Submissions
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) makes submissions to various State and Federal parliamentary inquiries.
These submissions provide information and insights based on our interactions with the community conducting educational, compliance and enforcement activities.
On this page:
- Inquiry into the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022
- Job Security Inquiry
- Inquiry into the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020
- COVID-19 Inquiry
- Unlawful Underpayment of Employees’ Remuneration Inquiry
- Temporary migration inquiry
- Inquiry into Wage Theft in South Australia
- Inquiry into Wage Theft in Western Australia
- Inquiry into the Victorian on-demand workforce
- Inquiry into Wage Theft in Queensland
- The exploitation of general and specialist cleaners working in retail chains for contracting or subcontracting cleaning companies
- Related information
Since 1 July 2018, we have contributed to the following parliamentary inquiries:
Inquiry into the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022
November 2022
We provided a submission to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022. Our submission noted the Australian Government’s announcement of additional funding to the agency and provided an overview of our role. We discussed how the Bill’s proposed amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009, including in relation to the proposed new or amended civil remedy penalties and the abolition of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, would expand our role.
Job Security Inquiry
March 2021
We provided a submission to the Senate Select Committee on Job Security, outlining our role as the national workplace regulator and addressing our experience with some of the work arrangements being considered by the Committee, including arrangements within the ‘on-demand’ economy.
Inquiry into the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020
February 2021
We provided a submission to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee’s inquiry into the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 regarding the government’s funding announcements and proposed amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009. Our submission provided an overview of our role and discussed our strategic priorities, including our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Inquiry
June 2020
We provided a submission to the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19. Our submission detailed the Fair Work Ombudsman’s statutory responsibilities and our priorities and activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unlawful Underpayment of Employees’ Remuneration Inquiry
March 2020
We provided a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics Inquiry into the Unlawful Underpayments of Employees’ Remuneration, outlining our role as the national workplace regulator and providing information on our operations and priorities. We also outlined changes occurring within the regulated environment which are impacting the way we deliver our statutory functions.
Temporary migration inquiry
March 2020
We provided a submission to the Senate Select Committee on Temporary Migration, outlining the agency’s response to challenges faced by temporary migrants in the workplace.
Inquiry into Wage Theft in South Australia
August 2019
We provided a submission to the Select Committee on Wage Theft in South Australia on our work in South Australia as well as our efforts to enforce compliance with workplace laws through cross-government collaboration.
Inquiry into Wage Theft in Western Australia
April 2019
We provided a submission to the Western Australian Government’s Inquiry into Wage Theft in Western Australia. Our submission outlined our regulatory role for employees covered by the national workplace relations system and the FWO’s work in Western Australia.
Inquiry into the Victorian on-demand workforce
February 2019
We provided a submission to the Victorian Government’s Inquiry into the Victorian on-demand workforce in relation to the on-demand sector and the status of people working with or for online companies or platforms in Victoria. The final inquiry report is due to the Victorian Government later this year.
Inquiry into Wage Theft in Queensland
July 2018
We provided a submission to the Queensland Parliament’s Education, Employment and Small Business Committee in relation to its Inquiry into Wage Theft in Queensland. The submission outlined our role as the national workplace relations regulator, the impact of our work in Queensland, and efforts to enforce compliance with workplace laws through cross-government initiatives.
The exploitation of general and specialist cleaners working in retail chains for contracting or subcontracting cleaning companies
July 2018
We provided a submission to the Senate Education and Employment References Committee’s Inquiry into the exploitation of general and specialist cleaners working in retail chains for contracting or subcontracting cleaning companies. Our submission outlined current operational activities in the cleaning industry and highlighted compliance and enforcement outcomes that we have obtained over the past five financial years.
- The exploitation of general and specialist cleaners working in retail chains for contracting or subcontracting cleaning companies - FWO submission
