(1) The following table sets out circumstances in which a person takes adverse action against another person.
Meaning of adverse action | ||
Item | Column 1 Adverse action is taken by ... | Column 2 if ... |
1 | the employer: (a) dismisses the employee; or (b) injures the employee in his or her employment; or (c) alters the position of the employee to the employee's prejudice; or (d) discriminates between the employee and other employees of the employer. | |
the prospective employer: (a) refuses to employ the prospective employee; or (b) discriminates against the prospective employee in the terms or conditions on which the prospective employer offers to employ the prospective employee. | ||
3 | a person (the principal ) who has entered into a contract for services with an independent contractor against the independent contractor, or a person employed or engaged by the independent contractor | the principal: (a) terminates the contract; or (b) injures the independent contractor in relation to the terms and conditions of the contract; or (c) alters the position of the independent contractor to the independent contractor's prejudice; or (d) refuses to make use of, or agree to make use of, services offered by the independent contractor; or (e) refuses to supply, or agree to supply, goods or services to the independent contractor. |
4 | a person (the principal ) proposing to enter into a contract for services with an independent contractor against the independent contractor, or a person employed or engaged by the independent contractor | the principal: (a) refuses to engage the independent contractor; or (b) discriminates against the independent contractor in the terms or conditions on which the principal offers to engage the independent contractor; or (c) refuses to make use of, or agree to make use of, services offered by the independent contractor; or (d) refuses to supply, or agree to supply, goods or services to the independent contractor. |
an employee against his or her employer | the employee: (a) ceases work in the service of the employer; or (b) takes industrial action against the employer. | |
6 | an independent contractor against a person who has entered into a contract for services with the independent contractor | (a) ceases work under the contract; or (b) takes industrial action against the person. |
7 | an industrial association, or an officer or member of an industrial association, against a person | the industrial association, or the officer or member of the industrial association: (a) organises or takes industrial action against the person; or (b) takes action that has the effect, directly or indirectly, of prejudicing the person in the person's employment or prospective employment; or (c) if the person is an independent contractor--takes action that has the effect, directly or indirectly, of prejudicing the independent contractor in relation to a contract for services; or (d) if the person is a member of the association--imposes a penalty, forfeiture or disability of any kind on the member (other than in relation to money legally owed to the association by the member). |
(2) Adverse action includes:
(a) threatening to take action covered by the table in subsection (1); and
(b) organising such action.
(3) Adverse action does not include action that is authorised by or under:
(a) this Act or any other law of the Commonwealth; or
(b) a law of a State or Territory prescribed by the regulations.
(4) Without limiting subsection (3), adverse action does not include an employer standing down an employee who is:
(a) engaged in protected industrial action; and
(b) employed under a contract of employment that provides for
the employer to stand down the employee in the circumstances.