Fair Work Commission

Advertising campaigns

During 2015–16, the Commission did not conduct any advertising campaigns.

The Commission is required to disclose payments to advertising, market research, polling, media advertising and direct mail organisations. Payments of less than $12,700 (including GST) are excluded, consistent with s.311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.

During 2015–16, the Commission did not make any payments to advertising organisations, market research organisations, polling organisations or direct mail organisations.

During 2015–16, the Commission paid a total of $103,372 (including GST) to media advertising organisations. Payments were for recruitment advertising, media releases, media advertising and Commission reviews and decisions.

The Commission paid one organisation, Dentsu Mitchell Media Australia Pty Ltd, a total of $99,071 (including GST) for advertising services relating to:

• invitations for submissions on penalty rates as part of the Commission's 4 yearly review of modern awards
• publication of information for the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal's Contractor Driver Minimum Payments RSRO 2016

Grants

The Commission did not administer any discretionary or other grant programs in 2015–16 and no discretionary or other grants were made.

Freedom of information

The Commission is subject to the FOI Act and is required to publish information to the public as part of the Information Publications Scheme (IPS). Under Part II of the FOI Act, the Commission must display on its website a plan showing what information it publishes in accordance with the IPS requirements. The Commission's information publication plan is available at fwc.gov.au.

Omissions & material errors

Page 171; Domestic presentation, speeches and events; Appendix C; Annual Report 2014–15

This section should have included that Deputy President Hamilton presented on 4 August 2014 at 'The History of Australian Awards' to the Monash University postgraduate diploma course, 8 September 2014 at 'The Fair Work Commission Current Developments' to Employment Law Fundamentals seminar, 15 November 2014 at 'The Australian Minimum Wage 1907-2011' to the Australian Labour Law Association Annual Conference 2014, 27 March 2015 at 'One-on-One with the Fair Work Commission' to Akolade's Workplace Law Fundamentals 2015.

Page 184; Cases by matter type; Lodgment and case load statistics; Appendix G; Annual Report 2014–15

The table reference labelled G3 incorrectly indicated that there were 14,796 unfair dismissal applications in 2013-2014. The correct number was 14,797.

Ecologically sustainable development & environmental performance

Australian Government agencies are required to report on their performance regarding the environment and ecologically sustainable development in line with s. 516A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The Commission operates to ensure energy resources are utilised as efficiently as practicable in the context of a working tribunal and that it maintains a healthy working environment for both the staff and the public.

Programs are in place for the recycling of paper, packaging, batteries, equipment, toner and other materials where possible to reduce the carbon footprint generated by the Commission.

Kitchens in a number of offices have separate bins to manage waste including organic, recycling and general waste.

Sensor lighting is installed in hearing rooms, conference rooms, meeting rooms and offices. A timer mechanism automatically switches lighting off when rooms are not occupied. All showers continue to be fitted with energy efficient T5 lighting and shower timers.

The Commission has continued to reduce its carbon footprint by utilising video conferencing as a viable alternative to travel.

The Commission ensures that new leases over a certain size have a green rating. The Commission actively encourages its landlords to increase their National Australian Built Environment Rating System rating, a national rating system that measures the environmental performance of Australian buildings, tenancies and homes.

The Commission's Melbourne office participated in Earth Hour 2016, a campaign to create awareness of global warming by encouraging people to adopt better energy conservation habits. On 19 March 2016 the Commission's Melbourne premises turned off all lights, appliances and desktop computers.