Federal Minister for Workplace Relations Bill Shorten has convened the 114th meeting of the National Workplace Relations Consultative Council (NWRCC).

 

The council was asked by Mr Shorten to consider a range of proposals to amened the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 to improve financial accountability and transparency in registered organisations and to increase penalties to improve Fair Work Australia’s (FWA) investigation process.

 

The council considered the following suggestions made by Mr Shorten:

  • provide a greater degree of disclosure of remuneration, expenditure and pecuniary interests of officials;
  • enhance the capacity of Fair Work Australia to make inquiries and investigate suspected breaches of the Act;
  • increase a range of civil penalties currently imposed under the Act; and
  • increase awareness of financial governance and accounting obligations.

 The Council has given in principle support to the proposals put forward by Minister Shorten and supports the passage of amendments reflecting these proposals in the Parliament, subject to consultation on the final detail over coming days.