The Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) is an
industrial relations
Industrial relations or employment relations is the multidisciplinary academic field that studies the employment relationship; that is, the complex interrelations between employers and employees, labor union, labor/trade
unions, employer organ ...
tribunal established under
Queensland
Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
's ''Industrial Relations Act 2016'' to arbitrate, mediate, and determine employment and industrial relations matters in that state.
With Queensland's private sector referred to federal regulation by the ''
Fair Work Act
The ''Fair Work Act 2009'' (Cth) is an Act of the Parliament of Australia, passed by the Rudd government to reform the industrial relations system of Australia. Replacing the Howard government's WorkChoices legislation, the Act established ...
'', the QIRC's main focus is on Queensland public sector state and local government employees.
Functions
The QIRC mostly deals with industrial matters affecting state and local government employees, and a limited number of private sector workers who remain under the state system. Its major functions include:
[{{cite web , title=Frequently asked questions , url=https://www.qirc.qld.gov.au/frequently-asked-questions , website=Queensland Industrial Relations , publisher=State of Queensland , access-date=14 June 2025]
* Hearing wage underpayment claims
* Making, amending and interpreting modern awards for workers covered by the Queensland state system
* Approving and interpreting certified agreements
* Resolving state and local government industrial disputes through conciliation and arbitration
* Deciding unfair dismissal and reinstatement applications
* Dealing with industrial action and bargaining issues
* Hearing appeals from decisions of the Industrial Registrars
* Determining matters in areas where it is empowered by legislation, such as the ''Public Service Act 2008'' and ''Work Health and Safety Act 2011''
The QIRC can also hear disputes involving state-registered industrial organisations and provides guidance on union registration, amalgamation, and internal governance.
See also
*
Fair Work Commission
The Fair Work Commission (FWC), until 2013 known as Fair Work Australia (FWA), is the Australian industrial relations tribunal created by the ''Fair Work Act 2009'' as part of the Rudd Government's reforms to industrial relations in Austral ...
External links
Queensland Industrial Relations
References
Courts and tribunals established in 2016
Australian labour law
Queensland courts and tribunals
Labour relations in Australia
Labor relations boards