Policy and reviews
Information about employment and workplace relations policy and reviews.
The Government's review of disability employment services is now complete. The new services will replace the current Disability Employment Network and Vocational Rehabilitation Services with effect from 1 March 2010.
The development of a national mental health and disability employment strategy
(the Strategy) is a key part of the Government’s response to increasing employment
opportunities for people with disability and/or mental illness who wish to work.
In May 2008 the Australian Government announced it would be introducing a new, simpler and more effective national employment services system. This new system will be launched on 1 July 2009, and will replace the existing Job Network, an outdated system that is no longer suited to the Australian labour market.
On 10 December 2007 the Minister for Employment Participation, the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP asked the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to review its social security appeals and litigation arrangements.
Referring job seekers to appropriate servicing is an important part of the effective operation of the new Employment Services system. To this end, the Australian Government is conducting a Review of the Job Seeker Classification Instrument (JSCI).
The then Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Kevin Andrews MP, released a departmental discussion paper entitled: 'Proposals for Legislative Reforms in Independent Contracting and labour hire'
In 1999 the AIRC conducted an inquiry into junior rates of pay. This page provides links to the Joint Government's submission to the AIRC and other sites relevant to the inquiry.
Changes to general skilled migration announced
Commonwealth submissions to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission during hearings of the Reasonable Hours Test Case.
Commonwealth submissions to Industrial Relations Commissions during hearings of the Termination Change and Redundancy Cases.