Fair Work Commission
FWC
1 January 2013 – present
Previously Fair Work Australia (2009–2013).
Australia's national workplace relations tribunal, which conducts annual wage reviews, makes and varies modern awards, approves enterprise agreements and resolves unfair dismissal, general protections, bullying and other workplace disputes; it also regulates registered organisations.
Names over time
- Fair Work Australia2009–2013
- Fair Work Commission2013–present
How it came into existence
Renamed from Fair Work Australia from 1 January 2013 by the Fair Work Amendment Act 2012, continuing under the Fair Work Act 2009.
Legislation: Fair Work Act 2009; Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009
Changes during its life
- 18 September 2013Moved to the new Department of Employment when the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations was abolished.
- 1 January 2014Its anti-bullying jurisdiction commenced.
- 1 May 2017Regulation of registered unions and employer organisations passed from its General Manager to the new Registered Organisations Commission.
- 1 February 2020Moved to the Attorney-General's portfolio when industrial relations was transferred to the Attorney-General's Department.
- 1 July 2022Moved to the new Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
- 6 March 2023Regained the regulation of registered organisations when the Registered Organisations Commission was abolished under the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022.
- August 2024The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Act 2024 gave it powers to set minimum standards for employee-like workers and the road transport industry.
- Remaining road transport remuneration matters
The Tribunal had been constituted partly by Fair Work Commission members and was supported by the Commission's staff.
- Regulation of registered unions and employer organisations
- Regulation of registered organisations (General Manager's functions)
Main functions
- Annual wage reviews
- Making and varying modern awards
- Approving enterprise agreements
- Unfair dismissal, general protections and anti-bullying cases
- Orders about industrial action
- Regulation of registered organisations
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Employment and Workplace Relations
- Accountable authority
- General Manager – Fair Work Act 2009 section 673A(c)
- ABN
- 93 614 579 199
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))