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2002
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF
AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WORKPLACE
RELATIONS (REGISTRATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF ORGANISATIONS) (CONSEQUENTIAL
PROVISIONS) BILL 2002
EXPLANATORY
MEMORANDUM
(Circulated by authority of the Minister for
Employment and Workplace Relations, the Honourable Tony Abbott MP)
WORKPLACE RELATIONS (REGISTRATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF ORGANISATIONS) (CONSEQUENTIAL PROVISIONS) BILL 2002
OUTLINE
The Workplace Relations (Registration and
Accountability of Organisations) Act 2002 (the RAO Act) would re-enact in a
separate piece of legislation those provisions of the Workplace Relations Act
1996 (the WR Act) concerning the registration and internal administration of
registered organisations. In doing so, the RAO Act will make amendments to the
operation of those provisions to reflect modern standards and practices,
particularly in relation to financial accountability, transparency and
democratic control. The substantive provisions of the RAO Act will operate from
the date fixed by proclamation (section 2 of that Act).
The Workplace
Relations (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) (Consequential
Provisions) Bill 2002 (the Bill) has two main purposes:
• to make consequential amendments arising from provisions of the RAO Act, including repealing provisions of the WR Act that are to be replicated by the RAO Act, and making technical amendments to other Acts (generally to replace references to the WR Act with references to the RAO Act); and
• to provide transitional and saving provisions concerning the
operation of the RAO Act.
The Bill contains four schedules:
• Schedule 1 – transitional and savings provisions;
• Schedule 2 – amendments to the WR Act;
• Schedule 3 – amendments to other Acts; and
• Schedule 4 – amendments about entry to premises.
Schedule 1 contains a number of transitional and saving provisions designed
to provide for a smooth transition from the WR Act to the RAO Act. An overview
of this schedule is briefly set out below. [Throughout this schedule,
‘commencement’ means commencement of Item 1 of this
Schedule].
Part 1 includes general provisions to ensure the ongoing
effect of orders, injunctions, declarations decisions, obligations and the like
that are in force at the time of commencement, and to allow for the continuation
(under the relevant provisions of the WR Act) of any proceedings or matters
(subject to specific clauses of this Bill) that have commenced under provisions
of the WR Act.
The Federal Court will be given the power to resolve any difficulties arising
from the application of this Act, or the operation of the RAO Act as result of
the application of this Act.
Part 2 deals with registration and
de-registration of organisations, and amalgamation and withdrawal from
amalgamation by organisations.
Parts 3 and 4 set out transitional provisions concerning rules of
organisations and membership of organisations.
Part 5 sets out transitional arrangements for the conduct of elections and
inquiries into elections, and disqualifications from holding office.
Part
6 contains transitional provisions concerning the financial accountability of
registered organisations.
Part 7 contains a provision concerning the
application of the general duties on officers and employees of organisations in
relation to orders of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and the
Federal Court.
Part 8 deals with technical issues.
Some specific transitional provisions are contained in the RAO Act itself, for example, validating provisions which operate in respect of acts occurring before the commencement of that Act (subsection 320(3)).
Schedule 2 contains provisions that either repeal provisions of the WR Act or make other consequential amendments to that Act in order to accommodate the changes made by the RAO Act. It also corrects errors and omissions and removes obsolete references.
Schedule 3 amends a number of other Commonwealth Acts to take account of changes made by the RAO Act and the repeal of certain provisions of the WR Act.
Schedule 4 amends the right of entry provisions of the WR Act to provide a
limited exemption from right of entry under section 285C of the WR Act (ie entry
for discussion purposes) in cases of conscientious objection.
The proposals in this Bill are budget neutral.
The following abbreviations are used throughout these
notes.
*Commission: Australian Industrial Relations Commission;
* WR
Act: Workplace Relations Act 1996; and
* RAO Act: Workplace
Relations (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) Act 2002.
This clause provides that this Act may be cited as the Workplace Relations (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2002.
Subclause (2) sets out a table which specifies when the various provisions of the Bill are to commence.
Clauses 1,2 and 3 will come into effect on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent. The substantive provisions of the Act will come into operation on a day to be fixed by Proclamation. Other provisions will have been taken to have commenced at other times, eg immediately after the commencement of item 1 of Schedule 19 to the Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996. (These latter provisions would rectify incorrect references to Acts or provisions in Acts.)
Subclause (3) provides a default commencement date, whereby if a provision of the Act (subject to commencement on proclamation) has not commenced within 6 months of the date that it receives the Royal Assent, it will commence on the first day after that period.
Subclause (4) provides that items 48 and 49 of Schedule 3 (which propose amendments to the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976) will, if they do not commence before Schedule 2 to the Jurisdiction of Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2002, not commence at all.
Subclause (5) provides that the proposed amendment to the definition of ‘registered union’ in subsection 5(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 to substitute a reference to the RAO Act for the Industrial Relations Act 1988 does not commence at all if it does not commence before item 10 of Schedule 1 to the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Amendment (Employee Involvement and Compliance) Act 2002.
This clause provides that each Act specified in a Schedule to this Bill is amended or repealed as set out in the relevant items in that Schedule, and that any other item operates according to its terms.
SCHEDULE 1 – TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
Schedule 1 is divided into 8 Parts. Part 1 sets out general transitional and saving rules, with Parts 2 to 6 dealing with exceptions to those general rules. Part 7 deals with the application of the general duties on officers and employees of organisations in relation to orders of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and the Federal Court, and Part 8 deals with technical issues.
1.1 Part 1 contains general transitional provisions.
1.2 Item 1 defines a number of terms used in the Act including:
• ‘repealed provision’ to mean a reference to a provision of the WR Act repealed by this Act;
• ‘corresponding provision’ to mean a provision of the RAO Act which has substantially the same effect as a provision of the WR Act which operated before it is amended by this Act, and vice versa; and
• ‘commencement’ is defined as commencement of Item 1 of this Schedule.
1.3 Item 1 also provides that an expression used in this Schedule has the same meaning as it has in the RAO Act.
1.4 Item 2 would preserve the continuity of an authorisation, certificate, decision, declaration, determination, direction, exemption, injunction, order or permission made under the repealed provisions of the WR Act prior to commencement. Any such order etc, continues in force on and after commencement as if it was made under the RAO Act, for example:
• a permission to keep records at specified premises granted under subsection 268(7) of the WR Act is treated as a permission granted under subclause 234(3) of the RAO Act.
1.5 Item 3 is intended to ensure the continuity of obligations imposed on a person or body under repealed provisions of the WR Act. It provides that where an obligation is imposed for a specified period under a repealed provision of the WR Act, and that period has not expired immediately prior to commencement, the provision and resulting obligation continues to operate as if the provision had not been repealed.
1.6 Item 4 is intended to ensure that the proposed repeal of certain provisions of the WR Act will not affect the continuity of tenure of a person elected to an office under the WR Act, by providing that the person continues to hold office for the remainder of the specified term.
1.7 Item 5 deals with proceedings or matters commenced under a repealed provision of the WR Act. Sub-items (1), (2) and (3) would provide that in relation to any proceeding or a matter pending before a court, the Commission or the Industrial Registrar immediately prior to commencement, the WR Act will continue to operate.
1.8 Sub-item (4) is a deeming provision. It would provide that in relation to any proceeding or matter under sub-items (1), (2) and (3), any resulting order made after commencement is taken to have been made under the corresponding provision of the RAO Act and not the WR Act (this reflects the rule in item 2).
1.9 However, sub-item (5) stipulates that in relation to any penalty imposed as a result of such an order, the penalty is the penalty applicable under the WR Act as in force immediately before commencement and not the penalty applicable under the RAO Act.
1.10 Under sub-item 6, the word ‘order’ is defined to include ‘authorisation, certificate, decision, declaration, determination, direction, exemption, injunction, notice or permission’, and the word ‘make’ to include ‘give or grant’.
1.11 Item 6 would provide that if a repealed provision of the WR Act is saved by this Act, any provisions of the WR Act, or regulations made under such provisions, that are necessary for the effective operation of the repealed provision would also continue to operate.
1.12 Section 359 of the RAO Act would give the Governor-General power to make regulations for the purposes of that Act. Subsection 359(2) would set out a list of matters in relation to which regulations may be made, including the manner in which applications under the RAO Act may be made and dealt with.
1.13 Item 7 would extend the reference in section 359 to applications and proceedings under the RAO Act to include references to any applications and proceedings which are subject to the RAO Act, by virtue of this Act.
1.14 Item 8 would empower the President of the Commission to give directions to resolve any difficulty that may arise in the application of the Act to a particular proceeding or matter before the Commission. However, such directions should not be inconsistent with the provisions of the RAO Act and are subject to any order of the Federal Court made under item 9.
1.15 Item 9 would provide the Federal Court with power to make an order to resolve any difficulty that may arise in the application of this Act (or the application of the RAO Act by operation of this Act) in relation to a particular matter upon application by a person with an interest in the matter.
1.16 Sub-item (2) would provide that any such order has effect despite the Act or the RAO Act or any other Act in force immediately before commencement.
1.17 This item would provide that any general rule in Part 1 is subject to specific rules in the following parts of this Schedule.
1.18 Part 2 contains specific transitional rules about registration, cancellation of registration, amalgamation, withdrawal from amalgamation, and representation orders.
1.19 Under paragraph 63(1)(a) of the WR Act, the Industrial Registrar is required to keep a register of organisations. Item 11 would deem the register as it stood immediately before commencement to be the register of organisations required to be kept under paragraph 13(1)(a) of the RAO Act.
1.20 Where an application by an organisation for registration has been made but not determined prior to commencement, this item would provide that the application is to be determined under the WR Act as if the amendments made by this Act had not been made.
1.21 Sections 21 and 22 of the RAO Act would prohibit certain discriminatory conduct by employers and organisations designed to impede the formation and registration of an employee association.
1.22 Where an application for registration is to be determined under the WR Act by virtue of item 12, item 13 would extend the operation of sections 21 and 22 of the RAO Act to discriminatory conduct aimed at impeding the formation or registration of an employee association under the WR Act. However, those provisions would not apply to conduct that occurred before commencement.
1.23 Where an application for registration is to be determined under the WR Act by virtue of item 12, item 14 would enable the Commission to grant leave to an organisation under paragraph 25(1)(c) of the RAO Act (not the corresponding provision of the WR Act) to correct a formal error in its rules.
1.24 Item 15 is a deeming provision.
1.25 Subitem (1) would deem an organisation registered under the WR Act to have been registered under the RAO Act. This would not otherwise affect the operation of the WR Act in relation to the organisation (subitem (2)).
1.26 Similarly, under subitem (3), an undertaking given by an organisation to the Commission to avoid a demarcation dispute under subsection 189(2) of the WR Act would be deemed to be an undertaking given under subsection 19(2) of the RAO Act. As a result, an undertaking given under the WR Act would be enforceable under the RAO Act.
1.27 Subitem (4) would ensure that a certificate of registration or a replacement certificate issued before commencement continues to be recognised under the RAO Act.
1.28 Item 16 provides for the continuing operation of representation orders.
1.29 Section 242 of the WR Act enables existing organisations (and any relevant associations) that propose to amalgamate to apply to the Commission for approval to submit the proposed amalgamation to a ballot of members.
1.30 This item would provide that if the application was commenced under section 242 of the WR Act but not determined before commencement, the application is to be determined under the WR Act as if the amendments proposed by this Act had not been made. The note to this item alerts readers to the fact that there are exceptions to this general rule in relation to particular aspects of the amalgamation process.
1.31 Items 18 and 19 make provision for dealing with applications made as part of the amalgamation process before commencement.
1.32 Where an application for submission of an amalgamation to ballot is approved by the Commission, and by virtue of item 17 the ballot is to be conducted under the WR Act, item 20 would require subsections 65(6) and (7) of the RAO Act to also apply. These provisions require each completed ballot paper to be returned in the declaration envelope provided, and require the declaration envelope to be in the approved form.
1.33 To ensure clarity of operation, paragraph (b) would provide that a reference in subsection 65(6) to a ballot conducted under that section is taken to include a reference to the ballot approved by the Commission.
1.34 Section 253ZJ of the WR Act enables applications to be made to the Federal Court for a disamalgamation ballot. This item would provide that if the application was commenced under section 253ZJ of the WR Act but not determined before commencement, Subdivision B of Division 7A of Part IX of the WR Act continues to apply to the application and any ballot ordered as a result, as if the amendments proposed by this Act had not been made. However, subitem 21(2) would require certain provisions of the RAO Act to also apply.
1.35 Section 131 of the RAO Act would prohibit certain conduct designed to impede the pursuit of a withdrawal from amalgamation (reflecting section 253ZX of the WR Act). Item 22 would extend the operation of section 131 of the RAO Act to conduct occurring on or after commencement (subitem 22(1)).
1.36 Subitem (2) would provide that a reference in section 131 of the RAO Act to section 130 of that Act is taken to include a reference to the corresponding provision in section 253ZX of the WR Act. This has the effect of ensuring the prohibition in section 131 extends to conduct under the WR Act.
1.37 Item 23 proposes to apply Part 3 of Chapter 3 of the RAO Act (which relates to withdrawal from amalgamations) to organisations that became amalgamated under the WR Act. References in that Part to provisions in the RAO Act are, by operation of item 23, taken to include references to corresponding provisions of the WR Act.
1.38 Part 3 of Chapter 2 of the RAO Act sets out grounds on which an application for de-registration of an organisation may be made. Item 24 would deal with the application of these sections to conduct by an organisation occurring before commencement.
1.39 Part 3 proposes transitional provisions relevant to rules of an organisation.
1.40 Item 25 would provide for the continuity in operation of rules of an organisation that were in force immediately before commencement and that these rules may be altered under the RAO Act. A note to this clause refers to item 5 as applying to rule changes that were in the process of being certified at commencement.
1.41 Section 156 of the RAO Act enables the Industrial Registrar to make alterations to the rules of an organisation to bring them into conformity with the requirements of that Act.
1.42 Item 26 would prevent the Industrial Registrar from exercising power under section 156 of the RAO Act in relation to any new requirements imposed by the RAO Act during an ‘interim period’ (subitem 2). This is to give organisations sufficient time to amend their rules to ensure compliance with the RAO Act.
1.43 The interim period would be 6 months after commencement or as extended by the Industrial Registrar upon application by an organisation (subitem (3)). The Industrial Registrar may extend the interim period in relation to an organisation for up to 6 months (sub-item (4)). In deciding whether to grant an extension, the Registrar would be required to take into account the ability of the organisation to change its rules within the initial 6-month period and any other matter the Registrar considers relevant (subitem 26(5)).
1.44 Subitem (1) would clarify that this item does not prevent the Industrial Registrar from exercising power under section 156 of the RAO Act to ensure compliance with requirements of the WR Act as it stood immediately before commencement.
1.45 Item 27 would require the Industrial Registrar to review the rules of an organisation as soon as practicable after the end of the interim period applying to that organisation under item 26. A note to this clause reminds readers that under section 156 of the RAO Act, the Industrial Registrar may alter the rules of an organisation to bring them in conformity with the requirements of the Act.
1.46 Paragraph 199(1)(b) of the WR Act enables the rules of an organisation to allow a full-time officer to remain in office beyond the end of his or her term until retirement age, where that age is to be attained within 12 months after the end of that term. There is no equivalent provision in the RAO Act. Item 28 would enable any such rules to continue in operation if the nominations for the election to the full-time office in question closed before the commencement. If the nominations closed after commencement, those rules cannot apply.
1.47 A note to this item would clarify that despite the continued operation of the rules as to retirement age under this item, those rules must be removed during the applicable interim period under item 26 to ensure compliance with section 145 of the RAO Act (which prohibit the extension of terms of office other than to allow for the synchronisation of elections).
1.48 Section 202 of the WR Act permits a federally registered union to enter into an agreement with a counterpart State registered union so as to enable the members of the State union who would otherwise be ineligible for membership of the federally registered union, to join that federal union as members.
1.49 Subitem (1) would enable an agreement made under section 202 of the WR Act that was in force immediately before commencement to continue in operation as if it were made under the RAO Act. However, if an agreement was lodged with the Industrial Registrar but had not come into force before commencement, the WR Act would continue to apply (subitem (2)).
1.50 Where both the federal and the State organisations agree to terminate the agreement made under this section, subsection 202(11) of the WR Act requires a copy of that termination agreement to be lodged with the Industrial Registrar. If a termination agreement was lodged but had not yet taken effect before commencement, the WR Act would continue to apply to it (subitem (3)).
1.51 Section 206 of the WR Act requires the Industrial Registrar to enter in the register of organisations details of changes in the name or an organisation or alterations of the eligibility rules, and the date and effect of the change or alteration. If, before commencement, such a change or alteration was made under the WR Act but the Industrial Registrar had not yet entered the requisite details in the register, section 160 of the RAO Act would apply in relation to the change or alteration.
1.52 Section 161 of the RAO Act enables the production of a copy of the rules of an organisation certified by the Registrar as evidence of those rules. Item 31 would extend the operation of this provision to copies certified under the WR Act
1.53 Section 264 of the WR Act enables a member of an organisation to resign by giving notice in writing and provides for the date on which the resignation is to take effect. This item would provide that if a notice was given but had not taken effect before commencement, section 264 would continue to apply in relation to the resignation and any outstanding dues of the member.
1.54 Section 178 of the RAO Act imposes a 12-month limitation period on the recovery of arrears of membership dues and extinguishes the debt after that period. Item 33 would provide that section 178 only applies to amounts that become payable after commencement. Sections 264A and 265 of the WR Act would continue to apply to amounts that became payable before commencement.
1.55 Item 34 deals with elections for offices in an organisation or branch required to be conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission. It would provide that where a step in an election starts on or after commencement, the RAO Act (other than section 188) applies in relation to that step. Where a step in such an election, including the calling of nominations, has started but is not yet completed at commencement, the WR Act as in force immediately before commencement would continue to apply to that step.
Item 37 – Action after inquiries into elections
1.56 Where an election for office was commenced and completed under the WR Act before commencement, item 35 would preserve the operation of the WR Act in relation both to the election and to any inquiry into it.
1.57 However, if by operation of item 35 an inquiry is conducted under the WR Act, any order of the Federal Court as a consequence of the inquiry, including an order that a new election be held, is taken to be subject to the operation of the RAO Act (item 37).
1.58 Item 36 would make it clear that the power of the Electoral Commissioner to apply for an election inquiry under section 200 of the RAO Act applies in relation to elections any step of which occurred after commencement.
1.59 Section 197 of the RAO Act requires the Australian Electoral Commission to provide a post-election report detailing certain prescribed matters. This item restricts the operation of section 197 to elections where every step in the election, including the calling of nominations, occurs on or after commencement.
1.60 Section 229 of the WR Act enables an application to the Federal Court for leave to hold office to be made by a prospective office holder who, in the preceding 5 years, has either been convicted of a prescribed offence or released from imprisonment for a prescribed offence. Section 230 also enables an application for leave to hold office to be made by an existing officer holder who becomes convicted of a prescribed offence.
1.61 Subitem 39(1) would provide for the continuation of the operation of the WR Act in respect of applications made under section 229 or 230 of the WR Act but not determined at commencement.
1.62 Sections 216 and 217 of the RAO Act correspond to sections 229 and 230 of the WR Act, respectively. Subsections 216(4) and 217(4) of the RAO Act prevent applications by someone who has already made an application in relation to the same conviction. By operation of subitems 39(2) and (3), this prohibition would extend to past applications made in respect of the same conviction under corresponding provisions of the WR Act.
1.63 Part 4 of Chapter 7 of the RAO Act deals with the eligibility of a person convicted of a prescribed offence to stand for, or hold, office in an organisation.
1.64 Section 212 of that Act defines ‘prescribed offence’, for which upon conviction a person may be disqualified from holding office in an organisation. Item 40 would ensure that the definition of prescribed offence in section 212 includes offences specified in section 227 of the WR Act as in force at commencement.
1.65 Section 215 of the RAO Act prohibits a person who has been convicted of a prescribed offence from seeking election or from being elected or appointed to an office unless certain conditions are satisfied. This item would ensure that decisions of the Court under section 228 of the WR Act (which is equivalent to section 215 of the RAO Act) in respect of disqualification from holding office continue to apply under the RAO Act.
1.66 Item 42 is a deeming provision which is designed to ensure continuity in relation to registers of membership and other lists required to be kept by organisations. Subitem (1) would provide that the register of members required to be kept under the WR Act is taken to be the register of members required to be kept under section 230 of the RAO Act.
1.67 Similarly, the list of offices in an organisation and the list of names, addresses and occupations of officeholders required to be kept under the WR Act is taken to be the corresponding lists required to be kept under section 230 of the RAO Act (subitem (2)).
1.68 Subitem (3) would limit the operation of the civil penalty provisions to contraventions of sections 230 and 231 of the RAO Act (certain records to be held for 7 years), to contraventions that occur on or after commencement.
1.69 Subitem (4) would limit the operation of section 232 of the RAO Act (which prohibits interference with the register of members or a copy of it) to interference that occurs on or after commencement.
1.70 Section 237 of the RAO Act requires an organisation to lodge in the Industrial Registry a statement detailing each loan, grant and donation over $1,000 within 90 days after the end of each financial year. Under item 43, this requirement would not apply to any organisation until the first financial year that starts on or after commencement. The corresponding requirement in section 269 of the WR Act continues to apply to the financial year of an organisation that had started but not yet ended at commencement.
1.71 Part 3 of Chapter 8 of the RAO Act prescribes the financial accounting and auditing requirements of organisations.
1.72 Other than the provisions of the Act dealing with determination by the Industrial Registrar of reporting units and the issuing of reporting guidelines by the Industrial Registrar, which apply from commencement, all provisions of Part 3 would apply from the first financial year of an organisation starting after commencement of the reporting guidelines (subitem 44(1)).
1.73 The operation of Division 2 of Part 3 is designed to enable organisations to put reporting structures in place in advance of the application of the reporting guidelines. Accordingly, subitems 44(3) to (6) would provide that any certificate issued under section 245 or revoked under section 249 of the RAO Act and any alteration of rules that is determined or certified under sections 246, 247 or 249 does not take effect until the first financial year of an organisations starting after commencement of the reporting guidelines
1.74 This item also defines ‘transition period’ – as the period between commencement of Item 1 of Schedule 1 of this Act and the first financial year of an organisation that starts after commencement of the reporting guidelines.
1.75 This item is a deeming provision. It is designed to ensuring continuity of accounting records by setting out the basis on which the accounting records of an organisation or branch under the WR Act become the financial records of a reporting unit under the RAO Act.
1.76 Division 7 of Part 3 of Chapter 8 of the RAO Act sets out the process and conditions whereby members may access prescribed information concerning the affairs of their reporting unit upon application to the Registrar, or access the financial records of their organisations upon application to the Commission.
1.77 Due to the fact that Part 3 of Chapter 8 of the RAO Act does not come into operation until the first financial year after commencement of the reporting guidelines, item 46 would create a substitute Division 7 of Part 3 which would operate during the transition period to enable members to have appropriate access to financial records of their organisation or branch. Substitute Division 7 of Part 3 would operate on the same basis as Division 7 of Part 3 of Chapter 8 of the RAO Act except that it refers to:
• ‘accounting records’ as defined in section 4 of the WR Act instead of ‘financial records’;
• ‘organisation’ within the meaning of the WR Act instead of ‘reporting unit’;
• ‘accounts prepared under section 273 of the WR Act’ instead of ‘general purpose financial reports’; and
• ‘Division 11 of Part IX of the WR Act’ and ‘regulations made for the purposes of that Division’ instead of ‘Part 3 of Chapter 8’, ‘regulations made for the purposes of that Part’ and ‘reporting guidelines’.
1.78 Item 46 would also insert a substitute subclause 273(3) to provide that the Commission may only order access to the financial records of a reporting unit in respect of those records that relate to the suspected breach.
1.79 Item 46 would also ensure that the provisions apply to branches of organisations (on the same basis as under the WR Act).
1.80 This item is a saving provision. It would provide that Division 11 of Part IX of the WR Act relating to accounts and audits continues to have effect in relation to a financial year spanning the transition period.
1.81 Subitem 47(2) would provide that section 280 of the WR Act (which relates to investigations by the Industrial Registrar) continues to apply in relation to investigations started under the WR Act but not completed prior to commencement.
1.82 Part 4 of Chapter 10 of the RAO Act confers upon the Industrial Registrar or Registry officials certain powers to make inquiries and investigate matters under the RAO Act. Due to the fact that Part 4 of Chapter 10 will not apply until the first financial year of an organisation starting after commencement of the reporting guidelines, this item will create a substitute Part 4 of Chapter 10 of the RAO Act which will operate during the transition period. This is to enable the Industrial Registrar to make inquiries and investigate matters on or after commencement of the RAO Act irrespective of when the conduct being investigated occurred.
1.83 Substitute Part 4 of Chapter 10 will operate on the same basis as Part 4 of Chapter 10 of the RAO Act except that it will make appropriate references to the WR Act rather than to the RAO Act, including by substituting references to
• ‘Division 11 of Part IX of the WR Act’ and ‘regulations made for the purposes of that Division’ with references to ‘Part 3 of Chapter 8’, ‘regulations made for the purposes of that Part’ and ‘reporting guidelines’; and
• ‘organisation’ with references to ‘reporting unit’.
1.85 The purpose of substitute Part 4 of Chapter 10 is to ensure that the Industrial Registrar is empowered to monitor compliance with financial requirements of the WR Act during the transition period, and to investigate and, where necessary, enforce those civil penalty provisions that come into operation at commencement of the RAO Act.
1.86 Item 49 would clarify that Part 4 of Chapter 10 of the RAO Act only applies in relation to conduct occurring in a financial year of an organisation starting on or after commencement of the reporting guidelines.
1.87 Item 50 would provide that the provisions which establish the
general duties on officers and employees of organisations in relation to orders
and directions of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and the Federal
Court apply to orders and directions made by those tribunals before, on or after
commencement, and to acts done or omissions made on or after commencement.
1.88 Part 8 proposes a number of amendments, which are primarily of a technical nature.
1.89 Section 288 of the WR Act permits a financial member of an organisation to request a returning officer conducting an election for office or other position, or a ballot on a matter, in an organisation or branch to supply information to the member for the purpose of ascertaining whether an irregularity has occurred in that election or ballot.
1.90 Item 51 would provide that where a request was made under section 288 of the WR Act but not complied with before commencement, the WR Act continues to apply.
1.91 Section 292 of the WR Act provides that a list of officers of an organisation or branch lodged on behalf of an organisation in the Industrial Registry or a copy of such a list certified by a Registrar, is evidence that the persons named in the list were officers at the time of lodgement. Item 52 would enable a list lodged, or copy certified, before commencement to continue to be evidence that the persons named in the list were officers at the time of lodgement after commencement.
1.92 This item would ensure that provisions of the WR Act relating to the granting of financial assistance in relation to proceedings under that Act continue to have effect in any proceeding started under that Act before commencement.
1.93 Item 54 would enable delegations made under a repealed provision of the WR Act to continue to operate after commencement as if they had been made under the corresponding provision of the RAO Act, provided the delegation was in force immediately before commencement and did not end at that time.
1.94 Item 55 would enable regulations to be made about matters of a transitional, application or saving nature relating to amendments made to the WR Act by this Act or to the enactment of the RAO Act. A regulation made under this item may have retrospective application except to the extent that the rights of a person are adversely affected or a liability is imposed.
SCHEDULE 2 – AMENDMENT OF THE WORKPLACE RELATIONS ACT 1996
2.1 Schedule 2 proposes amendments to the WR Act consequential upon the commencement of the RAO Act and the removal of provisions of relevant provisions from the WR Act.
2.2 A number of amendments would insert references to the RAO Act or substitute references to provisions of the WR Act with references to provisions of the RAO Act.
2.3 Other amendments would repeal provisions of the WR Act (for example, Divisions 1 to 11 of Part IX of the WR Act).
2.4 Some items would make amendments consequential upon the enactment of the RAO Act. For example, item 80 would add a definition of ‘matter’ to include a proceeding arising under the RAO Act. Other items would remove obsolete references or to correct technical errors.
2.5 The schedule would also insert two substantive provisions in the WR
Act:
• Section 45A – which would set out the process and scope
for appeals to the Full Bench of the Commission in relation to a decision or
order of a member of the Commission relating to a matter arising under the RAO
Act (item 43);
• Section 174A – which would replicate section 174 in allowing the President of the Commission to refer a demarcation dispute to a State authority to be investigated and dealt with under the WR Act (item 86).
SCHEDULE 3 – AMENDMENT OF OTHER ACTS
3.1 Schedule 3 proposes amendments to other Commonwealth legislation that are consequential to the enactment of the RAO Act and the repeal of provisions of the WR Act.
3.2 Items 2, 22, 26, 28, 32, 33, 36, 37, 41, 47, 50, 51, 52, 54, 55, 58, and 60 to 64 each omit references to the ‘Workplace Relations Act 1996’ and substitute references to the ‘Workplace Relations (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) Act 2002’, in the following Acts:
Builders Labourers’ Federation (Cancellation of Registration – Consequential Provisions) Act 1986
Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997
Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Crimes Act 1914
Disability Discrimination Act 1992
Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986
Income Tax Assessment Act 1936
Insurance Act 1973
Life Insurance Act 1995
Long Service Leave (Commonwealth Employees) Act 1976
Navigation Act 1912
Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967
Sex Discrimination Act 1984
Superannuation Act 1976
Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993
United States Naval Communication Station (Civilian Employees) Act 1968
3.3 Item 3 would insert a definition of ‘Registration and Accountability of Organisations Act’ in the Builders Labourers’ Federation (Cancellation of Registration – Consequential Provisions) Act 1986 (BLF Act). Items 7 and 23 would delete references to Part IX of the Workplace Relations Act 1996, to reflect the repeal of those provisions. Item 14 would amend the BLF Act to omit a reference to ‘that Act’ and substitute a reference to the ‘Workplace Relations (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) Act 2002’.
3.4 Items 6 and 17 would omit references to specific provisions of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 and substitute references to specific provisions of the Workplace Relations (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) Act 2002 in the Builders Labourers’ Federation (Cancellation of Registration – Consequential Provisions) Act 1986. Item 57 would correct an inaccurate cross-reference in the National Crime Authority Act 1984.
3.5 Items 53 and 56 would insert a reference to the Workplace Relations (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) Act 2002 in the following Acts:
Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987
National Crime Authority Act 1984
3.6 Items 1, 9, 13, 20, 35, 48 and 49 would add references to ‘the Workplace Relations (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) Act 2002’ to existing references to the ‘Workplace Relations Act 1996’ in the following Acts:
Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977
Builders Labourers’ Federation (Cancellation of Registration – Consequential Provisions) Act 1986
Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918
Federal Court of Australia Act 1976
3.8 Items 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27 and 31 would omit references to the ‘Industrial Relations Act’ and substitute references to the ‘Workplace Relations Act’, in the BLF Act.
3.9 Item 59 would amend the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 to omit the reference to ‘Industrial Relations Act 1988’ and replace it with a reference to the ‘Workplace Relations (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) Act 2002’.
3.10 Items 18, 29 and 30 would change the reference to section numbers or add a reference to a specified provision or substitute words in the BLF Act.
3.11 Item 34 would omit a reference to the Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1901 in section 5 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1901.
3.12 Items 38 to 40 propose to repeal certain provisions of the Criminal Code Act 1995 which refer to ‘Part IX of the Workplace Relations Act 1996’ and instead substitute a reference to ‘Part 2 of Chapter 2 of the Workplace Relations (Registration and Accountability of Organisations) Act 2002’. These amendments reflect the fact that the provisions governing the registration of organisations will be contained in Part 2 of Chapter 2 of the RAO Act.
3.13 Items 42 to 46 would repeal certain provisions of the Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business Legislation Amendment (Criminal Code) Act 2001. The provisions to be repealed proposed to amend provisions of the ‘Workplace Relations (Registered Organisations) Act 2001’ (RO Act). As the Bill that would have created the RO Act was never enacted, the amendments referred to in items 42 to 46 will never commence and therefore are to be repealed.
SCHEDULE 4– AMENDMENTS ABOUT ENTRY TO PREMISES
4.1 This Schedule proposes amendments to the right of entry provisions of
the WR Act.
4.2 Division 11A of Part IX of the WR Act establishes a
system whereby a registered organisation can apply to an Industrial Registrar
for the issue of a permit to an officer or employee. The permit holder has a
right, subject to limitations set out in the WR Act, to enter workplaces for the
purposes of investigating suspected breaches of the WR Act or awards or
certified agreements made under that Act, and for holding discussions with
employees.
4.3 Item 1 would make a minor technical amendment to existing subsection
285C(1) consequential upon the changes proposed by Item 2.
4.4 Item 2 would amend section 285C of the WR Act. Section 285C allows a
permit holder to enter premises in which work is being carried on to which an
award applies that is binding on the organisation of which the permit holder is
an officer or employee for the purpose of holding discussions with employees who
are members, or eligible to become members, of that
organisation.
4.5 Item 2 would insert new subsections 285C(3) - (7).
These subsections would limit the right of entry under section 285C by providing
that the right cannot be exercised if an employer holding an endorsed
certificate employs 20 or fewer employees at the premises, none of whom are
union members.
4.6 Section 267 of the WR Act enables a Registrar to
issue, to an employer or employee whose conscientious beliefs do not allow the
person to be a member of an employer association or union (as the case may be),
a certificate of conscientious objection to membership of an organisation.
4.7 The amendment in item 2 would enable a Registrar to endorse that
certificate if he or she is satisfied that the employer is a practising member
of a religious society or order whose doctrines or beliefs preclude membership
of an organisation or body other than the religious society or order of which
the employer is a member. The Registrar must be satisfied that, at the time the
application is made, all of the employees of the applicant have agreed that the
endorsement should be made.
4.8 Items 3 to 6 would make consequential amendments to paragraph
285C(3)(b), subsection 285C(4), subsection 285C(6) and subsection 285C(7) of the
WR Act on the commencement of the RAO Act to replace references to section 267
of the WR Act with references to section 180 of the RAO Act.