Other oversight activities
Fair Work Australia
Issues of a serious nature have been raised in Parliament with regard to the efficient and effective operations of Fair Work Australia (FWA). The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit decided to seek advice from stakeholders on steps taken to address policy matters, and administrative issues raised in the KPMG Report Process review of Fair Work Australia's investigations into the Health Services Union.
On 10 September 2012, the Committee received correspondence from the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, which included:
- steps taken to date to address both policy and administrative issues related to Fair Work Australia;
- future reporting arrangements to monitor FWA's implementation of the recommendations made by KPMG to improve administration of the agency; and
- a submission from FWA General Manager, Ms Bernadette O'Neill, detailing initiatives under consideration and/or being implemented by FWA in response to the KPMG Review.
On 31 October 2012, the Committee received further correspondance from the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, providing the first quarterly report regarding measures taken by FWA to address outstanding policy matters and administrative issues identified as a result of the review of the HSU investigation.
The second quarterly report was received from the Minister on 14 March 2013