The Department provides the Commission and the IMC with the physical and virtual infrastructure, human resource functions, administrative resources and financial resources, integral to perform their roles. The Commission’s other jurisdictions of the Work Health and Safety Tribunal, the Road Freight Transport Industry Tribunal, the Police Compensation Tribunal, and other constituent authorities, are supported likewise. The Department also provides the administrative support necessary for the lodgement of appeals to the Western Australian Industrial Appeal Court (IAC).
In terms of broader industrial regime accountabilities, the Department provides the infrastructure, administration, advice and support services that enable the general community, unions, employer associations and government agencies, to make applications that form part of the Registrar’s accountabilities and those of the Commission, IMC and IAC.
All interactions with the Department are triaged into work streams, including the Commission, IMC, IAC, Registrar’s accountabilities, Industrial Agent assessment, Registered Organisations monitoring and compliance, and knowledge management. Such triaging includes the provision of significant knowledge-based procedural advice and information necessary to ensure access to the various jurisdictions given the individual context of each interaction.
The Department is also responsible for the administration of the legislative obligations placed on employer and employee representative organisations.
Administered Legislation
The Department administers the operation of the Industrial Relations Act 1979 (WA) on behalf of the Minister.
Other Key Legislation Impacting on the Department’s Activities
In the performance of its functions, the Department complies with the following relevant written laws:
- Auditor General Act 2006 (WA)
- Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003 (WA)
- Disability Services Act 1993 (WA)
- Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA)
- Financial Management Act 2006 (WA)
- Freedom of Information Act 1992 (WA)
- Legal Deposit Act 2012 (WA)
- Library Board of Western Australia Act 1951 (WA)
- Long Service Leave Act 1958 (WA)
- Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993 (WA)
- Procurement Act 2020 (WA)
- Public Interest Disclosure Act 2003 (WA)
- Public Sector Management Act 1994 (WA)
- Salaries and Allowances Act 1975 (WA)
- State Records Act 2000 (WA)
- Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA)
Enabling Legislation
The Department was established in 1989 pursuant to section 35 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 (WA).
Responsible Minister
The Honourable Bill Johnston MLA, Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Energy; Corrective Services; Industrial Relations.
Mission Statement
- To provide the Commission, and the IMC with the support and services integral to enabling the operation of the industrial relations regime in Western Australia.
- To provide enhanced knowledge and support services to enable the general community, unions, employer associations and government agencies, to access the industrial relations jurisdictions of the Commission, IMC and IAC, and to ensure registered organisations comply with their Industrial Relations Act 1979 (WA) obligations.
Chief Executive Officer
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Department is Susan Bastian. As CEO, Ms Bastian is also the Accountable Authority. Traditionally, the CEO has also been appointed as the Registrar of the Commission and therefore Ms Bastian holds the dual position of CEO and Registrar.
Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission
The Commission is an independent statutory tribunal and is separately accountable to Parliament via an annual report compiled by the Chief Commissioner.
This website only deals with The Department of the Registrar in its capacity as a government agency, which reports directly through the Minister for Industrial Relations. The Department follows the guidelines and policies administered by the Public Sector Management Act 1994 and instructions by the Public Sector Commissioner.
For more information please visit the Western Australian Industrial Relations website.
