Industrial Relations Act

Industrial Relations Act 

Supervision and Compliance

• Sections 5–6: Registrar maintains the official Register; unregistered trade unions are prohibited.
• Sections 7–8: Applications are reviewed for compliance with statutory requirements, including constitution vetting.
• Sections 15–16: Powers to cancel or refuse registration for breach of the Act or non-compliance with statutory duties.
• Section 17: Registrar must approve any proposed constitutional amendment before it becomes valid.
• Sections 30–31: Oversight of record-keeping and annual return compliance.
• Section 48: Minister may make regulations to secure compliance and transparency.

Oversight of Trade Union Polls

• Section 20: Registrar supervises all ballots for the election of officers and for constitutional amendments requiring member approval.
• Section 21: Registrar is empowered to conduct elections if a union fails to do so within the constitutionally required timeframe.

Industrial Agreements

• Pursuant to Sections 48, 49, and 50 as amended by the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act, 2012, the Registrar of Trade Unions and Industrial Agreements is responsible for vetting draft industrial agreements to ensure they contain no illegalities prior to registration. 
• An industrial agreement has legal effect only upon registration by the Registrar.

Supporting Functions of the Registrar to the Minister

• Sections 41–45: Determination Polls 
• Section 47: Agency Shop Polls