Our role
At NSW Industrial Relations we aim to ensure compliance with industrial legislation and promote workplace reform in NSW. Some of the ways we do this includes:
Core responsibilities
Promoting compliance
We conduct industry-specific audits and education activities. If we find that someone has broken the law, we may take them to court.
We promote compliance by:
- providing information, advice, and assistance regarding industrial entitlements
- conducting industrial inspections and targeted campaigns in specific industries
- when necessary, prosecuting breaches of industrial law.
Leading NSW public sector industrial relations reform
We give new and principle-based guidance on work relations. We share the best ways of doing things across the sector. We lead reforms by:
- providing innovative and principles-based direction on industrial relations matters.
- proactively developing and promoting best practices across the sector.
Actively participating in national workplace relations
We take part as a partner in the Commonwealth’s national workplace relations framework.
Our activities
Our activities include:
- Investigating complaints
- Engaging and collaborating with stakeholders
- Providing digital learning
- Cooperating across jurisdictions
- Inspecting worksites
- Providing online and phone information service
- Conducting proactive audits
- Publishing enforcement activities and outcomes
- Prosecuting.
Our principles
Our values and principles include continuous improvement, trust building and balancing risk.
Also see the Statement of Intent - NSW Industrial Relations Inspectorate.
Legislation
NSW Industrial Relations administers the following primary legislation:
Related legislation
Other related legislation within the Industrial Relations Portfolio includes:
History of industrial relations in NSW
See a timeline of industrial relations history in NSW to learn about the development of workers' rights and responsibilities in Australia.