The Commission

The Commission is an independent tribunal established under the Industrial Relations Act 1984.  Staffing and support services are provided by the Department of Justice.

From 1 January 2010 all private sector employees and employers in Tasmania are under the national workplace relations system.

The Commission's role is related only to the Tasmanian State Service and is to:

• conciliate and arbitrate to resolve industrial disputes, including claims of unfair dismissal
• fix wages rates
• set terms and conditions of employment by making industrial awards and approving enterprise agreements and industrial agreements.

From 1 January 2010 private sector employees and employers who previously dealt with the Tasmanian Industrial Commission and have matters covered by the C'wlth Fair Work Act 2009 will need to redirect all future enquiries to:

• Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94, or

• Fair Work Online website www.fairwork.gov.au

Unless otherwise outlined in an award or registered agreement, the Long Service Leave Act 1976 will continue to apply to private sector employees in Tasmania and will be administered by Workplace Standards Tasmania - telephone 1300 366 322 (Callers outside Tasmania (03) 6233 7657).

Members of the Commission are:

• President Patricia Leary
• Deputy President Pauline Shelley
• Commissioner Tim Abey
• Commissioner James McAlpine

The Industrial Registry

The Registry provides administrative support to the Commission.

Registry Hours are 8.45am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

Applications on the prescribed form in relation to matters to be heard and determined by the Commission or Registrar are filed with the Registry and no filing fee applies.

Applications received by whatever means outside of normal opening times are registered on the next business day.

The Registry also maintains a historical record of awards it has made and varied.  The Registry also can access some archived award records from the State Wages Boards and Public Service Board systems that were in place before the Commission was established in 1985.

The Registrar has certain discrete statutory powers and responsibilities arising out of and prescribed by the Industrial Relations Act 1984.

These include:

• causing notices to be issued that an award has been made
• registering of associations of employers or employees
• approving the alteration of rules of registered organisations
• effecting amalgamations between two or more organisations
• initiating proceedings for the cancellation of registration of an organisation if the Registrar is of the opinion that an organisation has forfeited its right to represent its members in Tasmania with respect to industrial matters.

Transcripts

Hearings before the Commission and Registrar are recorded.

A transcript of proceedings is produced whenever an award is being made or varied.

In all other matters a transcript of proceedings is produced only at the direction of the presiding member who will also decide if the transcript is to be restricted only to the parties.

If a transcript of proceedings is produced, a copy is provided without charge only to the parties who attended the hearing.

The Registry cannot provide anyone with a copy of any transcript of proceedings that has been produced by its service provider, Auscript Pty Ltd.  If a transcript is not restricted to the parties, a copy can be ordered from Auscript Pty Ltd who will levy a charge for it.

Transcripts of proceedings that were produced by the Commission before the appointment of Auscript Pty Ltd in July 2001, if not restricted to the parties, can be perused at the Registry but if a copy is required the Registry will provide a copy and charge $10.00 for each 10 pages or part thereof.