Awards

Industrial instruments are legally enforceable documents which outline minimum wages, conditions and entitlements for employees covered within its scope.

Modern awards are a type of industrial instrument which cover the minimum conditions of employment for a particular industry or occupation.  In Queensland, modern awards work in conjunction with the Queensland Employment Standards (QES). The QES are a set of minimum employment conditions for employees in the state industrial relations system (all Queensland and local government employees). Those standards, as set out in s 21 of the Industrial Relations Act 2016 cover:

• minimum wage;
• maximum weekly hours;
• flexible working arrangements;
• leave entitlements;
• public holidays; and
• notice of termination and redundancy.

Modern awards are to be read in conjunction with the relevant certified agreement – you can find all current certified agreements published by the Commission here.

Details of all modern awards are available here.

All decisions and rulings relating to previous state wage cases are available here.

Historical award information from 2009 is available here. If you require information prior to 2009, please submit a request to qircinfoservices@qirc.qld.gov.au.

The Industrial Registry is unable to advise you which award covers your employment. To find out which award applies to your employment, you may wish to contact Information Services, Office of Industrial Relations on phone 07 3406 9999 or alternatively the human resource division (or equivalent) of your employer.

Generally, modern awards set out:

• dispute resolution procedures;
• minimum salary levels, classifications and allowances;
• hours of work;
• leave entitlements;
• travel;
• training;
• union matters; and
• other topics specific to particular categories of employee or industry (such as industry specific clothing/equipment/tools).

The Commission has the power to make, vary or revoke a modern award covering employees employed in the Queensland government public sector, local government, and certain statutory authorities or government owned corporations.

Before the Commission makes an award, it must be satisfied that the parties agree with the content of the proposed award and that it is compliant with the Industrial Relations Act 2016.

Chapters 3 and 4 of the Industrial Relations Act 2016 govern the way in which industrial instruments are made.