::: 2000-2001 Annual Report of the A I R :::

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Appendices

1.	Compliance Index: Checklist of Reporting Requirements
2.	Commission & Registry Addresses
3.	Financial Statements
4.	Summary of Table Resources
5.	Information on Specific Statutory Provisions
6.	Related Internet Sites
7.	Documents Contributing to an Understanding of the Work of the Commission & Registry
8.	Glossaries

Information on Specific Statutory Provisions

Occupational Health and Safety

The Registry’s occupational health and safety (OHS) considerations are governed by:

the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991 (the OHS Act) and Regulations; and
Comcare and Registry OHS policy and procedural documents, including the OHS agreement between the Registry and the CPSU.

Section 74 of the OHS Act provides the basis for annual reporting requirements.

OHS Policy

The Registry’s OHS policy aims to:

comply with the OHS Act and other relevant legislation as a minimum standard;
provide for effective cooperation between the Registry and its staff in promoting and developing measures to ensure their health, safety and welfare at work; and
provide adequate mechanisms for reviewing the effectiveness of measures taken.

OHS Committees

There are two OHS committees in operation in the Registry:

the Registry OHS Committee (National Consultative Committee); and
the NSW OHS Committee (local committee to meet the requirements of s.34 of the OHS Act).

The Registry OHS Committee comprises management and CPSU/staff representatives. It has the following terms of reference:

to advise, develop and implement OHS policy and procedural guidelines and programs;
to review and report on all OHS matters, including annual report requirements;
to liaise extensively on OHS matters; and
to examine reports and determine appropriate actions on matters contained therein from other Registry OHS Committees and Designated Work Groups.

The Registry OHS Committee met twice in 2000-01. Minutes of Committee meetings were provided to the RCC and were published on the PPT intranet site.

OHS Considerations During 2000-01

The more significant OHS considerations during the reporting period included:

further reviews on security arrangements for both Commission Members and Registry employees – among other matters, the installation of a proximity card system in Melbourne thereby limiting public access to the non-public areas, and upgrades to counter arrangements in Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart;
the roll-out of new personal computers for all employees, in particular the provision of 19 inch monitors to address eye strain concerns;
associated with the roll-out the addressing of cabling issues to remove trip and other hazards;
the continuation of the influenza vaccination program for Registry employees and Commission Members;
first aid arrangements, in particular the restocking of kits, emergency signage and first aid officer network meetings;
continuation of an ‘Executive Health Assessment Program’ for Commission Members; and
training of IMTT staff in the area of ‘Working Under Pressure’.

The Registry continues to offer an ‘Employee Assistance Program’ provided by ACCESS Programs.

2000-01 OHS Data

In 2000-01 there were no incidences of:

dangerous occurrences, for which the Registry is required to provide a notice to Comcare pursuant to s.68 of the OHS Act;
investigations undertaken, tests conducted, directions given to the Registry under s.45 or notices served on the Registry under sections 30, 46 and 47 of the OHS Act during the year; and
‘Provisional Improvement Notices’ issued by a Health and Safety Representative under s.29 of the OHS Act.

Freedom of Information

Introduction

In accordance with s.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 Subscriptions, IMTT, 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 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) 8661 7765. 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

No requests were received during the reporting period.

Advertising and Market Research

In accordance with s.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;
direct mail organisations;
media advertising agencies; and
persons or organisations to whom those amounts were paid.

The Registry spent $50,462 on advertising during the 2000-01 reporting period, the details of which are as follows:

Supplier	Amount $^a	Purpose
Advertising Investment Services	29 597	Statutory requirements arising from the Act in relation to registered organisations and common rules in Territories; recruitment and other advertising.
AusInfo	9 297	Statutory requirements arising from the Act in relation to registered organisations and common rules in Territories and other advertising.
Starcom Worldwide	9 248	Recruitment and other advertising
Public Service and Merit Commission	1 827	Recruitment advertising in gazette
Employment National	493	Recruitment advertising.
Total	50 462

^a GST exclusive.

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

Ecologically Sustainable Development and Environmental Performance

The Registry operates to ensure energy resources are utilised as efficiently as practicable in the context of a working tribunal and that it maintains a healthy working environment, particularly in terms of water quality, recycling options, airconditioning standards and reductions in paper requirements.

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