Industrial Relations Act 2016

This section applies if—

notice of a dispute has been given by a party under section 261(2); or

whether or not a notice of a dispute has been given under section 261—the commission considers it is in the public interest to take action under this section in relation to the dispute.

Subsection (1)(b) applies irrespective of whether the parties are attempting to resolve the dispute.

The commission may take the steps it considers appropriate for the prevention or prompt settlement of the dispute, by—

conciliation in the first instance; and

if the commission considers conciliation has failed and the parties are unlikely to resolve the dispute—arbitration.

Without limiting subsection (3), the commission may do 1 or more of the following—

direct any industrial action in relation to the dispute to stop or not happen;

make orders, or give directions, of an interlocutory nature;

exercise the commission’s powers under section 473 (whether or not application under that section has been made) to grant an interim injunction;

make another order or exercise another power the commission considers appropriate for the prevention of, or the prompt settlement of, the dispute.

For proceedings for the dispute—

the commission may name a party to the dispute as having carriage of the proceedings; and

the party named has the carriage of the proceedings accordingly.

This section does not affect the operation of an industrial instrument that imposes a duty on a party to the instrument in relation to industrial disputes.