Related sites

This page has links to other government bodies and support services websites.

On this page:

• Government organisations
• Family and domestic violence
• Legal Organisations

Government organisations

Workplace relations

The Fair Work Commission (the Commission) is the independent national workplace relations tribunal. It carries out a range of functions relating to awards and agreements, termination and industrial action and disputes.

The Australian Building and Construction Commission  (ABCC) is responsible for ensuring cooperative, productive and harmonious workplace relations in the building industry.

The Registered Organisations Commission  (ROC) is the independent regulator of unions and employer associations. It promotes compliance with financial reporting, efficient management and high standards of accountability. 

Tax

The Australian Taxation Office  (ATO) provides a number of tools and resources to help employers, owner drivers and hirers meet their tax obligations. For more information on state and territory payroll tax, visit business.gov.au – Payroll tax .

Workplace health and safety

Each state and territory has a local workplace health and safety body, which regulates and investigates breaches of laws about workplace health and safety, including bullying and harassment.

• Australian Capital Territory: Work Safe ACT
• New South Wales: SafeWork NSW  
• Northern Territory: NT WorkSafe   
• Queensland: Workplace Health and Safety Queensland  
• South Australia: SafeWork SA  
• Tasmania: WorkSafe Tasmania  
• Victoria: WorkSafe Victoria  
• Western Australia: WorkSafe WA

Safe Work Australia is the statutory agency leading the development of national policy to improve work health and safety and workers' compensation arrangements across Australia. 

Comcare (Commonwealth)  works with employees and employers to minimise the impact of harm in the workplace.

Human trafficking and slavery

• The Australian Federal Police   (AFP) is responsible for investigating human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices such as servitude, forced labour and forced marriage, which are complex crimes and a major violation of human rights.
• The Department of Home Affairs  (Home Affairs) is responsible for implementing the Modern Slavery Act 2018, and provides general advice and support to entities about compliance with reporting requirements under the Act. 

Anti-discrimination

We can help with discrimination issues in the workplace. To find out how we can help go to Protection from discrimination at work.

If we can't help, there are national and state or territory anti-discrimination bodies that may be able to assist.

National

The Australian Human Rights Commission considers and accepts complaints of workplace discrimination, harassment and bullying covered under federal law including bullying or harassment complaints based on race, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion or disability. The Commission also has a free National Information Service that provides information and referrals for individuals and employers on a range of discrimination issues.

State and territory 

Each state and territory has a local anti-discrimination body, which can consider and investigate breaches of state or territory anti-discrimination laws in workplaces. To resolve complaints, these bodies often use conciliation between both parties in their dispute resolution process.

• Australian Capital Territory: ACT Human Rights Commission  provides an independent, fair and accessible dispute resolution process for resolving individual discrimination complaints. 
• New South Wales: Anti-Discrimination Board of New South Wales  investigates complaints of discrimination covered by the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act.
• Northern Territory: Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission  provides information about people’s rights and responsibilities under the Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Act. They also accept and investigate complaints of discrimination.
• Queensland: Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland  accepts complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment, victimisation and other contraventions of Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Act. The Anti-Discrimination Commission resolves complaints using a conciliation process which is confidential, free and impartial.
• South Australia: Equal Opportunity Commission - South Australia  assists people to resolve complaints of discrimination (including sex, race, disability or age), sexual harassment or victimisation covered by South Australia’s Equal Opportunity Act 1984.
• Tasmania: Office of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner - Tasmania  accepts and investigates complaints of discrimination and other prohibited conduct.
• Victoria: Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission  provides a free, fair and timely dispute resolution service that accepts complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment, victimisation and racial or religious vilification.
• Western Australia: Equal Opportunity Commission - Western Australia  investigates complaints made by individuals who allege unlawful discrimination.

Family and domestic violence

The national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service 1800 RESPECT  provides confidential information, counselling and support for people impacted by domestic and family violence

Legal organisations

• Legal aid in each state and territory may be able to provide legal advice or assistance.
• National Association of Community Legal Centres are not-for-profit community organisations that provide legal and related services to the public, focusing on the disadvantaged and people with special needs.
• Australasian Legal Information Institute provides access to legislation and court judgements as well as summaries on the law.
• Commonwealth of Australia Law ComLaw provides online copies of Commonwealth legislation and related documents.
• The Federal Court of Australia  has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes, along with some criminal matters. 
• The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in Australia and decides cases of federal significance and hears appeals from Federal, State and Territory courts.