Authority Director, be an award or awards that would be appropriate for the purpose referred to in paragraph 346H(3)(b) if a workplace agreement or a variation of a workplace agreement were lodged; and (c) must not be an award that regulates the terms and conditions of employment in a single business only (being the single business specified in the award). (5) An award determined under this section in relation to an employee or employees is taken to be the designated award determined by the Workplace Authority Director under section 346H in relation to the employee or employees if the employer later lodges a workplace agreement, or a variation of a workplace agreement, in relation to the employee or the employees. (6) Despite subsection (5), the Workplace Authority Director may determine under section 346H that another award is a designated award in relation to the employee, or in relation to some or all of the employees, if: (a) the Workplace Authority Director becomes aware of information that was not available to the Workplace Authority Director at the time of the determination under subsection (1); and (b) the Workplace Authority Director is satisfied that, had that information been available to the Workplace Authority Director at that time, the Workplace Authority Director would have determined under subsection (1) the other award to be the designated award. (7) The Workplace Authority Director may determine different awards under subsection (1) in relation to different employees. (8) In this section, a reference to an employee or employees of an employer includes a reference to a person or persons who may become an employee or employees of the employer.
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(3) An award or awards determined by the Workplace Authority Director under this section: (a) must be an award or awards regulating, or that would, but for a workplace agreement or another industrial instrument having come into operation, regulate, terms or conditions of employment of employees engaged in the same kind of work as the work performed by the employee or employees under the workplace agreement concerned; and (b) must, in the opinion of the Workplace Authority Director, be appropriate for the purpose of deciding whether a workplace agreement, or a workplace agreement as varied, passes the no-disadvantage test; and (c) must not be an award that regulates the terms and conditions of employment in a single business only (being the single business specified in the award). (4) The Workplace Authority Director may determine different awards under subsection (2) in relation to different employees. (5) A determination made under this section is not a legislative instrument.
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meaning of that Schedule), to the extent that the award regulates excluded employers in respect of the employment of employees in Victoria; or would, but for a workplace agreement or an industrial instrument having come into operation, usually be so regulated.
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organisation or organisations bound by the agreement; and (b) the notice must also state that the agreement comes into operation on the seventh day after the date of issue specified in the notice. (2) If the Workplace Authority Director decides under section 346D that the agreement does not pass the no-disadvantage test, then: (a) the Workplace Authority Director must notify the following of the decision: (i) the employer in relation to the agreement; (ii) if the agreement is an ITEAthe employee whose employment is subject to the ITEA; (iii) if the agreement is a union collective agreement or a multiple-business agreement that would be a union collective agreement but for subsection 331(1)the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement; and (b) the notice must also: (i) state that the agreement has not come into operation because it does not pass the no-disadvantage test; and (ii) contain advice as to how the agreement could be varied to pass the no-disadvantage test. (3) If subsection 346F(3) requires the Workplace Authority Director to consider, and make a separate decision in respect of, both a workplace agreement and the workplace agreement as varied, the notice under this section must deal with both agreements. (4) A notice under this section: (a) must be in writing; and (b) must specify the date of issue of the notice.
Note: Section 346ZH requires the employer to inform the employees concerned of the contents of the notice in relation to a collective agreement.
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employer who is bound by the agreement may lodge a variation of the agreement with the Workplace Authority Director. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), Division 8 does not apply to the variation of an agreement, except for sections 367, 368, 368A, 372, 373 and 374, paragraph 377(1)(b) and section 380A.
(3) The Workplace Authority Director may, by notice published in the Gazette, set out requirements for the form of a declaration for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b). (4) A declaration is given to the Workplace Authority Director for the purposes of subsection (2) only if the declaration is actually received by the Workplace Authority Director.
Note: This means that section 29 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (to the extent that it deals with the time of service of documents) and section 160 of the Evidence Act 1995 do not apply to lodgment of a declaration.
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(2) If the Workplace Authority Director decides under subsection (1) that a workplace agreement as varied passes the no-disadvantage test, or that it does not pass the no-disadvantage test, the Workplace Authority Director must notify the following of the decision: (a) the employer in relation to the workplace agreement; (b) if the workplace agreement is an ITEAthe employee whose employment is subject to the ITEA; (c) if the agreement is a union collective agreement, or a multiple-business agreement that would be a union collective agreement but for subsection 331(1)the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement. (3) The notice must be in writing and must specify: (a) the date of issue of the notice; and (b) if the workplace agreement as varied passes the no-disadvantage testthat the agreement as varied will come into operation on the seventh day after the date of issue specified in the notice; and (c) if the workplace agreement as varied does not pass the no-disadvantage testthat the agreement has not come into operation because it does not pass the no-disadvantage test.
Note 1: Section 346ZH requires the employer to inform the employees concerned of the contents of the notice under this section in relation to a collective agreement. See subsection 346J(1) for how the Workplace Authority Director makes decisions under this section.
Note 2:
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(ii) if the agreement is an ITEAthe employee whose employment is subject to the ITEA; (iii) if the agreement is a union greenfields agreement or a multiple-business agreement that would be a union greenfields agreement but for subsection 331(1)the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement; and (b) the notice must also contain advice as to how the agreement could be varied to pass the no-disadvantage test. (3) If subsection 346F(3) requires the Workplace Authority Director to consider, and make a separate decision in respect of, both a workplace agreement and the workplace agreement as varied, the notice under this section must deal with both agreements. (4) A notice under this section: (a) must be in writing; and (b) must specify the date of issue of the notice.
Note: Section 346ZH requires the employer to inform the employees concerned of the contents of the notice in relation to a collective agreement.
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(a) the Workplace Authority Director decides under section 346D that the agreement does not pass the no-disadvantage test; and (b) the agreement is in operation immediately before the date of the decision. (2) The employer who is bound by the agreement may: (a) lodge a variation of the agreement with the Workplace Authority Director; or (b) in the case of an employer greenfields agreementlodge a variation of the agreement by giving to the Workplace Authority Director a written undertaking in relation to the agreement. (3) If the employer does not take the action referred to in subsection (2) within the relevant period in relation to the agreement, then at the end of that period: (a) the workplace agreement ceases to operate; and (b) the employee or employees whose employment was at any time subject to the agreement are, after the end of the relevant period in relation to the agreement, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZG. (4) Despite subsection (3), if: (a) because of subsection 346F(3), the Workplace Authority Director considered, and made a separate decision in respect of, both the workplace agreement and the workplace agreement as varied; and (b) the agreement did not pass the no-disadvantage test, but the agreement as varied passed the no-disadvantage test; the agreement as varied continues in operation, and the employee or employees whose employment was at any time subject to the agreement, whether before or after the variation was lodged, are, after the end of the relevant period in relation to the agreement, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZG. (5) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a), Division 8 does not apply to the variation of an agreement, except for sections 367, 368, 368A, 372, 373 and 374, paragraph 377(1)(b) and section 380A.
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(6) For the purposes of paragraph 2(b), Division 8 does not apply to an undertaking given to the Workplace Authority Director in relation to an employer greenfields agreement. (7) In this section: relevant period, in relation to a workplace agreement, means: (a) the period of 30 days beginning on the seventh day after the date of issue specified in the notice under section 346U in relation to the workplace agreement; or (b) if a longer period is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraphthat period; or (c) if the period referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) is extended under subsection (8) in relation to the workplace agreementthe period as extended. (8) The Workplace Authority Director may extend the period referred to in paragraph (7)(a) or (b), as the case requires, in relation to a particular workplace agreement in circumstances prescribed by the regulations.
(3) The Workplace Authority Director may, by notice published in the Gazette, set out requirements for the form of a declaration for the purposes of paragraph (2)(b). The requirements may be different for variations and undertakings.
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(4) A declaration is given to the Workplace Authority Director for the purposes of subsection (2) only if the declaration is actually received by the Workplace Authority Director.
Note: This means that section 29 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (to the extent that it deals with the time of service of documents) and section 160 of the Evidence Act 1995 do not apply to lodgment of a declaration.
(2) If the Workplace Authority Director decides under subsection (1) that a workplace agreement as varied passes the no-disadvantage test, or that it does not pass the no-disadvantage test, the Workplace Authority Director must notify the following of the decision: (a) the employer in relation to the workplace agreement; (b) if the workplace agreement is an ITEAthe employee whose employment is subject to the ITEA;
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(c) if the agreement is a union greenfields agreement, or a multiple-business agreement that would be a union greenfields agreement but for subsection 331(1)the organisation or organisations bound by the agreement. (3) The notice must be in writing and must specify: (a) the date of issue of the notice; and (b) if the workplace agreement as varied passes the no-disadvantage test: (i) that the workplace agreement continues in operation; and (ii) that the workplace agreement was varied by way of a variation or a written undertaking, as the case may be; and (iii) that the employee or employees whose employment is, or was at any time, subject to the workplace agreement are, on and from the seventh day after the date of issue specified in the notice, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZG; and (c) if the workplace agreement as varied does not pass the no-disadvantage test: (i) that, if the workplace agreement was in operation immediately before the seventh day after the date of issue specified in the noticethe agreement ceases to operate on that day; and (ii) that the employee or employees whose employment was at any time subject to the workplace agreement are, on and from that day, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZG.
Note: Section 346ZH requires the employer to inform the employees concerned of the contents of the notice under this section in relation to a collective agreement.
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(b) if the workplace agreement does not pass the no-disadvantage testit ceases to operate on and from the seventh day after the date of issue specified in the notice under section 346Z in respect of the workplace agreement; and (c) the employee or employees whose employment is, or was at any time, subject to the agreement are, on and from that day, entitled to any compensation payable to the employee or employees under section 346ZG.
Note: Even though the workplace agreement has been varied so that it passes the no-disadvantage test, compensation may be payable in respect of the period when the agreement did not pass the no-disadvantage test.
(2) Paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) do not apply if the workplace agreement is not in operation in relation to any employee immediately before the date of the decision.
346ZB Employment arrangements that apply if a workplace agreement ceases to operate because it does not pass no-disadvantage test
(1) This section applies if, on a particular day (the cessation day), a workplace agreement (the original agreement) ceases to operate under section 346W or 346ZA because the original agreement does not pass the no-disadvantage test. (2) The employer and the employee or employees who were bound by the original agreement immediately before the cessation day are taken, on and from the cessation day, to be bound by: (a) the instrument or instruments that, but for the original agreement having come into operation, would have bound the employer and the employee or employees on and from the cessation day; or (b) if there is no instrument of a kind referred to in paragraph (a) in relation to the employer and one or more of the employeesthe designated award in relation to that employee or those employees.
Note 1: A workplace agreement binds all persons whose employment is, at any time when the agreement is in operation, subject to the agreement (see paragraph 351(b)). A collective agreement may therefore bind an employer in relation to existing and future employees.
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Note 2:
See section 601D for the employment arrangements that would apply in a transmission of business context.
(3) If the original agreement is a workplace agreement as varied under Division 8, the workplace agreement as in force before the variation was lodged is, despite section 346ZE, capable of being an instrument described in paragraph (2)(a). (4) An instrument that has ceased to operate in relation to an employee or employees is capable of being an instrument described in paragraph (2)(a) only if the reason it ceased to operate was because the original agreement came into operation in relation to the employee or employees. (5) In this section: instrument means any of the following: (a) a workplace agreement; (b) an award; (c) a workplace determination; (d) an employment agreement within the meaning of section 887; (e) a pre-reform certified agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7); (f) a common rule continued in operation under Schedule 6; (g) a transitional Victorian reference award (within the meaning of Part 7 of Schedule 6); (h) a transitional award (within the meaning of Schedule 6) other than a Victorian reference award (within the meaning of that Schedule) to the extent that the award regulates excluded employers in respect of the employment of employees in Victoria; (i) a section 170MX award (within the meaning of Schedule 7); (j) an old IR agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7); (k) a preserved State agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 8); (l) a notional agreement preserving State awards (within the meaning of Schedule 8).
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(3) If, immediately before the day on which the original agreement was lodged, the employer was bound by an undertaking under subsection 394(1) in relation to an employee whose employment was subject to the original agreement, the employer is taken: (a) to be bound under section 394 by the undertaking in relation to the employee on and from the cessation day; and (b) to continue to be so bound until the earlier of the following: (i) the time when the employee ceases to be employed by the employer; (ii) the time when another workplace agreement comes into operation in relation to the employee and the employer. (4) In this section: designated provision, in relation to a workplace agreement, means any of the following: (a) section 399A; (b) clause 6A of Schedule 7; (c) clause 20A of Schedule 7; (d) clause 21A of Schedule 8; (e) clause 21D of Schedule 8; that, after the agreement is terminated, continues the effect of a redundancy provision that was included in the agreement. redundancy provision means a redundancy provision within the meaning of any of the following: (a) section 399A; (b) clause 6A of Schedule 7; (c) clause 20A of Schedule 7; (d) clause 21A of Schedule 8; (e) clause 21D of Schedule 8.
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346ZF Regulations may make provision for operation of provisions of revived instruments
The regulations may make provision for and in relation to the operation of instruments that are taken to bind an employer and employees because of the operation of section 346ZB.
(2) If the amount worked out under paragraph (a) is less than the amount worked out under paragraph (b), the employer must pay to the employee the amount of the shortfall: (a) the total value of the entitlements to which the employee was entitled, under the workplace agreement, and under any other applicable law, agreement or arrangement that operated in conjunction with the workplace agreement, in respect of one or more periods of employment during the no-disadvantage test period for the workplace agreement; (b) the total value of the entitlements to which the employee would have been entitled, in respect of one or more periods of employment of the employee during the no-disadvantage test period, worked out in accordance with the assumptions set out in subsection (3). (3) For the purposes of working out the total value of the entitlements to which the employee would have been entitled, in respect of one or more periods of employment of the employee during the
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no-disadvantage test period, it is to be assumed that, during that period or those periods of employment: (a) the employees employment was subject to: (i) the instrument or instruments that, but for the workplace agreement, would have bound the employer in relation to that period or those periods of employment of the employee; or (ii) if there is no such instrumentthe designated award in relation to the employee; and (b) the employer was bound, under a designated provision relating to the agreement, by a redundancy provision that, but for the workplace agreement having come into operation, would have bound the employer in relation to the employee; and (c) the employer was bound under section 394 by any undertaking that, but for the workplace agreement having come into operation, would have bound the employer in relation to the employee; and (d) the employees employment was subject to any other applicable law, agreement or arrangement that would have operated in conjunction with the instrument or instruments referred to in subparagraph (a)(i), or the designated award referred to in subparagraph (a)(ii), as the case requires. (4) An employer breaches this section if the employer does not pay to the employee the amount of the shortfall calculated under subsection (2) within whichever of the following periods is applicable: (a) if the employee is entitled to compensation because of the operation of section 346V in respect of the workplace agreementthe period of 14 days beginning on the seventh day after the date of issue specified in the notice under section 346U in relation to the workplace agreement; (b) if the employee is entitled to compensation because of the operation of section 346W in respect of the workplace agreementthe period of 14 days beginning at the end of the relevant period (within the meaning of section 346W) in relation to the workplace agreement; (c) if the employee is entitled to compensation because of the operation of section 346ZA in respect of the workplace agreementthe period of 14 days beginning on the seventh
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day after the date of issue specified in the notice under section 346Z in relation to the workplace agreement.
Note: Compliance with this section is dealt with in Part 14this section is an applicable provision within the meaning of section 717.
(5) In this section: designated provision has the same meaning as in section 346ZD. instrument has the same meaning as in section 346ZB. no-disadvantage test period, in relation to a workplace agreement, means: (a) the period: (i) beginning on the day on which the workplace agreement was lodged; and (ii) ending on the day on which the workplace agreement ceased to operate (whether because of the operation of this Division or otherwise); or (b) if the workplace agreement is continued in operation because of the operation of subsection 346W(4) or section 346ZA the period: (i) beginning on the day on which the workplace agreement was lodged; and (ii) ending on the day on which the variation of the workplace agreement was lodged under section 346W or, if the workplace agreement had been varied before that day in such a way as to pass the no-disadvantage test, on that earlier day. redundancy provision has the same meaning as in section 346ZD.
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Note:
346ZJ Employer not to dismiss etc. employee because agreement does not pass the no-disadvantage test
(1) An employer must not: (a) dismiss an employee; or (b) threaten to dismiss an employee; if the sole or dominant reason for the employer dismissing, or threatening to dismiss, the employee is that a workplace agreement does not, or may not, pass the no-disadvantage test. (2) Subsection (1) is a civil remedy provision.
Note 1: An employee may still be entitled to compensation under section 346ZG if his or her workplace agreement does not pass the no-disadvantage test. A contravention of subsection (1) is enforceable by a workplace inspectorsee Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.
Note 2:
(3) In proceedings alleging a contravention of subsection (1) it is presumed that the employers sole or dominant reason was that the workplace agreement did not, or may not, pass the no-disadvantage test, unless the employer proves otherwise.
Note: Division 3 of Part 14 contains other provisions relevant to civil remedies.
(2) The orders that may be made under paragraph (1)(b) include: (a) injunctions; and
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(b) any other orders that the Court considers necessary to stop the conduct or remedy its effects. (3) In this section: eligible person means any of the following: (a) a workplace inspector; (b) an employee affected by the contravention; (c) an organisation of employees that: (i) has been requested in writing, by the employee concerned, to apply on the employees behalf; and (ii) is entitled, under its eligibility rules, to represent the industrial interests of the employee in relation to work carried on by the employee for the employer; (d) a person prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph. (4) A regulation prescribing persons for the purposes of paragraph (d) of the definition of eligible person in subsection (3) may provide that a person is prescribed only in relation to circumstances specified in the regulation.
3 Subsection 347(1)
Repeal the subsection, substitute: (1) A workplace agreement comes into operation at whichever of the following times is applicable: (a) for an ITEA to which subparagraph 326(2)(b)(i) or (ia) applies, a union greenfields agreement, an employer greenfields agreement or a multiple-business agreement that would be such an agreement but for subsection 331(1)the day the agreement is lodged; (b) for an ITEA to which subparagraph 326(2)(b)(ii) applies, an employee collective agreement, a union collective agreement or a multiple-business agreement that would be such an agreement but for subsection 331(1)the seventh day after the date of issue specified in the notice under subsection 346M(1) or 346Q(2) in relation to the agreement.
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4A Section 349
Before An award, insert (1).
Workplace agreements and the no-disadvantage test Schedule 1 Main amendments Part 1
comparison with the conditions of employment specified in a relevant award or awards for employees who perform the same kind of work at an employers business or commercial premises.
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(i) the date specified in the agreement as varied as its nominal expiry date; (ii) the second anniversary of the seventh day after the date of issue specified in the notice under subsection 346M(1); or
11 Section 393
Repeal the section, substitute:
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(3) However, this may be done only if the nominal expiry date of the ITEA has passed. (4) At least 90 days before the lodgment, and after the nominal expiry date of the ITEA has passed, the person intending to lodge the declaration must take reasonable steps to ensure that: (a) written notice of the termination is given to: (i) if the employer, or a bargaining agent at the employers request, is intending to lodge the declarationthe employee; or (ii) if the employee, or a bargaining agent at the employees request, is intending to lodge the declarationthe employer; and (b) if the person giving the notice is the employer in relation to the ITEA, or is a bargaining agent doing so at the request of the employera written copy of the undertakings (if any) made by the employer under section 394 is given to the employee. (5) The notice must: (a) state that the ITEA is to be terminated; and (b) specify the day on which the person proposes to lodge the notice; and (c) be in the form (if any) that the Workplace Authority Director requires by notice published in the Gazette; and (d) contain the information (if any) that the Workplace Authority Director requires by notice published in the Gazette; and
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(e) if the person giving the notice is the employer in relation to the ITEA, or is a bargaining agent doing so at the request of the employerstate whether the parties to the ITEA will, under section 399A, continue to be bound by one or more redundancy provisions included in the ITEA; and (f) if the parties to the ITEA will continue to be so bound include an annexed copy of the provision or the provisions. (6) A person contravenes this subsection if: (a) the person lodges a declaration to terminate an ITEA under subsection (2); and (b) the person failed to comply with subsection (4) or (5).
Note: See Division 11 for provisions on enforcement.
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(b) the circumstances of each such party, including the likely effect on each such party of the termination of the agreement.
13 Section 398
Repeal the section, substitute:
14 Section 399
Repeal the section.
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Schedule 1 Workplace agreements and the no-disadvantage test Part 2 Transitional matters
1 Definitions
(1) In this Schedule: AWA has the meaning that was given by sections 4 and 326 of the pre-transition Act, but does not include: (a) an agreement made after the commencement of this Schedule; or (b) a pre-reform AWA within the meaning of Schedule 7. pre-transition Act means this Act as in force immediately before the commencement of this Schedule. (2) For the purposes of this Schedule, an agreement ceases to be an AWA unless: (a) it was lodged with the Workplace Authority Director before the commencement of this Schedule; or (b) it is lodged, in accordance with section 344 of the pre-transition Act, within 14 days after that commencement. (3) Paragraph 333(a) and subsection 340(1) of the pre-transition Act apply to working out, for the purposes of the definition of AWA in subclause (1), when an agreement was made.
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(3) Regulations made under the pre-transition Act continue to apply in relation to an AWA, except to the extent that they relate to the provisions mentioned in subclause (2). (4) To avoid doubt, nothing in this Schedule permits an agreement made after the commencement of this Schedule to be treated as an AWA.
3 Bargaining agents
(1) Despite the definition of bargaining agent in subsection 4(1) of the pre-transition Act, an appointment of a bargaining agent ceases to have effect 14 days after the commencement of this Schedule if the appointment relates to: (a) making an AWA; or
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(b) varying an AWA (other than varying an AWA in circumstances referred to in paragraph 367(2)(aa), (b), (c) or (d) of the pre-transition Act). (1A) However, paragraph 405(1)(e) of the pre-transition Act continues to apply in relation to a person whose appointment has ceased to have effect under subclause (1), as if the person continues to be a bargaining agent. (2) Despite subsection 334(1) of the pre-transition Act, an appointment of a bargaining agent made later than 14 days after the commencement of this Schedule is of no effect if the appointment relates to: (a) making an AWA; or (b) varying an AWA (other than varying an AWA in circumstances referred to in paragraph 367(2)(aa), (b), (c) or (d) of the pre-transition Act).
(2) Despite subsection 380(2) of the pre-transition Act, a variation of an AWA comes into operation only if: (a) it was lodged with the Workplace Authority Director before the commencement of this Schedule; or
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(b) it is lodged, in accordance with section 377 of the pre-transition Act, within 14 days after the commencement of this Schedule. (3) However, this clause does not prevent: (a) variation of an AWA in circumstances referred to in paragraph 367(2)(aa), (b), (c) or (d) of the pre-transition Act; or (b) the application of subsection 380(2) of the pre-transition Act in relation to a variation of an AWA in any of those circumstances.
6 Replacement of AWAs
(1) An AWA ceases to be in operation if it is replaced by an ITEA. (2) If an AWA has ceased operating because of subclause (1), it can never operate again. (3) Subclause (1) does not limit the operation of paragraph 347(4)(a), (ba), (bb) or (c) of the pre-transition Act for the purposes of this Schedule. (4) To avoid doubt, despite paragraph 347(4)(b) of the pre-transition Act, an AWA cannot be replaced by another AWA made after the commencement of this Schedule.
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(a) a purported variation made to an AWA after the commencement of this Schedule is lodged with the Workplace Authority Director; or (b) a variation made to an AWA is lodged with the Workplace Authority Director after the end of a period of 14 days after the commencement of this Schedule; the Workplace Authority Director must notify the parties to the agreement that lodgment of the variation has not been accepted and that the purported variation or variation is not in operation. (3) However, subclause (2) does not apply to a variation of an AWA in circumstances referred to in paragraph 367(2)(aa), (b), (c) or (d) of the pre-transition Act.
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1 Definitions
In this Schedule: fairness test means the test set out in section 346M of the pre-transition Act. pre-transition Act means this Act as in force immediately before the commencement of this Schedule. pre-transition collective agreement means a collective agreement made before the commencement of this Schedule that: (a) was lodged with the Workplace Authority Director before that commencement; or (b) is lodged, in accordance with section 344 of the pre-transition Act, within 14 days after that commencement; but does not include a collective agreement made after that commencement.
2 Continuing operation of fairness test and protected award conditions to pre-transition collective agreements
(1) Subject to this Schedule, the following provisions of the pre-transition Act continue to apply in relation to a pre-transition collective agreement, despite the repeals and amendments made by the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008: (a) paragraph 150B(1)(f); (b) subsection 164A(7); (c) Division 5A of Part 8; (ca) subsections 347(1) and (2); (d) paragraphs 347(4)(ba) and (bb); (e) subsections 347(8A) and (9A); (f) section 354; (g) section 355; (h) paragraph 367(2)(aa); (i) paragraphs 407(2)(jb) to (jd); (j) sections 416 to 418;
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(k) subsection 506(5); (l) any other provision relating to the operation of the provisions mentioned in the preceding paragraphs. (2) Regulations made under the pre-transition Act, to the extent that they relate to the provisions mentioned in subclause (1), continue to apply in relation to a pre-transition collective agreement. (3) To the extent that provisions of the pre-transition Act, and the regulations made under the pre-transition Act, continue to apply in relation to a pre-transition collective agreement, the corresponding provisions of this Act do not apply to the agreement. (4) The provisions of this Act (other than the corresponding provisions referred to in subclause (3)) apply in relation to a pre-transition collective agreement as if references in those provisions to the no-disadvantage test were references to the fairness test.
(2)
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industrial instrument means an instrument mentioned in subsection 399(3) of the pre-transition Act, and includes any of the following (except to the extent that they contain protected award conditions): (a) a common rule within the meaning of clause 89 of Schedule 6; (b) a transitional Victorian reference award within the meaning of Part 7 of that Schedule; (c) a transitional award within the meaning of that Schedule, to the extent that subclause 102(1) of that Schedule applies to it. pre-transition Act means the Workplace Relations Act 1996 as in force immediately before the commencement of this item. protected award condition has the meaning it had for the purposes of section 354 of the pre-transition Act.
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19 Subsection 4(1)
Insert: individual transitional employment agreement or ITEA has the meaning given by section 326. ITEA: see individual transitional employment agreement.
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Note 3:
An order by the Court under paragraph 412A(1)(a) enables a document to which section 324A applies to have effect as a workplace agreement.
21 Section 8
Repeal the section, substitute:
22 Paragraph 150B(1)(f)
Omit fairness test, substitute no-disadvantage test.
23 Subsection 164A(7)
Repeal the subsection, substitute: (7) Despite subsections (1), (2) and (5), a workplace agreement official is not authorised by any of those subsections to disclose to the Minister information relating to a decision under Division 5A of Part 8 whether a particular workplace agreement passes the no-disadvantage test.
24 Paragraph 165(1)(c)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
Note 1: The heading to section 165 is altered by omitting AWAs and substituting ITEAs. Note 2: The heading to section 166 is altered by omitting AWAs and substituting workplace agreements.
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25 Subsection 185(3) (cell at table item 1, column headed In this situation ...)
Repeal the cell, substitute:
if: (a) subsection 182(1) applies to the employment of the employee; and (b) the employees employment has never been subject to a workplace agreement;
26 Subsection 185(3) (cell at table item 2, column headed In this situation ...)
Repeal the cell, substitute:
if: (a) subsection 182(1) applies to the employment of the employee; and (b) the employees employment has been, but is no longer, subject to a workplace agreement;
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(d) any other provision of this Act, to the extent that the provision relates to the operation of any of the provisions mentioned in paragraph (c).
Note: The Court can order under section 412A that a document is to have effect as a workplace agreement for the purposes of the entire Act.
28 Section 327
After will, insert , or would but for the operation of an ITEA that has passed its nominal expiry date,.
29 Paragraph 333(a)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute: (a) for an ITEAthe time when the ITEA is approved in accordance with section 340;
30 Subsection 334(1)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
Note: The heading to section 334 is altered by omitting AWAs and substituting ITEAs.
31 Paragraph 336(a)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute: (a) in the case of an ITEAthe person whose employment will be subject to the ITEA; or
32 Paragraph 336(b)
After will, insert , or would but for the operation of an ITEA that has passed its nominal expiry date,.
33 Paragraph 337(4)(b)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
34 Paragraph 337(4)(ca)
Repeal the paragraph.
35 Subsection 337(6)
Repeal the subsection, substitute: (6) For the purposes of this section, if the workplace agreement incorporates terms from another workplace agreement or an award,
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the eligible employees have ready access to the workplace agreement only if they have ready access to that other workplace agreement or award in writing.
36 Subsection 340(1)
Omit AWA (wherever occurring), substitute ITEA.
37 Paragraph 340(2)(a)
After will, insert , or would but for the operation of an ITEA that has passed its nominal expiry date,.
38 Subsection 342(1)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
39 Paragraph 344(1)(b)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute: (b) the workplace agreement: (i) in the case of an ITEAmeets the signature requirements of subsection 340(1); or (ii) in the case of a collective agreementmeets the signature requirements of regulations made for the purposes of paragraph 418(e); and (c) a copy of the signed agreement is annexed to the declaration.
40 Paragraph 345(2)(b)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
41 Subsection 346A(1)
Omit AWA (wherever occurring), substitute ITEA.
Note: The heading to section 346A is altered by omitting AWA and substituting ITEA.
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(ba) in the case of an agreement to which paragraph (1)(a) appliesthe Workplace Authority Director decides under section 346D that the agreement does not pass the no-disadvantage test and the employer who is bound by the agreement does not take the action referred to in subsection 346W(2) within the relevant period (as defined in subsection 346W(7)) in relation to the agreement; or (bb) the Workplace Authority Director decides under section 346Z that the agreement as varied does not pass the no-disadvantage test; or
45 Subsection 348(2)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
47 Paragraph 367(1)(b)
After will, insert , or would but for the operation of an ITEA that has passed its nominal expiry date,.
48 Paragraph 367(2)(aa)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute: (aa) section 346N or 346W (which deal with agreements that do not pass the no-disadvantage test); or
49 Paragraph 368(a)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
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(a) is represented (expressly or by implication) to be a variation of a workplace agreement, or of a type of workplace agreement mentioned in section 326, 327, 328, 329, 330 or 331; and (b) could not come into operation under this Act as a variation of a workplace agreement, or as a variation of a workplace agreement of that type, even if the agreement as varied were to pass the no-disadvantage test; the document is taken to be a variation of a workplace agreement, or of a workplace agreement of that type, for the purposes of: (c) Division 3, Subdivisions B and C of this Division (other than section 375), Division 10 and Division 11 (other than sections 409 to 412A); and (d) any other provision of this Act, to the extent that the provision relates to the operation of any of the provisions mentioned in paragraph (c).
Note: The Court can order under section 412A that a document is to have effect as a variation for the purposes of the entire Act.
51 Paragraph 369(a)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
52 Subparagraph 369(b)(ii)
After will, insert , or would but for the operation of an ITEA that has passed its nominal expiry date,.
53 Paragraph 370(4)(b)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
54 Subsection 370(6)
Repeal the subsection, substitute: (6) For the purposes of this section, if, because of the variation, the agreement as varied would incorporate terms from another workplace agreement or an award, the eligible employees have ready access to the variation only if they have ready access to that other workplace agreement or award in writing.
55 Subsection 373(1)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
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56 Subparagraph 373(2)(a)(ii)
After will, insert , or would but for the operation of an ITEA that has passed its nominal expiry date,.
57 Paragraph 377(1)(b)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute: (b) the workplace agreement: (i) in the case of a variation of an ITEAmeets the signature requirements of subsection 373(1); or (ii) in the case of a variation of a collective agreement meets the signature requirements of regulations made for the purposes of paragraph 418(ea); and (c) a copy of the signed variation is annexed to the declaration.
58 Paragraph 378(2)(b)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
61 Paragraph 381(2)(c)
Omit a declaration, substitute in the case of an ITEAa declaration.
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65 Subsection 386(1)
Omit AWA (wherever occurring), substitute ITEA.
66 Paragraph 389(1)(b)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute: (b) if the workplace agreement is an ITEA: (i) the termination agreement meets the signature requirements of subsection 386(1); and (ii) a copy of the signed termination agreement is annexed to the declaration.
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68 Subsection 394(1)
Omit a workplace agreement, substitute an ITEA.
71 Subsection 394(8)
Repeal the subsection (including the note).
72 Subsection 395(1)
Repeal the subsection (including the note), substitute: (1) A person lodges a declaration to terminate a workplace agreement under section 392 with the Workplace Authority Director if: (a) the person gives it to the Workplace Authority Director; and (b) it meets the form requirements mentioned in subsection (3). (1A) A person lodges a declaration to terminate an ITEA under section 393 with the Workplace Authority Director if: (a) the person gives it to the Workplace Authority Director; and (b) it meets the form requirements mentioned in subsection (3); and (c) if the employer in relation to the ITEA, or a bargaining agent at the request of the employer in relation to the ITEA, lodges the declaration to terminate the ITEAthe declaration states whether the parties to the ITEA will, under section 399A, continue to be bound by one or more redundancy provisions included in the ITEA.
Note: Sections 137.1 and 137.2 of the Criminal Code create offences for providing false or misleading information or documents.
73 Subsection 395(2)
Omit agreement (wherever occurring), substitute ITEA.
74 Subsection 395(3)
After paragraph (1)(b), insert or (1A)(b).
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75 Subsection 395(4)
After subsection (1), insert or (1A).
76 Subsection 396(1A)
Omit a workplace agreement, or a bargaining agent at the request of the employer in relation to a workplace agreement, lodged a declaration under subsection 395(1) to terminate the agreement, substitute an ITEA, or a bargaining agent at the request of the employer in relation to an ITEA, lodged a declaration under subsection 395(1A) to terminate the ITEA.
77 Paragraph 396(1A)(a)
Omit workplace agreement (wherever occurring), substitute ITEA.
78 Paragraph 396(2)(c)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
79 Subsection 399A(1)
Omit a workplace agreement, substitute an ITEA.
80 Subsection 399A(1)
Omit the agreement (wherever occurring), substitute the ITEA.
81 Subsection 399A(2)
Omit workplace agreement (wherever occurring), substitute ITEA.
82 Subsection 399A(2A)
Omit a workplace agreement, substitute an ITEA.
83 Paragraph 399A(3)(a)
Omit workplace agreement, substitute ITEA.
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87 Paragraph 407(2)(jb)
Omit 346ZE(1), substitute 346ZH(1).
88 Paragraph 407(2)(jba)
Repeal the paragraph.
89 Paragraph 407(2)(jc)
Omit 346ZF(1), substitute 346ZJ(1).
90 Paragraph 407(2)(jd)
Repeal the paragraph.
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(3) In deciding for the purposes of subsection (2) whether an order will disadvantage an employee, the Court is to take into account any reference instruments (within the meaning of Division 5A) that relate to the employee. (4) An order under this section: (a) is taken to have had effect from a date specified in the order that is earlier than the date of the order; or (b) has effect from a date specified in the order that is later than the date of the order; or (c) otherwisehas effect from the date of the order. (5) The date specified in the order must not be earlier than the date of lodgment of the document to which section 324A, 368A or 381A applies.
94 Paragraph 416(1)(a)
Omit 346S(2), 377(2), 389(2) or 395(1), substitute 346X(2), 377(2), 389(2) or 395(1) or (1A).
95 Paragraph 416(1)(d)
Omit 346J(1) or (2), 346P(1) or (2), 346U(2), substitute 346M(1) or (2), 346U(1) or (2), 346Z(2).
96 Paragraph 416(1)(g)
Omit 346K or 346L, substitute 346G or 346H.
97 Paragraph 417(1)(a)
Omit 346S(2), 377(2), 389(2) or 395(1), substitute 346X(2), 377(2), 389(2) or 395(1) or (1A).
98 Paragraph 417(1)(g)
Omit 346P(3)(a), substitute 346M(2)(b), 346U(2)(b).
99 Paragraph 417(1)(k)
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Omit 346J(1) or (2), 346P(1) or (2), 346U(2), substitute 346M(1) or (2), 346U(1) or (2), 346Z(2).
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(b) to avoid doubt, if the new employer subsequently lodges a variation of the workplace agreement under section 346W then, for the purposes of deciding under section 346Z whether the workplace agreement as varied passes the no-disadvantage test, references to the employer in the following provisions: (i) section 346D; (ii) the definitions of relevant collective instrument and relevant general instrument in section 346E; (iii) section 346J; are taken to be references to the old employer.
Note 1: The employment arrangements that have effect in relation to the new employer and the transferring employee or transferring employees are as set out in section 601D. The compensation payable to the transferring employees under section 346ZG by both the old employer and the new employer is as specified in subsections 346ZG(2), (3) and 601G(1).
Note 2:
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(b) the Workplace Authority Director is required to give a notice under section 346Z to the employer in relation to the workplace agreement; the Workplace Authority Director must give the notice to both the old employer and the new employer.
601D Employment arrangements if a workplace agreement ceases to operate because it does not pass no-disadvantage test
(1) This section applies if: (a) on a particular day (the cessation day), a workplace agreement (the original agreement) ceases to operate under section 346W or 346ZA because the original agreement does not pass the no-disadvantage test; and (b) during the period beginning when the original agreement was lodged and ending on the cessation day, the original agreement became binding upon a new employer and a transferring employee or transferring employees because of the operation of section 583 or 585 in relation to a business being transferred; and (c) the cessation day occurs during the transmission period in relation to the business being transferred.
Note: If the cessation day occurs after the transmission period ends, the rules in Divisions 3, 4, 5 and 6 of this Part will have effect according to their terms.
(2) Despite subsection 346ZB(2), the new employer and the transferring employee or transferring employees who were bound
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by the original agreement immediately before the cessation day are taken, on and from the cessation day, to be bound by: (a) the instrument: (i) that, but for the original agreement having come into operation, would have bound the old employer and the transferring employee or transferring employees immediately before the time of transmission; and (ii) that was capable of binding the new employer after the time of transmission under this Part, Schedule 6 or Schedule 9; or (b) if there is no instrument of a kind referred to in paragraph (a) in relation to the old employer and one or more of the transferring employeesthe designated award (within the meaning of Division 5A of Part 8) in relation to that employee or those employees. (3) If, but for the original agreement having come into operation, the old employer would have been bound, immediately before the time of transmission, under a designated provision relating to the agreement, by a redundancy provision in relation to a transferring employee or transferring employees whose employment was subject to the original agreement, the new employer is taken: (a) to be bound under section 598A or clause 27A of Schedule 9, as the case requires, on and from the cessation day, by the redundancy provision in relation to the transferring employee or transferring employees; and (b) to continue to be so bound until the earliest of the following: (i) the end of the period of 24 months beginning on the first day on which the old employer became bound, under the designated provision, by the redundancy provision; (ii) the time when the employee ceases to be employed by the new employer; (iii) the time when another workplace agreement comes into operation in relation to the transferring employee or the transferring employees and the new employer. (4) If the original agreement is a workplace agreement as varied under Division 8 of Part 8, the workplace agreement as in force before the variation was lodged is, despite section 346ZE, capable of being an instrument described in paragraph (2)(a).
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(5) In this section: designated provision has the same meaning as in section 346ZD. instrument means any of the following: (a) a workplace agreement; (b) an award; (c) a pre-reform certified agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 7); (d) a transitional Victorian reference award (within the meaning of Part 7 of Schedule 6); (e) a transitional award (within the meaning of Schedule 6) other than a Victorian reference award (within the meaning of that Schedule) to the extent that the award regulates excluded employers in respect of the employment of employees in Victoria; (f) a preserved State agreement (within the meaning of Schedule 8); (g) a notional agreement preserving State awards (within the meaning of Schedule 8). redundancy provision has the same meaning as in section 346ZD.
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(a) a new employer is bound by a workplace agreement (the transmitted workplace agreement) in relation to a transferring employee because of section 583 or 585; and (b) as at the time of transmission, the Workplace Authority Director has not yet decided whether the transmitted workplace agreement passes the no-disadvantage test under section 346D or 346Z. (2) The old employer must take reasonable steps to give a written notice to the Workplace Authority Director that: (a) identifies the transmitted workplace agreement; and (b) states whether or not the old employer remains bound by the transmitted workplace agreement in relation to the employment of any employees; and (c) specifies the date on which the transmission period in relation to the business being transferred ends; and (d) specifies the name and address of the new employer. (3) Subsection (2) is a civil remedy provision.
Note: See Division 11 of Part 8 for provisions on enforcement.
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134 Subsection 691A(6) (at the end of the definition of industrial instrument)
Add: ; (l) an AWA (within the meaning of Schedule 7A).
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147 Subsection 748(12) (subparagraph (b)(iii) of the definition of record relevant to the suspected breach)
Omit AWA, substitute ITEA.
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(b) the workplace agreement or pre-transition workplace agreement ceased to operate after the commencement of this subclause.
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Period for which new employer remains bound (2) The new employer remains bound by the AWA, by force of this section, until whichever of the following first occurs: (a) the AWA is terminated (see Division 9 of Part 8 of the pre-transition Act as modified by clause 6C of this Schedule); (b) the AWA ceases to be in operation because it is replaced by an ITEA between the new employer and the transferring employee (see clause 6 of Schedule 7A); (c) the transferring employee ceases to be a transferring employee in relation to the AWA; (d) the transmission period ends. Old employers rights and obligations that arose before time of transmission not affected (3) This section does not affect the rights and obligations of the old employer that arose before the time of transmission.
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6D Transferring employee considered an existing employee for the purposes of eligibility to make an ITEA
For the purposes of applying section 326 to a transferring employee in relation to a new employer: (a) treat the employee as being in an employment relationship with the employer; and (b) assume that subparagraphs 326(2)(b)(i) and (ia) do not apply to the employee.
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265 Subsection 4(1) (at the end of the definition of workplace agreement)
Add , and includes an AWA.
268 Subsection 29(3) (at the end of the definition of industrial instrument)
Add: ; (f) an AWA.
270 Subsection 33(2) (at the end of the definition of industrial instrument)
Add: ; (f) an AWA.
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AWA has the meaning given by Schedule 7A to the Workplace Relations Act 1996.
Workplace agreements and the no-disadvantage test Schedule 1 Amendments of other Acts Part 4
ITEA has the meaning given by section 4 of the Workplace Relations Act 1996.
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Schedule 2Awards
Part 1Award modernisation Workplace Relations Act 1996
1 After paragraph 3(g)
Insert: (ga) establishing a process for making modern awards; and
2 Subsection 4(1)
Insert: award modernisation process means a process of award modernisation carried out by the Commission in accordance with an award modernisation request.
3 Subsection 4(1)
Insert: award modernisation request has the meaning given by subsection 576C(1).
4 Subsection 4(1)
Insert: modern award means an award made by the Commission under section 576G.
6 Subsection 527(5)
Repeal the subsection.
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9 After Part 10
Insert:
(2) In performing its functions under this Part, the Commission must have regard to the following factors: (a) promoting the creation of jobs, high levels of productivity, low inflation, high levels of employment and labour force participation, national and international competitiveness, the development of skills and a fair labour market; (b) protecting the position in the labour market of young people, employees with a disability and employees to whom training arrangements apply; (c) the needs of the low-paid; (d) the desirability of reducing the number of awards operating in the workplace relations system; (e) the need to help prevent and eliminate discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, sex, sexual preference, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin, and to promote the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value; (f) the need to assist employees to balance their work and family responsibilities effectively, and to improve retention and participation of employees in the workforce; (g) the safety, health and welfare of employees; (h) relevant rates of pay in Australian Pay and Classification Scales and transitional awards; (i) minimum wage decisions of the Australian Fair Pay Commission; (j) the representation rights, under this Act or the Registration and Accountability of Organisations Schedule, of organisations and transitionally registered associations. (3) In this section: transitional award has the same meaning as in Schedule 6. transitionally registered association has the same meaning as in Schedule 10.
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(a) an award modernisation request; (b) an instrument made under subsection (4).
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(b) consulting with any other person, body or organisation in any manner it considers appropriate. (5) To avoid doubt, subsection (4) does not limit the powers of a Full Bench under other provisions of this Act.
Note: For example, Division 4 of Part 3 confers powers on the Commission that may be applicable in the context of award modernisation.
(2) A modern award must be consistent with the award modernisation request to which the modern award relates. (3) The Commission must not make a modern award other than under subsection (1). (4) A modern award is not a legislative instrument.
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(b) type of employment, such as full-time employment, casual employment, regular part-time employment and shift work, and the facilitation of flexible working arrangements, particularly for employees with family responsibilities; (c) arrangements for when work is performed, including hours of work, rostering, notice periods, rest breaks and variations to working hours; (d) overtime rates; (e) penalty rates, including for any of the following: (i) employees working unsocial, irregular or unpredictable hours; (ii) employees working on weekends or public holidays; (iii) shift workers; (f) annualised wage or salary arrangements that: (i) have regard to the patterns of work in an occupation, industry or enterprise; and (ii) provide an alternative to the separate payment of wages, or salaries, and other monetary entitlements; and (iii) include appropriate safeguards to ensure that individual employees are not disadvantaged; (g) allowances, including for any of the following: (i) expenses incurred in the course of employment;
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(ii) responsibilities or skills that are not taken into account in rates of pay; (iii) disabilities associated with the performance of particular tasks or work in particular conditions or locations; (h) leave, leave loadings and arrangements for taking leave; (i) superannuation; (j) procedures for consultation, representation and dispute settlement. Other matters (2) A modern award may also include terms about any other matter specified in the award modernisation request to which the modern award relates. Definitions (3) In this section: employee with a disability means an employee who is qualified for a disability support pension as set out in section 94 or 95 of the Social Security Act 1991, or who would be so qualified but for paragraph 94(1)(e) or 95(1)(c) of that Act.
Note: This definition includes employees under the Supported Wage System endorsed by the Commission in the Full Bench decision dated 10 October 1994 (print L5723).
(ii) at private residential premises or at other premises that are not business or commercial premises of the other party to the contract or (if there are 2 or more other parties to the contract) of any of the other parties to the contract. (2) A modern award may include either or both of the following: (a) terms relating to the conditions under which an employer may employ employees who are outworkers (including terms relating to the pay or conditions of the outworkers); (b) terms relating to the conditions under which an eligible entity (within the meaning of Division 4) may arrange for work to be carried out for the entity (either directly or indirectly) by outworkers (including terms relating to the pay or conditions of the outworkers).
Note: In paragraph (2)(a), employee and employer have the meanings given by subsections 5(1) and 6(1).
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(2) Despite subsection (1), a modern award may include terms and conditions of employment of the kind referred to in subsection (1) for a period of up to 5 years starting on the day on which the modern award commences. (3) If, at the end of the period of 5 years starting on the day on which a modern award commences, the modern award includes terms and conditions of employment of the kind referred to in subsection (1), those terms and conditions of employment cease to have effect at the end of that period.
enterprise award means an award that regulates the terms and conditions of employment in a single business only (being the single business specified in the award). outworker term means a term of a modern award that is: (a) about a matter referred to in section 576K; or (b) incidental to such a matter, and included in the modern award as permitted by subsection 576M(1); or (c) a machinery provision in respect of such a matter, and included in the modern award as permitted by subsection 576M(2).
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Modern award must be in accordance with award modernisation request (6) The power of the Commission under subsections (2), (3), (4) and (5) must be exercised in accordance with the award modernisation request to which the modern award relates. Specification of employers, employees etc. by name or class (7) For the purposes of subsections (2), (3), (4) and (5): (a) employers may be specified by name or by inclusion in a specified class or specified classes; and (b) employees must be specified by inclusion in a specified class or specified classes; and (c) organisations must be specified by name; and (d) eligible entities may be specified by name or by inclusion in a specified class or specified classes. (8) Without limiting the way in which a class may be described for the purposes of subsection (7), the class may be described by reference to a particular industry or particular kinds of work.
(2) A modern award, or an order varying a modern award, that has not yet commenced must include a statement to this effect. (3) For the purposes of this section, the start-up day is: (a) unless paragraph (b) applies, 1 January 2010; or (b) if a later date is prescribed by the regulationsthat later date.
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paragraph (1)(c) of the making of the modern award or order; and (b) ensure that a copy of the modern award or order, and the written reasons for the modern award or order, are available for inspection at each registry; and (c) ensure that the modern award or order, and the written reasons for the modern award or order, are published. (3) The Registrar must give the notice required by paragraph (2)(a): (a) in accordance with any requirements prescribed by the regulations; or (b) if no such requirements are prescribedin such manner as the Registrar thinks appropriate. (4) In this section: eligible entity has the same meaning as in section 576U.
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Awards Schedule 2 Repeal of award rationalisation and award simplification provisions Part 2
Part 2Repeal of award rationalisation and award simplification provisions Workplace Relations Act 1996
13 Subsection 4(1) (definition of award)
Repeal the definition, substitute: award means a pre-reform award.
17 Paragraph 510(b)
Repeal the paragraph.
18 Subsection 524(1)
Omit or (3).
19 Subsection 524(2)
Omit a pre-reform award, substitute an award.
20 Subsection 524(3)
Repeal the subsection.
21 Subsection 527(1)
Repeal the subsection (not including the note), substitute:
Schedule 2 Awards Part 2 Repeal of award rationalisation and award simplification provisions
(1) A term, or more than one term, of an award is a preserved award term if: (a) the term or terms are about a matter referred to in subsection (2); and (b) the term or terms were in effect immediately before the reform commencement.
22 Subsection 527(2)
Omit subsection (1), substitute paragraph (1)(a).
23 Section 528
Repeal the section.
24 Subsection 531(2)
Omit 528,.
25 Paragraph 532(2)(a)
Omit , 528.
26 Division 4 of Part 10
Repeal the Division.
29 Subsection 552(3)
Repeal the subsection, substitute: (3) The Commission must not vary a facilitative provision within the meaning of section 521 except on a ground set out in section 554.
30 Subparagraph 553(4)(b)(iii)
Repeal the subparagraph.
31 Section 555
Repeal the section.
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35 Subsection 561(1)
Omit (1) (first occurring).
Note: The heading to section 561 is altered by omitting additional matters and substituting when application may be made.
36 Subsection 561(2)
Repeal the subsection.
37 Section 565
Repeal the section.
38 Section 573
Omit a provision referred to in section 555, substitute section 556.
4 Section 177
Repeal the section.
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special FMW means a special FMW determined under section 197 of this Act before the repeal of that section by the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008.
9 Section 186
Repeal the section, substitute:
12 Subsection 190(4)
Repeal the subsection, substitute: (4) This section does not limit the AFPCs power to adjust APCSs made for the purpose of section 220 before the repeal of that section by the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008.
14 Subsection 191(4)
Repeal the subsection, substitute: (4) This section does not limit the AFPCs power to adjust APCSs made for the purpose of section 220 before the repeal of that
section by the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008.
16 Subsection 193(1)
Omit Subject to subsection (3), when exercising its power to make an APCS, or, substitute When exercising its power.
18 Subsection 193(3)
Repeal the subsection.
19 Subsection 194(2)
Repeal the subsection.
20 Subsection 194(4)
Repeal the subsection.
21 Subsection 195(1)
Omit $12.75, substitute $13.74.
22 Paragraph 196(2)(a)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute: (a) section 176; and
24 Paragraph 200(2)(a)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute: (a) section 176; and
25 Subsection 200(3)
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26 Subsection 201(1)
Omit (1).
27 Subsection 201(2)
Repeal the subsection.
28 Subsection 202(4)
Omit all the words before paragraph (a), substitute: (4) The AFPC must not adjust an APCS so that it includes provisions that:
29 Subsection 203(4)
Omit all the words after to adjust, substitute an APCS.
30 Paragraph 205(2)(b)
Omit an APCS made in accordance with Subdivision M, substitute a new APCS determined in accordance with Subdivision M of Division 2 of Part 7 of this Act before the repeal of that Subdivision by the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008.
31 Section 206
Repeal the section.
32 Subsection 207(3)
Repeal the subsection.
Subdivision KAustralian Pay and Classification Scales: duration and adjustment of APCSs (preserved or new)
35 Section 215
Omit revocation or.
36 Paragraph 216(2)(a)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute: (a) section 176; and
37 Section 217
Repeal the section.
(3) Without limiting the power of the AFPC to adjust APCSs under section 216, the AFPC may adjust the special APCS under that section.
39 Subsection 222(1)
Omit sections 176 and 177, substitute section 176.
40 Subsection 222(2)
Repeal the subsection, substitute: (2) For the purposes of the Acts referred to in paragraph (1)(c), and of paragraph (1)(e), the AFPC does not discriminate against an employee or employees by (in accordance with this Division): (a) adjusting rate provisions in an APCS that determine a basic periodic rate of pay for: (i) all junior employees, or a class of junior employees; or (ii) all employees with a disability, or a class of employees with a disability; or (iii) all employees to whom training arrangements apply, or a class of employees to whom training arrangements apply; or (b) adjusting a special FMW for all employees with a disability, or a class of employees with a disability.
42 Subparagraph 861(1)(d)(i)
Omit J,.
43 Subparagraph 861(1)(d)(ii)
Omit 206, 207, 216 and 217, substitute 207 and 216.
45 Subparagraph 861(1)(d)(v)
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46 Paragraph 864(1)(b)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute: (b) is of a rate provision (within the meaning of Division 2 of Part 7).
47 Paragraph 864(2)(a)
Repeal the paragraph, substitute: (a) section 176; and
48 Subsection 864(4)
Repeal the subsection.
49 Subsection 865(1)
Omit set or.
51 Subsection 865(2)
Omit sets or.
53 Wage reviews in progress before commencement time previous wage-setting powers of the AFPC
(1) This item applies to a wage review that is being conducted by AFPC under Division 2 of Part 2 of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 before the commencement time if: (a) the wage review relates to whether the AFPC should exercise a previous wage-setting power of the AFPC; and (b) the wage review is not completed before the commencement time. The AFPC is not to continue to conduct the wage review after the commencement time, to the extent that the wage review relates to the exercise of the previous wage-setting power of the AFPC.
(2)
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(3)
In this item: commencement time means the time when this Schedule commences. previous wage-setting power of the AFPC means a power that: (a) was a wage-setting power of the AFPC under Division 2 of Part 7 of the Workplace Relations Act 1996, as in force immediately before the commencement time; and (b) is not a wage-setting power of the AFPC under Division 2 of Part 7 of the Workplace Relations Act 1996, as amended by this Schedule.
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(3) If the Commission extends the nominal expiry date of the agreement, the extended date cannot be more than 3 years after the date on which the order is made. (4) If the agreement was made under section 170LJ or 170LK of the pre-reform Act, the employees bound by the agreement are taken, for the purposes of paragraph (2)(a), to agree to the extension or variation if a valid majority of the employees bound by the agreement at the time of making the extension or variation agree to it. (5) Section 170LE of the pre-reform Act applies to deciding whether a valid majority of the employees agree to the extension or variation as if references in that section to making an agreement were references to making the extension or variation. (6) To avoid doubt, the terms and conditions of employment under a transitional award may, for the purposes of paragraph (2)(c), include terms and conditions that did not apply on the reform commencement, or that have been varied since the reform commencement. (7) The provisions of the pre-reform Act apply, in relation to an extension or variation to which this clause applies, to the same extent that they apply, because of clause 2, in relation to a variation under paragraph 170MD(6)(a) of the pre-reform Act. (8) In this clause: introduction day means the day on which the Bill that became the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008 was introduced into the House of Representatives.
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with intent to coerce another person to agree, or not to agree, to the extension of the nominal expiry date of, or the variation of, a pre-reform certified agreement under clause 2A.
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(4) The employees bound by the agreement are taken, for the purposes of paragraph (2)(a), genuinely to agree to the extension or variation if: (a) the employer gives all of the employees bound by the agreement at the time of making the extension or variation a reasonable opportunity genuinely to decide whether they agree to the extension or variation; and (b) either: (i) if the decision is made by a votea majority of those employees who cast a valid vote; or (ii) otherwisea majority of those employees; genuinely decide that they agree to the extension or variation. (5) To avoid doubt, the terms and conditions of employment under a relevant State award may, for the purposes of paragraph (2)(c), include terms and conditions that did not apply on the reform commencement, or that have been varied since the reform commencement. (6) In this clause: introduction day means the day on which the Bill that became the Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Act 2008 was introduced into the House of Representatives. relevant State award, in relation to an employee, means: (a) if, immediately before the reform commencement, the employee was bound by, or a party to, the original collective agreement to which the preserved collective State agreement referred to in subsection (1) relates, under the terms of that agreement or a State or Territory industrial law as in force at that timethe State award that would have bound the employee at that time but for that agreement; or (b) otherwisethe State award that would have bound, or but for the application of a State employment agreement would have bound, the employee at that time if the employee had been employed by the employer at that time.
Division 5ACoercion
3 After subclause 22(1) of Schedule 8
Insert: (1A) A person must not: (a) take or threaten to take any industrial action or other action; or (b) refrain or threaten to refrain from taking any action; with intent to coerce another person to agree, or not to agree, to the extension of the nominal expiry date of, or the variation of, a preserved collective State agreement under clause 16A.
Note: The heading to clause 22 of Schedule 8 is altered by adding at the end etc..
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[Ministers second reading speech made in House of Representatives on 13 February 2008 Senate on 17 March 2008]
(21/08)
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