Albanese Government Unveils Plan for New Fair Work Court
The Albanese Labor Government has announced plans to establish a new Fair Work Court, aiming to provide faster, simpler and more affordable justice for workers and employers involved in workplace disputes.
The proposed federal court is intended to address concerns that Australia’s current workplace relations legal system is costly, complex and slow, with some workers and small businesses waiting more than two years for disputes to be resolved.
Under the proposal, the Fair Work Court would operate as a specialist judicial body alongside the Fair Work Commission. The court would be staffed by judges with expertise in workplace relations, with the aim of improving access to justice while reducing the time and cost of resolving employment disputes.
The government said many workers pursuing claims for unpaid wages or employment entitlements currently face legal costs that can exceed the value of their claims, discouraging them from seeking legal action.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said workers who have been underpaid should not have to endure lengthy legal battles or face legal costs that outweigh the value of their claims.
“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,” Albanese said.
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth said the proposed court would help workers recover their lawful entitlements more efficiently while providing employers with a clearer and more effective dispute resolution process.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the specialist court would streamline workplace litigation by drawing on judges with expertise in workplace relations, making the legal system easier for both employees and businesses to navigate.
The proposed Fair Work Court would represent the return of a dedicated federal industrial relations court, nearly three decades after the former specialist industrial relations court was abolished by the Howard Government in 1997.
The Albanese Government will begin a public consultation process later this year to determine the court’s structure, jurisdiction and relationship with the existing Fair Work Commission. Workers, employers, business groups and legal experts will be invited to provide feedback before the government finalises the court’s design.
Further details on the consultation process are expected to be announced in the coming months.
Source: Prime Minister of Australia – Media Release,
