Stevedoring Industry Act 1957

Legislation au C1957A00093 Not in force Act

Legislation content

STEVEDORING INDUSTRY.

 

No. 93 of 1957.

An Act relating to the Stevedoring Industry.

[Assented to 12th December, 1957.]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Stevedoring Industry Act 1957.


(2.) The Stevedoring Industry Act 1956 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Stevedoring Industry Act 1956-1957.

Commencement.

2.—(1.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-section, this Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(2.) Sections four and five of this Act shall come into operation on such dates as are respectively fixed by Proclamation.

Employers’ obligations.

3. Section thirty-three of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-section (1.) the word “and” and inserting in its stead the word “or”; and

(b) by inserting in paragraph (b) of sub-section (1.), after the word “shall”, the words at all times,”.

4. Section thirty-five of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section inserted in its stead:—

Cancellation or suspension of registration of employers.

“35.—(1.) If the Commission, on the application of the Authority, is satisfied that an employer registered at a port—

(a) does not have the means of carrying out stevedoring operations at the port in an expeditious, safe and efficient manner or of discharging the duties and obligations of an employer under this Act;

(b) has (whether before or after the commencement of this section) failed to comply with an order or direction of the Authority under this Act or an award of the Commission; or

(c) has (whether before or after the commencement of this section) been convicted of an offence against this Act,

the Commission may, if it thinks it appropriate to do so in the circumstances, direct the Authority to cancel the registration of the employer or to suspend his registration until the expiration of such period as the Commission directs, and thereupon the Authority shall cancel or suspend the registration of the employer accordingly.

“(2.) The powers of the Commission under the last preceding sub-section are not affected by, and do not affect, any power of the Court to impose a pecuniary penalty upon a registered employer in respect of an offence.


“(3.) The powers of the Commission under this section in relation to an application of the Authority shall be exercised by the President of the Commission or by a Deputy President of the Commission assigned by the President to deal with applications under this section or, if the President nominates a Deputy President other than such a Deputy President to deal with that application, by the Deputy President so nominated.”.

5.—(1.) Section thirty-seven of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section inserted in its stead:—

Appeals.

“37.—(1.) Where the registration of a person as a waterside worker is or has been cancelled or suspended under the last preceding section (whether before or after the commencement of this section), that person may, within fourteen days after the date of the cancellation or suspension or within such further period as the Commission allows, appeal to the Commission, by filing a notice of appeal in the prescribed form with the prescribed person, against the cancellation or suspension and, upon consideration of any such appeal, the Commission may, according as it thinks appropriate in the circumstances, confirm, vary or set aside the cancellation or suspension.

“(2.) Where a person appeals to the Commission against the suspension of his registration as a waterside worker, the suspension shall, subject to the next succeeding sub-section, continue in operation.

“(3.) The Authority may postpone the operation of the suspension, pending the determination of the appeal, for such period as it thinks fit and the registration shall not be deemed to have been suspended during the period of postponement.

“(4.) The powers of the Commission under this section in relation to an appeal shall be exercised by the President of the Commission or by a Deputy President of the Commission assigned by the President to deal with appeals under this section or, if the President nominates a Deputy President other than such a Deputy President to deal with that appeal, by the Deputy President so nominated.”.

(2.) Where, before the commencement of this section, an appeal to the Commonwealth Industrial Court under the section repealed by this section had been commenced but had not been determined, the cancellation or suspension to which the appeal related shall, for the purpose of determining the time within which an appeal against that cancellation or suspension may be instituted under the section inserted in the Principal Act by this section, be deemed to have been effected on the date of commencement of this section.


6. After section thirty-seven of the Principal Act the following section is inserted:—

Postponement of suspension pending appeal.

“37a. Where the Authority is satisfied that a waterside worker whose registration has been suspended intends to appeal under the last preceding section against the suspension, the provisions of sub-section (3.) of the last preceding section apply as if the waterside worker had already so appealed.”.

 

Overview

The Stevedoring Industry Act 1957 was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to amend the existing Stevedoring Industry Act 1956, addressing issues within the stevedoring industry to ensure safety, efficiency, and compliance. This legislation primarily focuses on enhancing the regulatory framework concerning stevedoring employers and workers. It empowers the Commission to cancel or suspend the registration of employers who fail to meet certain standards or comply with regulatory requirements, thereby promoting safer working conditions and adherence to industry regulations. The policy objective is to maintain high standards of safety and efficiency within the stevedoring sector by providing mechanisms for the oversight and regulation of employers and workers. The Act ensures that the Commission has the authority to take decisive action against non-compliant employers while also providing avenues for workers to appeal against any adverse decisions related to their registration status.

Scope and Application

The Stevedoring Industry Act 1957, as amended by the Stevedoring Industry Act 1956-1957, governs the stevedoring industry across Australia. This Act applies to employers and workers within the stevedoring industry, with specific provisions for the registration, obligations, and conduct of both employers and employees. The Act provides for the registration of stevedoring employers and workers, and outlines the obligations that employers must adhere to, such as ensuring operations are conducted in an expeditious, safe, and efficient manner. Employers who fail to meet these standards or comply with orders or awards may face suspension or cancellation of their registration. The Act also establishes a framework for handling appeals against the cancellation or suspension of an employer's or worker's registration, ensuring that there are mechanisms for reviewing decisions by the relevant authorities. The application of this Act is national, covering stevedoring activities across all states and territories of Australia.

Key Provisions

The Stevedoring Industry Act 1957 (Act) outlines specific requirements and obligations for employers and workers in the stevedoring industry, along with provisions for the cancellation or suspension of registrations. Section 3 of the Act amends Section 33 of the Principal Act by changing the wording to clarify the employer's responsibility to provide safe and efficient operations. Under Section 35 of the Act, the Industrial Relations Commission is empowered to cancel or suspend the registration of an employer if certain conditions are met, such as the employer's inability to perform their duties safely and efficiently or failure to comply with orders or awards. This section ensures that employers maintain high standards of operation to protect workers and maintain industry integrity. The Act imposes significant obligations on employers and workers within the stevedoring industry. Employers must ensure they have the necessary means to conduct operations safely and efficiently, and comply with all orders and awards issued by the Authority or the Commission. Failure to meet these obligations can result in the suspension or cancellation of their registration. Workers whose registration is suspended or cancelled have the right to appeal this decision to the Commission within 14 days, or any extended period allowed by the Commission. The Act also provides for the postponement of the operation of a suspension pending the determination of an appeal, allowing workers to continue their employment during this period. Breaches of the provisions under the Stevedoring Industry Act 1957 can lead to various consequences. Employers who fail to meet their obligations may have their registration cancelled or suspended by the Commission. Such cancellations or suspensions can significantly impact the employer's ability to operate in the stevedoring industry. For workers, the suspension or cancellation of registration can be appealed to the Commission, which may confirm, vary, or set aside the decision. Additionally, the Authority has the discretion to postpone the operation of a suspension pending the determination of an appeal, thereby mitigating immediate impacts on the worker. The Act does not specify financial penalties for breaches but focuses on administrative actions such as registration suspension or cancellation.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.