4 yearly review of modern awards – Plain language re-drafting – Security Services Industry Award 2010

The matter before the Fair Work Commission involved a review of the Security Services Industry Award 2010 as part of a four-yearly process mandated by Australian labour laws. The review was conducted to ensure the award remains clear and understandable, reflecting contemporary language and practices within the security services industry. The Commission was tasked with assessing the current award's provisions and considering submissions from stakeholders, including industry representatives and employees.

The primary legal issue the Commission needed to address was whether the current language and structure of the Security Services Industry Award 2010 adequately reflected contemporary practices and were comprehensible to those they governed. The Commission also considered whether the award's provisions were sufficiently flexible to accommodate changes in the industry while maintaining fairness and equity for employees.

In its decision, the Fair Work Commission found that while the existing award contained some outdated language and was occasionally difficult to interpret, it generally met the objectives of the review. The Commission made several amendments to enhance clarity and ensure the award remained relevant to modern practices. The Commission's approach involved rephrasing certain clauses to use plain language, ensuring that the award's provisions were accessible to all employees and employers within the security services sector. The Commission also added new provisions to address emerging issues within the industry, such as the use of technology and the role of security personnel in diverse settings.

The Fair Work Commission issued revised terms for the Security Services Industry Award 2010, incorporating the changes agreed upon during the review process. These changes aimed to improve the clarity and relevance of the award, ensuring it continues to provide a fair and effective framework for employment conditions within the security services industry.