Victorian Numbered Acts

FAIR WORK (COMMONWEALTH POWERS) AMENDMENT ACT 2009 (NO. 74 OF 2009) - SECT 4

After section 3 of the Fair Work (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2009 insert —

        " 3A     Fundamental workplace relations principles

The following are the fundamental workplace relations principles under this Act—

        (a)     that the Commonwealth Fair Work Act should provide for, and continue to provide for, the following—

              (i)         a strong, simple and enforceable safety net of minimum employment standards;

              (ii)     genuine rights and responsibilities to ensure fairness, choice and representation at work, including the freedom to choose whether or not to join and be represented by a union or participate in collective activities;

              (iii)     collective bargaining at the enterprise level with no provision for individual statutory agreements;

              (iv)     fair and effective remedies available through an independent umpire;

              (v)     protection from unfair dismissal;

        (b)     that there should be, and continue to be, in connection with the operation of the Commonwealth Fair Work Act, the following—

              (i)     an independent tribunal system;

              (ii)     an independent authority able to assist employers and employees within a national workplace relations system.".