Index

              Mandatory Reporting pursuant to other Commonwealth Acts

              Advertising and Market Research

              In accordance with section 311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the Principal Officer of every Commonwealth Agency is required to include a statement in their annual report setting out particulars of all amounts paid by, or on behalf of, the Agency during the reporting period to:

              • · advertising agencies;
              • · market research organisations;
              • · polling organisations;
              • · direct mail organisations;
              • · media advertising agencies; and
              • · the persons or organisations to whom those amounts were paid.

              The Registry spent $53,752 on advertising during the 1999-2000 reporting period. Included in this amount were payments to:

              • · Advertising Investment Services (approximately $32,400) for statutory requirements arising from the Act in relation to registered organisations and common rules in territories and other advertising;
              • · AusInfo (approximately $19,700) for statutory requirements arising from the Act in relation to registered organisations and common rules in territories, recruitment and other advertising; and
              • · Public Service & Merit Protection Commission (approximately $1,400) for gazette notices.

              The Registry did not commission or pay for any market research during the 1999-2000 reporting period.

              Freedom of Information

              Introduction

              In accordance with section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, statements setting out the particulars of the organisation and functions of agencies are to be included in the annual reports of Commonwealth agencies.

              The Australian Industrial Registry is a statutory authority established under the Workplace Relations Act 1996. The Registry carries out statutory and administrative duties pursuant to the Act.

              The Registry comprises the Industrial Registrar, a number of Deputy Industrial Registrars and other staff.

              Functions

              The Industrial Registrar, Deputy Industrial Registrars and Registry staff provide administrative support to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, and exercise statutory functions of a regulatory nature concerning the registration of employer and employee associations provided by the Act.

              Categories of Documents

              The Industrial Registrar and Deputy Industrial Registrars are exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 in respect of non-administrative matters. Documents of an administrative nature fall into the following categories:

              Publications

              Copies of awards, orders, decisions and agreements issued by the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission and, since 1 March 1989, the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, are available for purchase through offices of the Australian Industrial Registry either individually or by subscription from Award Sales, Australian Industrial Registry, GPO Box 1994S, Melbourne, Victoria 3001. A variety of publications can also be accessed on the Commission’s Home Page at http://www.airc.gov.au.

              Commonwealth Arbitration Reports (CARs) (published volumes cover the periods 1904 to 1986 and 1991 to August 1993) can be inspected at offices of the Registry.

              Financial Returns of Registered Organisations

              Financial returns of organisations and a list of office-bearers of registered organisations and their branches, can be made available at any office of the Registry. Photocopies will be made available on payment of a prescribed fee.

              Files

              Commission files (other than files relating to applications for relief in respect of termination of employment), Organisations’ files and Board of Reference files can be made available at any office of the Registry unless determined otherwise by a Member of the Commission or the Industrial Registrar. Photocopies will be made available on payment of a prescribed fee.

              Freedom of Information Procedures and Initial Contact Points

              Many of the documents of the Registry which are prepared or held under provisions of the Workplace Relations Act 1996 can be inspected or purchased at any of the offices listed in Appendix 3. General inquiries may therefore be directed to any of these offices.

              Requests for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 should be made in writing and delivered or posted, together with the prescribed fee of $30, to the Industrial Registrar, Principal Registry, Level 35, Nauru House, 80 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 or Industrial Registrar, GPO Box 1994S, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, telephone (03) 86617765. Reading facilities will be made available at any Registry by arrangement.

              The Registry also acts as the initial contact point for any inquiries relating to the Commission.

              Freedom of Information Requests

              There were no requests received during the reporting period.