ARTICLE · 16 DECEMBER 2020

Industrial Relations Bill to ensure casual work no longer casually defined

Coleman Greig Lawyers

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The Industrial Relations Bill will provide the first statutory definition of casual work for the Australian Commonwealth.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Laure Kenworthy

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In a recent decision by the Morrison Government, the Industrial Relations Bill (the IR Bill) will provide the first statutory definition of casual work for the Australian Commonwealth.

Industrial Relations (IR) Minister Christian Porter has expressed no doubt over the fact that this development will resolve the “neglect” of the Labour Government in 2009 to include a statutory definition of casual employment in the Fair Work Act. The proposed IR Bill will also crucially respond to key gaps in the law highlighted in the recent case of Workpac Pty Ltd v Rossato & Ors [2020] FCAFC (the Workpac case), which, according to Mr Porter left:

‘2.3 million casual employees [in] need of certainty about their work arrangements and entitlements'.

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