Fair Work Online is your gateway to information and advice about Australia's workplace rights and rules.

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides the information and manages the website.

Whether you're an employee, employer or contractor with a question about workplace rights and rules, you'll find the information you need here.

Need more detailed answers? The gateway suggests where else you can go to find them - whether it's to the Fair Work Ombudsman, Fair Work Australia or another organisation that can help.

Need direct help to take action or resolve an issue? Call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.

The new national workplace system

The new national workplace system started on 1 July 2009 and was created by the Fair Work Act 2009. It covers the majority of workplaces in Australia.

Three bodies have roles in the system:

• Fair Work Australia
• Fair Work Ombudsman
• Fair Work Federal Divisions of the Federal Court and the Federal Magistrates Court.

From 1 January 2010, sole traders, partnerships, other unincorporated entities and non-trading corporations  in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania are covered by the national system rather than their own specific state system. Employers that were already operating under the national system continue to be covered (eg. Pty Ltd businesses and employers in the ACT, NT and Victoria).

There are special transitional rules for employers in these states to transition them into the national system:

• State awards generally continue to apply under the national system for 12 months (until 1 January 2011)
• State employment agreements continue to operate under the national system until terminated or replaced

However, state awards and state employment agreements operate alongside the National Employment Standards (NES) and their relevant minimum wage. This means that employees covered by a state award or state agreement must receive at least the minimum entitlements in the NES and their relevant minimum wage.

If you require further information on your rights and responsibilities under the national workplace relations system, please contact the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.

Fair Work Australia's role

Fair Work Australia is the new independent tribunal on national workplace laws.

It has powers to carry out a range of functions relating to workplace disputes and industrial action, the minimum wages and employment conditions safety net, enterprise bargaining and more.

Website:  www.fwa.gov.au
Phone: 1300 799 675.

Fair Work Ombudsman's role

The Fair Work Ombudsman provides advice on national workplace laws and education to employees, employers and organisations.

Fair Work Inspectors can help employers, employees and organisations comply with the new national workplace relations laws and, where necessary, take steps to enforce the laws through the court system.

Website: www.fwo.gov.au
Phone: 13 13 94

Fair Work Federal Divisions

Specialist Fair Work Divisions have been created in the Federal Court and Federal Magistrates Court. These Divisions will hear matters related to the new national workplace relations laws.

The Courts will be able to generally make any orders they consider appropriate to fix a contravention of workplace relations laws, rather than just impose a penalty.

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