Industrial Relations Act 1996

If—

a person who is eligible for membership of an organisation (other than a member of the organisation or a person who has been expelled from the organisation) applies to be admitted as a member of the organisation, and

the person has, up to a time within one month before the application, acted in good faith as, and been treated by the organisation as, a member,

If a question arises as to the entitlement under this section of a person to be admitted as a member and to be treated as though the person had been a member during the times referred to in subsection (1)—

the person, or

a person who is or desires to become the employer of the person, or

the organisation,

Subject to subsection (5), the Commission may, despite anything in the rules of the organisation concerned, make such orders (including mandatory injunctions) to give effect to its determination as it considers appropriate.

The orders that the Commission may make under subsection (3) include an order requiring the organisation concerned to treat a person to whom subsection (1) applies as being a member of the organisation and as having been a member during the times referred to in subsection (1).

Where an application is made to the Commission under this section—

if the application is made otherwise than by the person whose entitlement is in question—the person must be given an opportunity to be heard by the Commission, and

if the application is made otherwise than by the organisation concerned—the organisation must be given an opportunity to be heard by the Commission.

A reference in this section to a person having acted as, or been treated by the organisation as, a member of an organisation includes a reference to a person having so acted or been so treated during a period before the commencement of this section.