Industrial Relations (General) Regulations 1997 (WA)

Case
No judgment structure available for this case.

Western Australia

Industrial Relations Act 1979

Industrial Relations (General) Regulations 1997

Western Australia

Industrial Relations (General) Regulations 1997 Contents

Western Australia

Industrial Relations Act 1979

Industrial Relations Act 1979

Industrial Relations (General) Regulations 1997

Part 1 – Preliminary1.Citation

These regulations may be cited as the Industrial Relations (General) Regulations 1997.

2.Commencement

These regulations come into operation on the day on which section 34 of the Labour Relations Legislation Amendment Act 1997 comes into operation.

3.Term used: Clerk

In these regulations —

Clerk means the clerk of the Court.

[Regulation 3 inserted: SL 2022/100 r. 50.]

Part 2 – Employment records

[Heading inserted: SL 2022/100 r. 51.]

4.How employment records must be kept (Act s. 49D(3))
  • (1)

    An employer is to ensure that the employment records of the employer are kept — 

    • (a)

      by — 

      • (i)

        making entries in the English language in or on a separate page of a bound or loose‑leaf book kept specifically for that purpose; or

      • (ii)

        recording or storing the particulars required to be entered in the employment records by means of a mechanical, electronic or other device, but so that the particulars so recorded or stored will remain in the form in which they were originally recorded or stored and will be capable of being reproduced in written form in the English language;

    • (b)

      with only one employee’s records appearing on any one page;

    • (c)

      so that the record for each pay period of each employee is identifiable; and

    • (d)

      in a manner that enables compliance with section 49D of the Act to be readily ascertained.

  • (2)

    A person is not to alter employment records unless the alteration is annotated so as to identify — 

    • (a)

      the nature of the alteration;

    • (b)

      the person making the alteration; and

    • (c)

      the date on which the alteration was made.

[Regulation 4 amended: Gazette 26 Jul 2002 p. 3460.]

Part 3 – Unfair dismissal and contractual benefit claims

[Heading inserted: Gazette 26 Jul 2002 p. 3460.]

5.Prescribed amount – section 29AA
  • (1)

    For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of “prescribed amount” in section 29AA(5) of the Act the specified salary is $90 000, or that amount as affected by indexation in accordance with regulation 6.

  • (2)

    For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of “prescribed amount” in section 29AA(5) of the Act the salary provided for in an employee’s contract of employment is to be worked out as follows —

    • (a)

      for an employee who was continuously employed by an employer and was not on leave without full pay at any time during the period of 12 months immediately before the dismissal or claim — the greater of —

      • (i)

        the salary that the employee actually received in that period; and

      • (ii)

        the salary that the employee was entitled to receive in that period;

    • (b)

      for an employee who was continuously employed by an employer and was on leave without full pay at any time during the period of 12 months immediately before the dismissal or claim — the total of —

      • (i)

        the actual salary received by the employee for the days during that period that the employee was not on leave without full pay; and

      • (ii)

        for the days that the employee was on leave without full pay an amount worked out using the formula —

or

  • (c)

    for an employee who was continuously employed by an employer for a period less than 12 months immediately before the dismissal or claim — the amount worked out using the formula —

[Regulation 5 inserted: Gazette 26 Jul 2002 p. 3460‑1.]

6.Annual indexation
  • (1)

    This regulation prescribes a formula under which the amount mentioned in regulation 5(1) (the “indexable amount”) is to be varied annually by the indexation factor (if any).

  • (2)

    In this regulation —

base weekly earnings means the last amount published by the Australian Statistician before 1 July 2002 as an estimate (except a preliminary estimate) of the average total weekly earnings (seasonally adjusted) for full‑time adult employees of all employees in Australia in a particular month;

current weekly earnings, in relation to an indexation day, means the last amount published by the Australian Statistician before that day as an estimate (except a preliminary estimate) of the average total weekly earnings (seasonally adjusted) for full‑time adult employees of all employees in Australia in a particular month;

indexation day means 1 July 2003 or 1 July in a later year;

indexation factor, for an indexation day, means the number, worked out to 3 decimal places, resulting from the following formula —

  • (3)

    If at any time (whether before or after the commencement of this regulation) the Australian Statistician publishes an estimate of the average total weekly earnings (seasonally adjusted) for full‑time adult employees in a particular month in substitution for such an estimate (except a preliminary estimate) previously published by the Australian Statistician for that month, the publication of the later estimate is to be disregarded for the purposes of this regulation.

  • (4)

    Subject to subregulation (5), if, on any indexation day, the indexation factor is greater than 1, then, on and after that day, until a later application of this subregulation, an indexable amount is taken to be replaced by the amount worked out by multiplying the indexable amount by the indexation factor.

  • (5)

    If an amount worked out under subregulation (4) is not $100, or a multiple of $100 —

    • (a)

      if the amount is not $50, or a multiple of $50 — it is to be rounded up or down to $100, or the nearest amount that is a multiple of $100 as appropriate; or

    • (b)

      if the amount is $50, or a multiple of $50 — it is to be rounded up to $100, or the next highest amount that is a multiple of $100 as appropriate.

[Regulation 6 inserted: Gazette 26 Jul 2002 p. 3461‑2.]

Part 4 – Employers declared not to be national system employers

[Heading inserted: SL 2022/100 r. 52.]

7.Employers declared not to be national system employers (Act s. 80A(2))
  • (1)

    For the purposes of section 80A(2)(a) of the Act, each employer specified in Schedule 4 is declared not to be a national system employer for the purposes of the FW Act.

  • (2)

    For the purposes of section 80A(2)(b) of the Act, the day fixed for the purposes of the declaration is 1 January 2023.

[Regulation 7 inserted: SL 2022/100 r. 52; amended: SL 2022/196 r. 4.]

[8. Deleted: SL 2025/12 r. 11.]

Part 5 – Fees

[Heading inserted: Gazette 26 Jul 2002 p. 3462.]

9.Fees to be charged
  • (1)

    Subject to the Act and the provisions of these regulations —

    • (a)

      the fees specified in Schedule 1 are to be charged in respect of the matters before the Commission in relation to which they are specified; and

    • (b)

      the fees specified in Schedule 2 are to be charged in respect of the matters before the Court in relation to which they are specified.

  • (2)

    No fee is payable for any of the following matters —

    • (a)

      the registration of a treasurer, trustee, secretary or any other officer of an organisation;

    • (b)

      the cancellation of a certificate of registration;

    • (c)

      filing of notice of a change of registered office;

    • (d)

      filing of a warrant to appear as an agent;

    • (e)

      any document in respect of which a fee is already chargeable under the Act or any other written law;

    • (f)

      filing of notice of discontinuance of an application.

  • (3)

    The Registrar and the Clerk may determine the means, in addition to cash, by which fees may be paid.

[Regulation 9 inserted as regulation 7: Gazette 26 Jul 2002 p. 3463; renumbered as regulation 9: Gazette 29 Jun 2004 p. 2517.]

10.Registrar and Clerk may waive certain fees
  • (1)

    The Registrar or a Deputy Registrar may waive a fee referred to in Schedule 1 when the Registrar or Deputy Registrar considers it reasonable to do so.

  • (2)

    The Clerk may waive a fee referred to in Schedule 2 item 9 when the Clerk considers it reasonable to do so.

  • (3)

    The Clerk may waive a fee referred to in Schedule 2 item 10 when permission to do so has been given by the Presiding Judge.

[Regulation 10 inserted as regulation 8: Gazette 26 Jul 2002 p. 3463; renumbered as regulation 10 and amended: Gazette 29 Jun 2004 p. 2517.]

11.Fees paid to Consolidated Fund

All fees received by the Clerk, Registrar or any other officer are to be credited to the Consolidated Fund.

[Regulation 11 inserted as regulation 9: Gazette 26 Jul 2002 p. 3463; renumbered as regulation 11: Gazette 29 Jun 2004 p. 2517.]

Part 6 – Bargaining for industrial agreement

[Heading inserted: Gazette 29 Jun 2004 p. 2517.]

12.Notice initiating bargaining

A notice given under section 42(1) of the Act —

  • (a)

    may be given in the form of GFB 1 in Schedule 3; and

  • (b)

    must be accompanied by all of the particulars set out in that form.

[Regulation 12 inserted: Gazette 29 Jun 2004 p. 2517.]

13.Response to notice initiating bargaining

A person to whom a notice is given under section 42(1) of the Act may notify the initiating party of his or her response in the form of GFB 2 in Schedule 3.

[Regulation 13 inserted: Gazette 29 Jun 2004 p. 2517.]

14.Notice and response to be given to Commission
  • (1)

    A notice given under section 42(1) of the Act, or a response under section 42A(1) of the Act, cannot be admitted in any proceeding or conference before the Commission unless a copy of that notice or response has been filed in the office of the Registrar of the Commission at least 7 days before the proceeding or conference.

  • (2)

    Subregulation (1) does not apply in respect of an application under section 42A(2).

[Regulation 14 inserted: Gazette 29 Jun 2004 p. 2517.]

Part 7 – Miscellaneous

[Heading inserted: Gazette 27 Jun 2014 p. 2332.]

15.Police Force prescribed as a public sector entity: section 26

The Police Force within the meaning of the Police Act 1892 is prescribed for the purposes of the definition of public sector entity in section 26(2B) of the Act.

[Regulation 15 inserted: Gazette 27 Jun 2014 p. 2332.]

16.Federal organisations prescribed to be federal counterpart in relation to organisation

For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of federal counterpart in section 49G(1) of the Act, in relation to an organisation set out in column 1 of the Table, a federal organisation set out opposite the organisation in column 2 is a federal counterpart of that organisation.

Table

Organisation

Federal organisation

Electrical Trades Union WA

Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia

United Workers Union (WA)

United Workers’ Union

The Coal Miners’ Industrial Union of Workers of Western Australia, Collie

Mining and Energy Union

The Western Australian Clothing and Allied Trades’ Industrial Union of Workers, Perth

Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

[Regulation 16 inserted: SL 2025/12 r. 12.]

17.State laws prescribed to be industrial laws

For the purposes of paragraph (c) of the definition of industrial law in section 49G(1) of the Act, each of the following laws is an industrial law —

  • (a)

    the Fair Work Act 1994 (South Australia);

  • (b)

    the Industrial Relations Act 1984 (Tasmania);

  • (c)

    the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (New South Wales);

  • (d)

    the Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Queensland).

[Regulation 17 inserted: SL 2025/12 r. 12.]

18.Commonwealth, State and Territory laws prescribed to be work health and safety laws

For the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of work health and safety law in section 49G(1) of the Act, each of the following laws is a work health and safety law —

  • (a)

    the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Victoria);

  • (b)

    the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Australian Capital Territory);

  • (c)

    the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Commonwealth);

  • (d)

    the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (New South Wales);

  • (e)

    the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Queensland);

  • (f)

    the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (South Australia);

  • (g)

    the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (Tasmania);

  • (h)

    the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (Northern Territory).

[Regulation 18 inserted: SL 2025/12 r. 12.]

Schedule 1 — Fees to be taken by the Registrar

[r. 9]

Item

Matter

Fee $

1

For referring an industrial matter under section 29(1)(c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) or (k) of the Act

50.00

2

For a photographic copy of a transcript of proceedings — for each page

3.00

3

For a search of a record or database of the Commission (other than a search of a proceeding made by or on behalf of a party to the proceeding) — for each name or item in respect of which a search is made

20.00

[Schedule 1 inserted: Gazette 26 Jul 2002 p. 3463‑4; amended: Gazette 29 Jun 2004 p. 2518; SL 2022/100 r. 54; SL 2025/12 r. 13.]

Schedule 2 — Fees to be taken by the Clerk

[r. 9]

Item

Matter

Fee $

1

For filing an affidavit, statutory declaration or any document not otherwise provided for in this Schedule

1.00

2

For filing an application or notice of motion

5.00

3

For filing a notice of appeal

5.00

4

For sealing an order

1.00

5

On the issue of a Chamber summons or summons to witness

1.50

6

For the issue of a warrant of any kind

2.50

7

For the execution of a warrant of any kind

8.50

8

For every document required to be authenticated by the Clerk or other officer

4.00

9

For every inspection on the same day of one or more documents in the custody of the Clerk

1.00

10

For a photographic copy of the transcript of proceedings — for each page

1.00

11

For a photographic copy of reasons for judgment consisting of not more than 10 pages — for each copy issued to a person not a party to the proceedings or a person, who although a party, did not appear or who was not represented at the proceedings and for each copy in excess of one copy issued to a represented party to the proceedings

2.75

And for each page in excess of 10

0.20

12

For photographic copies of exhibits or other documents — for each page

0.20

[Schedule 2 inserted: Gazette 26 Jul 2002 p. 3464; amended: Gazette 29 Jun 2004 p. 2518.]

Schedule 3 — Forms

GFB 1

[r. 12]

Industrial Relations Act 1979

NOTICE TO INITIATE BARGAINING

To ..........................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................

(name of party being given notice)1

Take notice that .....................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................

(name of party giving notice)

has this .............day of ..........................given notice initiating bargaining for an industrial agreement.

1.          Types of employment to be covered by agreement2

2.          Area in which agreement is to operate3

3.          Intended parties to the agreement4

....................................................

Signature of party giving notice

1 This notice is not to be given to an organisation or association of employers unless that organisation or association has given written consent to being given such notice.

2 If all employment is intended to be covered then state that. If is not intended to cover all the employment, specify by classification or occupation and specify whether full‑time, part‑time and casual employment is to be covered.

3 Nominate the area of the State (eg. whole State or metropolitan area or north of the 26th parallel) as well as any particulars relating to the employers’ premises.

4 If the intention is for the initiating party to bargain as a collective group, specify the other parties who will comprise that group.

INFORMATION FOR RECIPIENTS OF NOTICE TO INITIATE BARGAINING

The party who gave you this notice (the “initiating party”) is seeking to negotiate an industrial agreement which will bind you in respect of the employees in the employment identified in the particulars of the notice.

The initiating party is also seeking to negotiate the agreement within the requirements of the good faith bargain provisions of the Industrial Relations Act 1979. These provisions place certain procedural requirements on the negotiating parties to assist them to reach agreement. These procedural requirements can be enforced by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

If you wish to enter into negotiations for an industrial agreement, you should notify the initiating party within 21 days of receiving this notice.

Note: Documents served by post are deemed received 2 working days after they are posted. The response may be in the form of the attached GFB 2.

If there are other parties identified in the notice as intended parties to the agreement and you wish to negotiate separately with the initiating party, you may make an application to the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission for a direction that you may negotiate separately.

Note: You must still respond to the initiating party within 21 days of receiving the notice if you wish to enter into negotiations for an industrial agreement.

If you do not wish to enter into negotiations for an industrial agreement, you do not need to take any action. Alternatively, you may notify the initiating party that you will not enter into negotiations for an industrial agreement. You may use GFB 2 for the notification.

If you do not enter into negotiations for an industrial agreement, the initiating party may apply to the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission for an enterprise order which will determine the pay and conditions for employees who were proposed to be covered by the industrial agreement.

GFB 2

[r. 13]

Industrial Relations Act 1979

RESPONSE TO INITIATION OF BARGAINING

To ..........................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................

(name of party who provided notice initiating bargaining)

Take notice that .....................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................

(name of party responding to notice)

has this .........day of..................responded to the notice and:

o       wishes to enter into negotiations for an industrial agreement.

o       does not wish to enter into negotiations for an industrial agreement.

(tick appropriate box)

....................................................

Signature of party responding to notice

[Schedule 3 inserted: Gazette 29 Jun 2004 p. 2518‑20.]

Schedule 4 — Employers declared not to be national system employers

[r. 7]

[Heading inserted: SL 2022/100 r. 55.]

Division 1 — Local government employers

[Heading inserted: SL 2022/100 r. 55.]

Table

City of Albany

City of Armadale

Shire of Ashburton

Shire of Augusta Margaret River

Town of Bassendean

City of Bayswater

City of Belmont

Shire of Beverley

Shire of Boddington

Shire of Boyup Brook

Shire of Bridgetown‑Greenbushes

Shire of Brookton

Shire of Broome

Shire of Broomehill‑Tambellup

Shire of Bruce Rock

City of Bunbury

City of Busselton

Town of Cambridge

City of Canning

Shire of Capel

Shire of Carnamah

Shire of Carnarvon

Shire of Chapman Valley

Shire of Chittering

Town of Claremont

City of Cockburn

Shire of Collie

Shire of Coolgardie

Shire of Coorow

Shire of Corrigin

Town of Cottesloe

Shire of Cranbrook

Shire of Cuballing

Shire of Cue

Shire of Cunderdin

Shire of Dalwallinu

Shire of Dandaragan

Shire of Dardanup

Shire of Denmark

Shire of Derby‑West Kimberley

Shire of Donnybrook‑Balingup

Shire of Dowerin

Shire of Dumbleyung

Shire of Dundas

Town of East Fremantle

Shire of East Pilbara

Shire of Esperance

Shire of Exmouth

City of Fremantle

Shire of Gingin

Shire of Gnowangerup

Shire of Goomalling

City of Gosnells

City of Greater Geraldton

Shire of Halls Creek

Shire of Harvey

Shire of Irwin

Shire of Jerramungup

City of Joondalup

City of Kalamunda

City of Kalgoorlie‑Boulder

City of Karratha

Shire of Katanning

Shire of Kellerberrin

Shire of Kent

Shire of Kojonup

Shire of Kondinin

Shire of Koorda

Shire of Kulin

City of Kwinana

Shire of Lake Grace

Shire of Laverton

Shire of Leonora

City of Mandurah

Shire of Manjimup

Shire of Meekatharra

City of Melville

Shire of Menzies

Shire of Merredin

Shire of Mingenew

Shire of Moora

Shire of Morawa

Town of Mosman Park

Shire of Mount Magnet

Shire of Mount Marshall

Shire of Mukinbudin

Shire of Mundaring

Shire of Murchison

Shire of Murray

Shire of Nannup

Shire of Narembeen

Shire of Narrogin

City of Nedlands

Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku

Shire of Northam

Shire of Northampton

Shire of Nungarin

Shire of Peppermint Grove

Shire of Perenjori

City of Perth

Shire of Pingelly

Shire of Plantagenet

Town of Port Hedland

Shire of Quairading

Shire of Ravensthorpe

City of Rockingham

Shire of Sandstone

Shire of Serpentine‑Jarrahdale

Shire of Shark Bay

City of South Perth

City of Stirling

City of Subiaco

City of Swan

Shire of Tammin

Shire of Three Springs

Shire of Toodyay

Shire of Trayning

Shire of Upper Gascoyne

Town of Victoria Park

Shire of Victoria Plains

City of Vincent

Shire of Wagin

Shire of Wandering

City of Wanneroo

Shire of Waroona

Shire of West Arthur

Shire of Westonia

Shire of Wickepin

Shire of Williams

Shire of Wiluna

Shire of Wongan‑Ballidu

Shire of Woodanilling

Shire of Wyalkatchem

Shire of Wyndham‑East Kimberley

Shire of Yalgoo

Shire of Yilgarn

Shire of York

[Division 1 inserted: SL 2022/100 r. 55.]

Division 2 — Regional local government employers

[Heading inserted: SL 2022/100 r. 55.]

Table

Bunbury Harvey Regional Council

Catalina Regional Council

Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council

Mindarie Regional Council

Murchison Regional Vermin Council

Resource Recovery Group

Rivers Regional Council

Western Metropolitan Regional Council

[Division 2 inserted: SL 2022/100 r. 55; amended: SL 2024/31 r. 4.]

Notes

This is a compilation of the Industrial Relations (General) Regulations 1997 and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table.

Compilation table

Citation

Published

Commencement

Industrial Relations (General) Regulations 1997

30 Sep 1997 p. 5440‑1

17 Oct 1997 (see r. 2 and Gazette 30 Sep 1997 p. 5415)

Industrial Relations (General) Amendment Regulations 2002

26 Jul 2002 p. 3459‑64

1 Aug 2002 (see r. 2 and Gazette 26 Jul 2002 p. 3459)

Industrial Relations (General) Amendment Regulations 2004

29 Jun 2004 p. 2516‑20

29 Jun 2004

Reprint 1: The Industrial Relations (General) Regulations 1997 as at 10 Sep 2004 (includes amendments listed above)

Industrial Relations (General) Amendment Regulations 2009

31 Jul 2009 p. 3026

r. 1 and 2: 31 Jul 2009 (see r. 2(a));

Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Aug 2009 (see r. 2(b))

Industrial Relations (General) Amendment Regulations 2014

27 Jun 2014 p. 2332

1 Jul 2014 (see r. 2 and Gazette 27 Jun 2014 p. 2301)

Industrial Relations Regulations (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2022 Pt. 3

SL 2022/100 17 Jun 2022

20 Jun 2022 (see r. 2(b))

Industrial Relations (General) Amendment Regulations 2022

SL 2022/196 18 Nov 2022

r. 1 and 2: 18 Nov 2022 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 1 Jan 2023 (see r. 2(b))

Industrial Relations (General) Amendment Regulations 2024

SL 2024/31 7 Mar 2024

r. 1 and 2: 7 Mar 2024 (see r. 2(a)); Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 8 Mar 2024 (see r. 2(b))

Industrial Relations Regulations Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2025 Pt. 3

SL 2025/12 22 Jan 2025

23 Jan 2025 (see r. 2(b))

Defined terms

[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]

Defined term Provision(s)

base weekly earnings.................................................................................................. 6(2)

Clerk................................................................................................................................... 3

current weekly earnings............................................................................................. 6(2)

indexation day............................................................................................................. 6(2)

indexation factor......................................................................................................... 6(2)

© State of Western Australia 2025 .

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). To view relevant information and for a link to a copy of the licence, visit work as: © State of Western Australia 2025 .

By Authority: GEOFF O. LAWN, Government Printer

Actions
Download as PDF Download as Word Document
Cases Citing This Decision

0

Cases Cited

0

Statutory Material Cited

0