Waterside Employment Regulations

Legislation au C1931L00127 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

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STATUTORY RULES.

1931. No. 127.

 

REGULATIONS UNDER THE TRANSPORT WORKERS ACT 1928-1929.

I, THE DEPUTY OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Transport Workers Act 1928-1929, to come into operation forthwith.

Dated this seventeenth day of October, 1931.

PHILIP GAME

Deputy of the Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command,

L. CUNNINGHAM

for Minister of State for Transport.

 

Waterside Employment Regulations.

Short title.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Waterside Employment Regulations.

Definitions.

2. In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears—

“returned soldiers” and “returned sailors” mean returned soldiers and returned sailors as defined in section eighty-one a of the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904-1930 who were, at any time during the first six months of the year 1930, the holders of licences under Part III. of the Act in respect of any ports to which the Act applied at any time during that year;

“the Act” means the Transport Workers Act 1928-1929;

“waterside worker” means a transport worker who offers or is engaged for work in the loading or unloading of ships.

Priority in selection of workers.

3.—(1.) Transport workers (being waterside workers) who—

(a) are available for employment, engagement or picking-up for work as waterside workers at ports in the Commonwealth to which Part III. of the Act applies; and

(b) are members of the organization known as the Waterside Workers Federation of Australia, an organization bound by an award of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration applicable to employment for that work,

shall be given priority in employment, engagement or picking-up in or for that work.

(2.) Notwithstanding anything contained in the last preceding sub-regulation, returned soldiers or returned sailors may be employed, engaged or picked-up in or for that work in priority to the persons specified in that sub-regulation.

3084.—Price 3d.


(3.) Any person who gives priority in employment, engagement or picking-up in or for that work except in accordance with this regulation shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Ten pounds or imprisonment for one month.

Places for picking-up transport workers (being waterside workers).

4.—(1.) The places of engagement or picking-up of transport workers (being waterside workers) at the ports of Melbourne and Brisbane shall be as follows:—

Melbourne—

(a) For over-sea vessels—

(i) The vacant land abutting on the road which runs from the Princes Pier to the New Railway Pier, Port Melbourne, at a point approximately midway between those piers;

(ii) The place between the Railway Goods Office at the entrance to the Railway Pier, Williamstown, and the Passenger Pier, Williamstown; and

(iii) For work on Yarraville wharfs only—the place known as Wischer’s Corner, Yarraville;

(b) For inter-State vessels—

(i) A place between Berths Nos. 4 and 5 on the north side of the Yarra river; and

(ii) At a place adjacent to Berth No. 7 on the south side of the river; and

Brisbane—

For over-sea and inter-State vessels—at the premises known as the Brisbane Waterside Labour Bureau, situated in Lower Boundary-street, Brisbane.

(2.) Any person who engages or picks-up a transport worker (being a waterside worker) at the port of Melbourne or at the port of Brisbane, and any transport workers (being waterside workers) at the port of Melbourne or at the port of Brisbane who assemble or congregate for the purpose of being engaged or picked-up, at any places other than the places respectively specified in this regulation in respect of those ports shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Ten pounds or imprisonment for one month.

(3.) This regulation shall commence on the nineteenth day of October One thousand nine hundred and thirty-one.

Continuance of employment.

5.—(1.) A transport worker (being a waterside worker) shall not be employed, or work, as a waterside worker for more than ten hours in any period of twenty-four hours.

(2.) Notwithstanding anything contained in the last preceding sub-regulation, where the Licensing Officer at any port to which Part III. of the Act applies is of opinion that—

(a) the number of transport workers (being waterside workers) licensed in respect of that port is insufficient for the requirements in regard to the loading and unloading of ships at that port and available for engagement or picking-up at the prescribed times and places; or


(b) by reason of difficulties of transport, the time at which any loading or unloading is likely to be finished or by reason of any unforseen circumstances, sufficient transport workers (being waterside workers) for the loading or unloading of any particular ship are not readily available,

he may permit the employment of transport workers (being waterside workers) for such period in excess of ten hours in any period of twenty-four hours as he considers justified.

(3.) Any person who employs a transport worker (being a waterside worker), in contravention of this regulation, and any transport worker (being a waterside worker) who works in contravention of this regulation shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: Ten pounds or imprisonment for one month.

(4.) The period of employment specified in sub-regulation (1.) of this regulation shall mean any period for which a transport worker is, under or in pursuance of any award of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, entitled to payment, exclusive of waiting time and time spent in travelling, but inclusive of any period of cessation for meals occurring during the period of employment.

Repeal of Statutory Rules 1931, Nos. 104 and 122.

6. Statutory Rules 1931 Nos. 104 and 122 are repealed.

 

By Authority: H. J. Green, Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

The Waterside Employment Regulations 1931 were enacted to provide specific guidelines for waterside employment under the Transport Workers Act 1928-1929. These regulations were introduced by the Deputy of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Philip Game, in response to the need for clear and enforceable standards for the employment of waterside workers. The primary objective of these regulations was to ensure that returned soldiers and sailors received priority in employment, while also establishing specific locations for the engagement and picking-up of transport workers in Melbourne and Brisbane to streamline operations and prevent unauthorised activities. The regulations also sought to limit the working hours of waterside workers to no more than ten hours in any 24-hour period, with some exceptions allowed under certain conditions.

Scope and Application

The Waterside Employment Regulations 1931 establish the framework for the employment and engagement of waterside workers in the loading and unloading of ships at designated ports in the Commonwealth, specifically in Melbourne and Brisbane, under the Transport Workers Act 1928-1929. These regulations apply to waterside workers who are transport workers offering or engaged in work for the loading or unloading of ships at ports where Part III of the Act is applicable. The regulations specifically grant priority to waterside workers who are members of the Waterside Workers Federation of Australia, subject to awards from the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. Additionally, returned soldiers and sailors may be employed in priority to other waterside workers. The Act also stipulates specific locations for the engagement or picking-up of waterside workers at the ports of Melbourne and Brisbane, with penalties for non-compliance. The regulations limit the working hours of waterside workers to ten hours in any twenty-four-hour period, with provisions for extensions in exceptional circumstances. Contravention of these regulations is an offence, punishable by a fine of ten pounds or imprisonment for one month. The Regulations supersede previous statutory rules, namely Statutory Rules 1931 Nos. 104 and 122, and are applicable immediately upon enactment.

Key Provisions

The Waterside Employment Regulations (C1931L00127) primarily focus on the employment conditions for waterside workers in the transport industry, especially those engaged in loading and unloading ships. These regulations, made under the Transport Workers Act 1928-1929, establish specific rules regarding the employment of waterside workers and the locations where they can be engaged or picked up for work. Section 3 of the Regulations mandates that priority in employment, engagement, or picking up for work should be given to transport workers who are waterside workers, are available for such work, and are members of the Waterside Workers Federation of Australia, an organisation bound by an award of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. Furthermore, returned soldiers or sailors may be given precedence over these specified workers. Any contravention of these priority provisions is an offence, with a penalty of ten pounds or imprisonment for one month. The Regulations impose certain obligations on the parties involved. For instance, Section 4 outlines specific locations where waterside workers can be engaged or picked up for work at the ports of Melbourne and Brisbane. These designated locations include specific sites in Melbourne for overseas and interstate vessels, and a designated bureau in Brisbane. Any engagement or picking up of waterside workers outside these specified places is an offence, punishable by the same penalty of ten pounds or imprisonment for one month. Moreover, Section 5 imposes a maximum working limit of ten hours in any 24-hour period for waterside workers, although exceptions can be made by a Licensing Officer under certain circumstances, such as insufficient available workers or logistical difficulties. Section 3 also outlines the consequences of breaches. Any person who gives priority to waterside workers in employment, engagement, or picking up in contravention of this regulation is guilty of an offence. Similarly, any person who engages or picks up a waterside worker at places other than those specified in Section 4 is also guilty of an offence. The penalties for these breaches are consistent: a fine of ten pounds or imprisonment for one month. This stringent penalty structure underscores the importance of adhering to the prescribed regulations. Furthermore, Section 5 imposes the same penalties on any person who employs a waterside worker in contravention of the working hours provision, as well as on the workers themselves if they work in contravention of these provisions.

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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.