State Wage Case 2024 (No 3) [2024] NSWIRComm 19

Industrial Relations Commission New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: State Wage Case 2024 (No 3) [2024] NSWIRComm 19 Hearing dates: 09 October 2024 Last submission received on 31 October 2024 Date of orders: 04 December 2024 Decision date: 04 December 2024 Jurisdiction: Industrial Relations Commission Before: Taylor J, President Chin J, Vice President Paingakulam J, Deputy President Senior Commissioner Constant Commissioner McDonald Decision: By 4.00pm on Friday, 13 December 2024 the parties are to file any submissions they may wish to make as to the terms of the draft Principles which are Annexure A to this decision. Catchwords: EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL LAW — Awards — State decision setting new principles to guide the exercise of the Commission's award making powers – Whether to retain Wage Fixing Principles – Decision to retain and rename them the Award Making Principles – Consideration of the effect of the Principles – Whether applicants have to meet an onus or must overcome a presumption – Whether to create a new principle addressing changes in the cost of living – Whether to make an order setting a minimum wage for award free employees – The content of no extra claims clauses – Whether to otherwise amend the existing Principles — Draft Award Making Principles published. Legislation Cited: Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth) Industrial Arbitration Act 1940 (NSW) Industrial Relations (Public Sector Conditions of Employment) Regulation 2014 Industrial Relations (Public Sector Conditions of Employment) Regulation 2011 Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) Industrial Relations Amendment Act 2023 (NSW) Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth) Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act 2005 (Cth) Cases Cited: Annual Wage Review 2023-24 (2024) 331 IR 248; [2024] FWCFB 3500 Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd v Australian Industrial Relations Commission (2000) 203 CLR 194; [2000] HCA 47 Crown Employees (Police Officers – 2009) Award (2012) 220 IR 1; [2012] NSWIRComm 23 Crown Employees (Public Service Conditions of Employment) Reviewed Award 2009 (Workers Compensation Top-Up) (2022) 319 IR 67; [2022] NSWIRComm 1080 Crown Employees (School Administrative and Support Staff) Award [2019] NSWIRComm 1082 Health Employees Pharmacists (State) Award (2003) 132 IR 244; [2003] NSWIRComm 453 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 National Wage Case 1983 (1983) 4 IR 429 National Wage Case April 1991 (1991) 36 IR 120 National Wage Case August 1988 (1988) 25 IR 170 National Wage Case August 1989 (1989) 30 IR 81 National Wage Case March 1987 (1987) 17 IR 65. National Wage Case October 1991 (1991) 39 IR 127 Public Service Association and Professional Officers' Association Amalgamated Union of New South Wales v Industrial Relations Secretary of New South Wales (2021) 306 IR 89; [2021] NSWCA 64 Railways Professional Officers Award (1958) 89 CAR 40 Re Aged Care Award 2010 (2024) 331 IR 137; [2024] FWCFB 150 Re Crown Employees (Administrative and Clerical Officers) (State) Award (No 2) (1993) 52 IR 243 Re Crown Employees (Police Officers – 2009) Award (2012) 220 IR 1; [2012] NSWIRComm 23 Re Crown Employees (Public Sector – Salaries 2020) Award and Other Matters (No 2) (2020) 301 IR 321; [2020] NSWIRComm 1066 Re Crown Employees (Scientific Officers – Division of Science Services, Department of Agriculture) Award [1962] AR (NSW) 250 Re Crown Employees Wages Staff (Rates of Pay) Award 2011 (No 3) (2013) 240 IR 24; [2013] NSWIRComm 109 Re Crown Librarians, Library Officers and Archivists Award Proceedings - Applications under the Equal Remuneration Principle (2002) 111 IR 48; [2002] NSWIRComm 55 Re Equal Remuneration Principle (2000) 97 IR 177; [2000] NSWIRComm 113 Re Metal Industry Award 1971 (1981) 1 IR 169 Re Operational Ambulance Officers (State) Award (2001) 113 IR 384; [2001] NSWIRComm 331 Re Pastoral Industry (State) Award (2001) 104 IR 168; [2001] NSWIRComm 27 Re Public Service Board and Public Service Association of New South Wales (Local Courts Anomaly Case) [1989] AR 638 Re State Wage Case August 1989; Re Minimum Rates of Adjustment (1990) 35 IR 183 Re Storeworkers - IGA Distribution Pty Ltd New South Wales Distribution Centres Award 2002 (2002) 124 IR 1; [2002] NSWIRComm 156 Re Transport Industry – General Carriers Contract Determination (2016) 257 IR 294; [2016] NSWIRComm 3 Re Transport Industry (State) Award (1996) 95 IR 126 Safety Net Review (Wages) April 1998 (1998) 79 IR 37 Secretary of the Ministry of Health v The New South Wales Nurses and Midwives' Association (2022) 320 IR 249; [2022] NSWSC 1178 State Wage Case 1983 (1983) 5 IR 1 State Wage Case 2006 (No 6) (2006) 153 IR 268; [2006] NSWIRComm 204 State Wage Case 2008 (2008) 180 IR 370; [2008] NSWIRComm 122 State Wage Case 2010 (2010) 201 IR 155; [2010] NSWIRComm 183 State Wage Case 2010 (No 2) (2011) 206 IR 218; [2011] NSWIRComm 29 State Wage Case 2020 (No 2) [2021] NSWIRComm 1079 State Wage Case 2022 [2022] NSWIRComm 1081 State Wage Case 2024 [2024] NSWIRComm 1 State Wage Case 2024 (No 2) [2024] NSWIRComm 6 State Wage Case August 1988 (1988) 26 IR 24 State Wage Case August 1997 (1997) 73 IR 200 State Wage Case December 1993 (1993) 52 IR 157 State Wage Case December 1994 (1994) 57 IR 1 State Wage Case June 1998 (1998) 79 IR 37 State Wage Case March 1987 (1987) 17 IR 105 State Wage Case March 1992 (1992) 41 IR 239 State Wage Case May 1991 (1991) 36 IR 362 Texts Cited: New South Wales, Industrial Relations, Premier's Department, NSW Government Fair Pay and Bargaining Policy 2023, (November 2023) Report to the Minister – Pay Equity Inquiry, Reference to the Minister for Industrial Relations pursuant to s 146(1)(d) of the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (unreported, Glynn J, matter no. IRC 6320 of 1997, 14 December 1998) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Industrial Relations Secretary (Secretary) Fire Brigade Employees Union (FBEU) Australian Paramedics Association (APA) Unions NSW Local Government NSW (LGNSW) Representation: Counsel: S Meehan SC / B Byrnes / H Pararajasingham (Secretary) L Saunders (FBEU) I Latham (APA) P Boncardo (Unions NSW) A Britt (LGNSW) File Number(s): 2024/211169