Tradesmen's Rights Regulation Act 1947

Legislation au C1947A00072 Not in force Act

Legislation content

TRADESMENS RIGHTS REGULATION.

 

No. 72 of 1947.

An Act to amend the Tradesmens Rights Regulation Act 1946.

[Assented to 4th December, 1947.]

BE it enacted by the Kings 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 Tradesmens Rights Regulation Act 1947.

(2.) The Tradesmens Rights Regulation Act 1946 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Tradesmens Rights Regulation Act 19461947.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Repeal.

3. The National Security (Boot Trades Dilution) Regulations are repealed.

Parts.

4. Section five of the Principal Act is amended by inserting after the words Part VI—Sheet Metal Trades. the words Part VIa.— Boot Trades..

Operation Part VII.

5. Section nine of the Principal Act is amended by omitting the word and figures and VI. and inserting in their stead the word and figures ,VI. and VIa..

6.—(1.) After Part VI. of the Principal Act the following Part is inserted:—

Part VIa.—Boot Trades.

Definitions.

33a. In this Part, unless the contrary intention appears—

added tradesman means an adult person (not being a recognized tradesman or a probationary tradesman) whose engagement or elevation to perform work ordinarily performed by a recognized tradesman was authorized by a Local Dilution Committee under the National Security (Boot Trades Dilution) Regulations or who was at any time deemed under those Regulations to be an added tradesman;

certificate of recognition as a recognized tradesman means a certificate of recognition as a recognized tradesman granted in accordance with this Part;


Committee means a committee established under this Part;

employer means any person employing persons in the boot, shoe, sandal and slipper manufacturing industry, and includes an intending employer of persons in that industry;

Local Committee means a Local (Boot Trades) Committee established under this Part;

probationary tradesman means an adult member of the Forces whose employment as a probationary tradesman in a trade to which this Part applies has been authorized by a Local Committee;

recognized tradesman means a person who, in relation to any trade to which this Part applies—

(a) was employed prior to the thirty-first day of October, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-nine, as a tradesman;

(b) has qualified or qualifies by service as an apprentice for employment as a tradesman; or

(c) has been granted a certificate of recognition as a recognized tradesman;

Register means a Register established and maintained in pursuance of this Part;

the Central Committee means the Central (Boot Trades) Committee established under this Part;

tradesman means a person employed in any of the classifications specified in the Sixth Schedule to this Act.

Trades to which Part applies.

33b. This Part shall apply to the boot trades specified in the Sixth Schedule to this Act.

Central Committee.

33c.—(1.) There shall be a Central (Boot Trades) Committee consisting of—

(a) a representative of the Minister, who shall be the Chairman of the Committee;

(b) two representatives of employers; and

(c) two representatives of employees.

(2.) The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Minister and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Minister.

Local Committees.

33d.—(1.) There shall be a Local (Boot Trades) Committee in each State consisting of—

(a) a representative of the Minister, who shall be the Chairman of the Committee;

(b) two representatives of employers; and

(c) two representatives of employees.

(2.) The members of each Local Committee shall be appointed by the Minister and shall hold office during the pleasure of the Minister.


Recognition of tradesmen and probationary tradesmen.

33e.—(1.) The provisions of sections forty-one and forty-two, and paragraph (b) of sub-sections (2.) and (4.) of section forty-three, of this Act shall not apply in relation to trades to which this Part applies.

(2.) If a Local Committee is satisfied, upon application by any person, that that person is—

(a) a recognized tradesman within the meaning of paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of recognized tradesman; or

(b) a probationary tradesman who has satisfactorily completed any period of probationary employment or training in employment required by the Committee,

the Committee may, if it thinks fit, issue to that person a certificate of recognition as a recognized tradesman.

(3.) If a Local Committee is satisfied that an adult member of the Forces could, within a period required by the Committee, acquire the skill necessary for the performance of work ordinarily performed by a recognized tradesman, and that the employment of recognized tradesmen would not thereby be prejudiced, the Committee may, on the application of that member, authorize the training and employment, subject to the applicable provisions of section forty-three of this Act, of that member as a probationary tradesman in a trade to which this Part applies.

(4.) An application under sub-section (3.) of this section shall unless a Local Committee in a particular case otherwise permits, be made within six months after the date of discharge of the member of the Forces, or after the date of the commencement of this Part, whichever is the later.

(5.) Before issuing a certificate to, or authorizing the employment of, any person in accordance with this section, the Committee may require that person to undergo a test of competence in or for the trade to which he seeks to be admitted.

(6.) The employer of a probationary tradesman shall pay him at a rate not less than the rate of the wage prescribed by the appropriate award, order, determination or industrial agreement for adult males employed in the trade in which he is authorized to be employed.

(7.) Added tradesmen and probationary tradesmen shall be deemed not to be journeymen for the purpose of computing the number of apprentices who may be employed by an employer in accordance with the appropriate law or award, order, determination or industrial agreement..

(2.) The persons holding office at the commencement of this Act as Chairman and members of the Central Dilution (Boot Trades) Committee and of the Local Dilution (Boot Trades) Committee in


each State, established under the National Security (Boot Trades Dilution) Regulations shall be deemed to have been appointed under the Principal Act, as amended by this Act, as Chairman and members respectively of the Central (Boot Trades) Committee, and of the Local (Boot Trades) Committee in that State, respectively.

Certain proceeding under Re-establishment and Employment Act.

7. Section forty-five of the Principal Act is amended by inserting in sub-sections (2.) and (3.), before the word forty-three, the words nineteen or.

Sixth Schedule.

8. After the Fifth Schedule to the Principal Act the following Schedule is added:—

SIXTH SCHEDULE.

Section 33b.

Boot Trades.

The trades in which persons are employed in any of the following classifications:—

Pattern Cutter.

Designer.

Clicker.

Stuff Cutter.

Maker.

Finisher..

 

Overview

The Tradesmen’s Rights Regulation Act 1947 was enacted to amend the Tradesmen’s Rights Regulation Act 1946, introducing new provisions specifically for the boot trades. This Act was introduced to address the need for structured recognition and regulation of tradesmen and probationary tradesmen in the boot, shoe, sandal and slipper manufacturing industry, particularly in response to the dilution of trades during wartime. Enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Act established committees to manage the recognition process and ensure fair employment practices. The policy objective was to maintain and protect the skills and employment standards of recognised tradesmen while facilitating the integration of new tradesmen and probationary tradesmen into the industry.

Scope and Application

The Tradesmen’s Rights Regulation Act 1947, as amended, applies to individuals and entities within the boot, shoe, sandal, and slipper manufacturing industry, specifically targeting the recognition and employment of tradesmen in these sectors. The Act, which commenced on the day of its Royal Assent, amends the Tradesmen’s Rights Regulation Act 1946 by introducing new provisions for boot trades, including the establishment of a Central Committee and Local Committees in each state, consisting of representatives appointed by the Minister. These committees are tasked with recognising tradesmen and probationary tradesmen, and they can issue certificates of recognition based on certain criteria, including prior employment and apprenticeship qualifications. The Act also specifies that certain provisions of the Principal Act do not apply to trades covered under this Part and outlines the conditions for the employment of probationary tradesmen, including wage rates and the exclusion of such tradesmen from journeyman calculations. The Act repeals the National Security (Boot Trades Dilution) Regulations, and the existing members of the former dilution committees are deemed to have been appointed under this Act.

Key Provisions

The Tradesmen’s Rights Regulation Act 1947 introduces amendments to the Tradesmen’s Rights Regulation Act 1946. It introduces new provisions concerning boot trades, establishing a framework for the recognition and employment of tradesmen within this sector. Section 5 amends the Principal Act by adding a new Part VIa, which pertains specifically to boot trades. This new part includes definitions relevant to boot trades (Section 33a), specifies the trades to which this part applies (Section 33b), and establishes both a Central (Boot Trades) Committee and Local (Boot Trades) Committees (Sections 33c and 33d). It also provides mechanisms for the recognition of tradesmen and probationary tradesmen (Section 33e). The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved. Firstly, it mandates the establishment of a Central (Boot Trades) Committee and Local (Boot Trades) Committees in each state. These committees are tasked with overseeing the recognition of tradesmen and the authorization of probationary tradesmen. Employers are required to ensure that any probationary tradesmen are paid at least the wage rate prescribed for adult males in their trade, as per the relevant award, order, determination, or industrial agreement (Section 33e(6)). Additionally, the Act stipulates that added tradesmen and probationary tradesmen should not be considered as journeymen when calculating the number of apprentices an employer can engage (Section 33e(7)). There are also provisions addressing the consequences of non-compliance with the Act’s requirements. Although the Act does not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches, it is reasonable to infer that failure to adhere to the stipulated obligations, such as not paying probationary tradesmen the correct wage rate or misclassifying tradesmen, could lead to legal repercussions. These might include fines or other penalties as prescribed by relevant industrial laws and awards. Additionally, the Act’s amendments and detailed stipulations suggest a regulatory oversight role by the established committees, which could enforce compliance through administrative or legal means.

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Labour Law
Employment & Labour Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Definitions & Interpretation
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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.