Media Statement - 1st July 2009
The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Julia Gillard, today announced the first day of operation of Fair Work and the new fair and balanced workplace relations system promised at the last election.
Fair Work comprises the new independent industrial umpire, Fair Work Australia and the new inspectorate, the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The end of the Howard Government's extreme and unfair Work Choices laws marks the start of Fair Work, a new era in Australian workplace relations.
Fair Work will support the new workplace relations laws and will oversee the practical operation of the Fair Work Act 2009.
The Fair Work Act brings back the "fair go" to Australian workplaces, a genuine safety net and a fair way of bargaining for a productive enterprise agreement.
The Fair Work Act delivers on the Rudd Government's promise for fair and balanced laws that will allow workplaces to become more productive and competitive without stripping away basic pay and conditions.
The Fair Work Act has enterprise bargaining, in good faith, at its heart. Enterprise level bargaining will be the primary means of driving future workplace improvements and productivity.
From today, www.fairwork.gov.au and the Fair Work Infoline 131 394 will provide a 'one stop shop' for education, information and advice on all aspects of the new workplace relations system.
This replaces an alphabet soup of agencies which were almost impossible for organisations and individuals to navigate through.
The new independent industrial umpire, Fair Work Australia is a modern and accessible body, with a focus on providing fairness, efficiency and excellent services to users of the new system.
The new inspectorate, the Fair Work Ombudsman will promote harmonious, productive and cooperative workplace relations. It will have a strong focus on advice and education for employers and employees as well as a strong inspectorate service.
The Rudd Government continues to work with all State and Territory governments to achieve a national workplace relations system for the private sector.
The new workplace relations system is designed to balance the needs of employees and employers to ensure Australia is competitive and prosperous, without taking away basic employment rights and guaranteed minimum standards.
The Fair Work Act will guarantee a minimum safety net of 10
legislated National Employment Standards for all Australian employees
and will be fully operational by 1 January 2010.
For more information about Fair Work Australia and the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman visit www.fairwork.gov.au