Fair Work Act 2009

providing workplace relations laws that are fair to working Australians, promote job security and gender equality, are flexible for businesses, promote productivity and economic growth for Australia’s future economic prosperity and take into account Australia’s international labour obligations; and

ensuring a guaranteed safety net of fair, relevant and enforceable minimum terms and conditions through the National Employment Standards, modern awards and national minimum wage orders; and

ensuring that the guaranteed safety net of fair, relevant and enforceable minimum wages and conditions can no longer be undermined by the making of statutory individual employment agreements of any kind given that such agreements can never be part of a fair workplace relations system; and

ensuring a safety net of fair and relevant minimum terms and conditions for regulated workers through enforceable minimum standards orders and related measures; and

ensuring a safety net of fair and relevant minimum terms and conditions for persons in a road transport contractual chain through enforceable road transport contractual chain orders and through road transport contractual chain guidelines; and

providing appropriate remedies in relation to unfair terms of services contracts; and

assisting employees to balance their work and family responsibilities by providing for flexible working arrangements; and

enabling fairness and representation at work and the prevention of discrimination by recognising the right to freedom of association and the right to be represented, protecting against unfair treatment and discrimination, providing accessible and effective procedures to resolve grievances and disputes and providing effective compliance mechanisms; and

achieving productivity and fairness through an emphasis on enterprise‑level collective bargaining underpinned by simple good faith bargaining obligations and clear rules governing industrial action; and

acknowledging the special circumstances of small and medium‑sized businesses.