ARTICLE · 16 JANUARY 2007

Two New Acts And Further Changes To The Workplace Relations Regulations

DLA Piper Australia

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On 11 December 2006, the Independent Contractors Act 2006 (ICA) and the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Independent Contractors) Act 2006 (WRL Act) (making amendments to the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) (WRA)) received Royal Assent. We have previously reported on these as Bills before they became law.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

John Pesutto

Jeremy Cousins

On 11 December 2006, the Independent Contractors Act 2006 (ICA) and the Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Independent Contractors) Act 2006 (WRL Act) (making amendments to the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) (WRA)) received Royal Assent. We have previously reported on these as Bills before they became law.

In summary the effect of the ICA is to quarantine independent contractors with some limited exceptions from the State workplace relations systems and establish a new Federal unfair contracts review procedure for genuine independent contractors.

The new independent contractor regime will commence operation on 12 June 2007 if not earlier by proclamation. Provisions relating to ‘sham arrangements’ (WRL Act) will commence immediately following this.

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