ARTICLE · 10 SEPTEMBER 2012

Fair Work Review Panel says the Fair Work Act is 'fair'

Freehills

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Given the terms of reference, the sweeping changes sought by employers were unlikely to be endorsed by the Review Panel.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

By Paul Burns, Partner, and Natalie Spark, Senior Associate

In brief

The Fair Work Review Panel has released its report on its review of the Fair Work legislation.
Despite calls for substantive change to the Fair Work Act from most quarters, the Review Panel generally concludes that the current laws work well, and deliver fairness to both employers and employees. This is not a surprising outcome given the terms of reference set by the Federal Government.
In all, 53 recommendations are made for the improvement of the Act. They do not deliver the substantive changes sought by many employers or unions.
Employers will welcome recommendations which, for example
- reverse the decisions of the Full Federal Court in Barclay and JJ Richards

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