Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009

It is Parliament’s intention in enacting this Act to enhance relations within workplaces between federal system employers and federal system employees and to reduce the adverse effects of industrial disputation.

Parliament considers that those relations will be enhanced and those adverse effects will be reduced, if associations of employers and employees are required to meet the standards set out in this Act in order to gain the rights and privileges accorded to associations under this Act and the Fair Work Act.

The standards set out in this Act:

ensure that employer and employee organisations registered under this Act are representative of and accountable to their members, and are able to operate effectively; and

encourage members to participate in the affairs of organisations to which they belong; and

encourage the efficient management of organisations and high standards of accountability of organisations to their members; and

provide for the democratic functioning and control of organisations; and

facilitate the registration of a diverse range of employer and employee organisations.

It is also Parliament’s intention in enacting this Act to assist employers and employees to promote and protect their economic and social interests through the formation of employer and employee organisations, by providing for the registration of those associations and according rights and privileges to them once registered.

Parliament recognises and respects the role of employer and employee organisations in facilitating the operation of the workplace relations system.

The Fair Work Act contains many provisions that affect the operation of this Act. For example, provisions of the Fair Work Act deal with some powers and functions of the Fair Work Commission and of the General Manager. Decisions made under this Act may be subject to procedures and rules (for example, about appeals) that are set out in the Fair Work Act.