Fair Work system

The federal system of workplace regulation operating under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) applies to most — but not all — employers and employees across Australia. Broadly speaking, the Fair Work system encompasses the following employees:

• • all employees in the Australian Capital Territory;
• • all employees in the Northern Territory except members of the police force;
• • all employees in Victoria except law enforcement officers and certain executives in the public sector;
• • all employees in New South Wales except public sector and local government employees;
• • all employees in South Australia except public sector and local government employees;
• • all employees in Queensland except public sector and local government employees;
• • all employees in Tasmania except public sector employees;
• • employees in Western Australia who work for a constitutional corporation;
• • employees of the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority; and
• • waterside employees, maritime employees or flight crew officers in interstate or overseas trade or commerce.

In all states but Victoria, separate industrial relations systems continue to operate, regulating the employment conditions of employees who are not covered by the Fair Work system.

See Fair work system.