PM announces new Fair Work Court

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unveiled the creation of a new Fair Work Court, which he says will “resolve disputes faster and at lower cost, benefiting employees and employers alike”.

Earlier today (Thursday 23 July), the PM announced that a Fair Work Court will be created, to provide simpler, fairer and faster justice for working Australians, via a specialist forum for resolving workplace relations disputes, that “works seamlessly” with the Fair Work Commission.

Specialist judges with workplace relations expertise will sit on the court, he said, to support faster, simpler and more accessible dispute resolution.

The PM said: “Australians who have been underpaid hundreds, even thousands, of dollars shouldn’t have to wait years for justice, or be told their case will cost more than their claim. That’s why Labor will fix it – with the Fair Work Court to resolve disputes faster and at lower cost, benefiting employees and employers alike.”

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth added: “A Fair Work Court will make a significant difference to help workers receive the entitlements and pay they worked hard for. It is important the system works fairly and efficiently for workers and employers.”

“Specialist judges with workplace relations expertise would ensure workplace matters are considered by people with appropriate expertise,” she said.

And Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said: “The new Fair Work Court will create a streamlined dispute resolution pathway, drawing on the expertise of specialist judges to make it easier and simpler for workers and businesses to navigate the legal system.”

“The government looks forward to consulting with workers, business and the legal profession on the final design of the court,” the A-G said.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions welcomed the announcement, with secretary Sally McManus saying: “Justice delayed is justice denied. If your boss owes you money, you should not have to wait one or even two years to get it back. Too many employers can drag out court cases and grind workers into the dust while making them wait to get a fair hearing.”

“We all know someone who was ripped off at work but didn’t think it was worth the time, the stress or the money to go after their wages. This court will make it simpler for workers to recover wage underpayments and get other matters dealt with without waiting for years,” she said.

Today’s announcement, McManus continued, recognises that workers’ rights matter and justice is “not only there for companies that can afford law firms from the big end of town”.

“The new Fair Work Court will make it harder for dodgy employers to operate outside of the law because they think they won’t get caught, which is hardly fair for all of the businesses that do the right thing and pay their workers properly and on time,” she said.

Further details about the consultation process for the new court will be released shortly, and the government will consult on the design of the proposed court this year.

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Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Momentum Media’s professional services suite, encompassing Lawyers Weekly, HR Leader, Accountants Daily, and Accounting Times. He has worked as a journalist and podcast host at Momentum Media since February 2018. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.