FAIR WORK CHANGES— WHAT’S IN STORE?

On 6 December 2022, the GovernorGeneral assented to the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022

Described as “an Act to abolish the Registered Organisations Commission and the Australian Building and Construction Commission and to amend the law relating to workplace relations, and workers’ compensation and rehabilitation, and for related purposes”, the Act amended the Commonwealth Fair Work Act 2009

The Australian Construction Industry Forum met recently with the office of the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon. Tony Burke MP, who advised that “‘general building and construction work’ is excluded from multi-employer bargaining” and that ‘general building and construction work’ is defined at clause 23B.

While this sounds positive, clause 23B actually excludes “work that is plumbing, or fire sprinkler fitting, within the meaning of clause 4.2 of the Plumbing and Fire Sprinklers Award 2020 as in force at the applicable time” from general building and construction work.

In other words, plumbing or fire sprinkler fitting is still included in multi-employer bargaining.

For more information about the Bill and its changes, visit www.dewr.gov.au/secure-jobs-betterpay or read the small business fact sheet at www.dewr.gov.au/securejobs-better-pay/resources/smallbusiness-fact-sheet.