Statutory Services Branch
Research, Information and Advice Teams
Functions
The Research, Information and Advice Teams (RIAT) are responsible for:
- the provision of quality professional assistance in meeting Commission and Registry information and research requirements, achieved through:
- providing, on request, timely and accurate research in areas of labour law, economics and workplace relations for Members of the Commission and Registry staff;
- provision of current awareness services;
- maintenance of a loose-leaf legislation service for Members of the Commission and Registry staff; and
- maintenance of the ‘Register of Dispute
Findings’;
- performing statutory functions and to exercise the statutory powers arising under Part IX of the Act in relation to registered organisations in a manner which serves to support the objects of that Part (to encourage the democratic control of organisations; to encourage members of organisations to participate in the organisations’ affairs; and to encourage the efficient management of organisations) achieved by:
- providing administrative and technical support to Members of the Organisations Panel of the Commission;
- provision of timely and accurate information to organisations on the requirements of the Act and on their obligations arising under Part IX of the Act; and
- providing facilities to enable public
inspection in all Registries of organisations’ files and rules;
and
- undertaking an advisory role to parties and practitioners who require information on practices and procedures of the Commission achieved by:
- production of general information booklets and procedural guidelines for parties;
- operation of a telephone inquiry service; and
- conducting talks and tours of the
Commission for interested parties.
Outcomes
Each of the five teams (there is one less than last year), which are located in Melbourne and Sydney, has responsibility for all aspects of Part IX requirements in relation to a portfolio of registered organisations and undertakes research and meets other information requirements of Members of the Commission and the Registry. This enables considerable flexibility within the team to meet the needs of its full range of clients.
During the year the teams produced 51 issues of the Decisions Summary comprising 2183 decisions, providing Members of the Commission, Registry staff and subscribers to the AIR Bulletin with brief summaries of industrial judgments of the High Court, Federal Court of Australia and federal and State jurisdictions.
As at 30 June 2001 there were 68 employer and 46 employee organisations. The following table sets out (in relation to a selection of matters arising under Part IX of the Act) the number of matters that were finalised within the reporting period and the percentage finalised within 28 days of lodgment in the Registry.
In relation to section 280(1) lodgment of audited financial reports, compliance statistics taken from the Registry’s computer system for the past five years demonstrate that about 82% of expected reports arrive within 12 months of the previous 30 June (the most common balance date), another 12% within a further 12 months and about 6% subsequently.
TABLE 7–Selection of matters finalised under Part IX of the Workplace Relations Act 1996
| Matter |
Number finalised |
% Finalised within 28 days |
| 1998-99 |
1999-00 |
2000-01 |
1998-99 |
1999-00 |
2000-01 |
| s.203 Determination of alterations of rules by Industrial Registrar |
9 |
- |
1 |
89 |
- |
100 |
| s.205(1) Certification of alterations to rules other than eligibility rules |
125 |
134 |
111 |
50 |
51 |
58 |
| s.214(2) Arrangements for the conduct of an election by the Australian
Electoral Commission |
239 |
275 |
243 |
84 |
92 |
86 |
| s.268(3) Lodgment of annual returns |
230 |
256 |
168 |
84 |
88 |
82 |
| s.269(1) Lodgment of details of loans, grants and donations |
49 |
51 |
31 |
75 |
78 |
77 |
| s.271A(1) Certificate exempting branch from financial reporting requirements |
54 |
43 |
58 |
93 |
95 |
81 |
| s.280(1) Lodgment of financial documents |
562 |
403 |
479 |
48 |
67 |
51 |
| s.285A(1) Right of entry permits |
515 |
2 170 |
509 |
95 |
90 |
95 |
| s.285A(3) Revocation of entry permit |
4 |
5 |
7 |
50 |
20 |
14 |
| s.291 Certificate as to membership of an organisation |
47 |
23 |
37 |
68 |
90 |
92 |
| s.291A Certificate as to requested representation or invitation |
20 |
19 |
15 |
100 |
100 |
93 |
