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Registered Organisations

Final Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Employment

On 18 April 2016, the Australian Government re-tabled legislation changing the regulation of registered organisations. It was previously tabled on 19 March 2015. Registered organisations are those employer and employee associations that are registered under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (RO Act) to allow them to represent the interests of their members in certain workplace matters. Under the RO Act, registered organisations must comply with detailed regulations in relation to registration, rules, financial reporting, elections, conduct of officers and other matters. The main changes in the legislation are:

  • increasing civil penalties and introducing criminal offences for serious breaches of officers’ duties;
  • amending the requirements surrounding officers’ disclosure of material personal interests, and changes to grounds for disqualification and ineligibility for office; and
  • strengthening financial accounting and disclosure obligations under the RO Act.

The Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) estimates the additional compliance costs for registered organisations at $137,942 a year across all organisations. These costs have been agreed with the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR). The RIS was prepared and certified by the Department of Employment, and has been assessed as compliant with the Government’s RIS requirements and consistent with best practice by the OBPR.