Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

From 1 January 2010, Australia’s new workplace relations system, Fair Work, will be fully operational. This means that most Australian workplaces will be governed by a new system created by the Fair Work Act 2009.

Most of the changes under the Fair Work system came into effect on 1 July 2009.

The following fact sheets provide information on the policy behind the Fair Work system. 

If you would like information on how the Fair work system affects you, including your entitlements and obligations, please visit Fair Work Online or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.

Fact sheets:

• The Fair Work Act 2009 - an overview ( PDF 84KB | RTF 92KB)
• The Fair Work system ( PDF 72KB | RTF 60KB)
• Fair Work Australia institutions – a one stop shop ( PDF 75KB | RTF 101KB)
• A strong and simple safety net for all Australian workers ( PDF 71KB | RTF 72KB)
• Minimum wages ( PDF 67KB | RTF 61KB)
• General protections for freedom of association and other workplace rights
  ( PDF 70KB | RTF 60KB)
  
• Bargaining in good faith ( PDF 72KB | RTF 67KB)
• Assisting low paid employees and those without access to collective bargaining
  ( PDF 74KB | RTF 65KB)
  
• Approval and content of enterprise agreements ( PDF 68KB | RTF 69KB)
• A simple, fair dismissal system for small business ( PDF 85KB | RTF 112KB)
• Clear, tough rules for industrial action ( PDF 74KB | RTF 68KB)
• Transfer of business ( PDF 67KB | RTF 59KB)
• Union right of entry ( PDF 72KB | RTF 61KB)
• Enterprise Agreements ( PDF 80KB | RTF 78KB)
• A smooth transition to the new workplace relations system ( PDF 80KB | RTF 94KB)
  

A print friendly version of the complete set of fact sheets can be downloaded below:

• Compiled fact sheets ( PDF 476KB | RTF 317KB)