The House Employment, Education and Training Committee today presented the report of its inquiry into the Fair Work Commission Annual Report 2019-20.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 22 March 2022

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee today presented the report of its inquiry into the Fair Work Commission Annual Report 2019-20. Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘The inquiry examined how policy responses designed to manage the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted, and may continue to impact the Fair Work Commission’s caseload.’ Mr Laming commented, ‘The Commission’s caseload increased by eight per cent during 2019-20, with significantly more unfair dismissal applications and workplace disputes than in other years associated with the beginning of the pandemic. However, the JobKeeper program and the temporary variation of industry awards provided flexibility in workplaces and prevented a larger surge in applications to the Commission.’ ‘While the states and territories had to implement policies quickly to keep Australians safe and to preserve jobs and incomes, public health orders were often implemented at short notice and inconsistencies between jurisdictions made it difficult for businesses and workers to know what their rights and responsibilities were. Australian governments should strive to provide clear, consistent, and timely advice to employers and employees about policies that may give rise to workplace disputes’, Mr Laming said. Mr Laming concluded, ‘The Committee is satisfied the Commission is well placed to mobilise strategies and resources in the event there is another peak in its caseload.’ The report and further information about the inquiry are available on the Committee’s inquiry website. Media enquiries Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair 07 3821 0155 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hold a public hearing with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) as it continues to examine how COVID-19 pandemic responses, including vaccine requirements and mandates, are affecting the workplace and may impact the Fair Work Commission.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 7 December 2021

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hold a public hearing with the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) as it continues to examine how COVID-19 pandemic responses, including vaccine requirements and mandates, are affecting the workplace and may impact the Fair Work Commission. Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘Vaccine mandates are a significant measure that have only recently taken effect and have the potential to impact the Fair Work Commission’s caseload going forward.’ ‘The Committee has already heard from the Fair Work Commission, as well as employee and employer groups, but is yet to hear evidence from a public health expert. ATAGI provides expert technical advice to the Australian Government on the immunisation program for COVID-19 vaccines and will provide that perspective’, Mr Laming said. During the pandemic, ATAGI has provided recommendations regarding COVID-19 outbreak settings and the risk/ benefit of COVID-19 vaccination in those circumstances. Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 8 December 2021 Time: 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm AEDT Location: via videoconference Program: available here. The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Employment_Education_and_Training. Media inquiries Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair 07 3821 0155 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hold two public hearings to examine how policy responses designed to manage the COVID-19 pandemic are affecting the workplace and the impact this may have on the Fair Work Commission.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 11 November 2021

The House Employment, Education and Training Committee will hold two public hearings to examine how policy responses designed to manage the COVID-19 pandemic are affecting the workplace and the impact this may have on the Fair Work Commission. The Committee will hold public hearings with employee groups on Wednesday, 17 November 2021, and with the Fair Work Commission and employer groups on Friday, 19 November 2021. Committee Chair, Mr Andrew Laming MP said, ‘The Committee is examining aspects of the Fair Work Commission Annual Report 2019-20 and will scrutinise the Commission on its role and performance. In particular, the Committee is interested in the increase in the Commission’s caseload early in the pandemic, which included a substantial increase in the number of unfair dismissal matters and workplace disputes and we want to explore potential factors leading to this increase.’ ‘The Commission also notes that significant measures have only recently taken effect, such as vaccine mandates’, Mr Laming said. Mr Laming continued, ‘The Committee is interested in finding out from employee and employer groups about how pandemic responses, including vaccine requirements and mandates on both employers and employees, and demands upon staff to enforce mandates in the workforce, are likely to impact Commission caseload going forward.’ Public hearing details Date: Wednesday, 17 November 2021 Time: 11.00am to 1.00pm AEDT Location: via videoconference Program: available here. Date: Friday, 19 November 2021 Time: 12.15pm to 4.00pm AEDT Location: via videoconference Program: available here. The hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. Further information about the inquiry is available on the Committee’s website. Media inquiries Mr Andrew Laming MP, Chair 07 3821 0155 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4573 ee.reps@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.