Skills shortage survey closing soon
A reminder that the Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) national Local Government skill shortage survey closes on Monday, 31 January.
The objectives and process for completing the survey was outlined in ER Alert 35/2021 on 22 December 2021.
Please note the ALGA Survey is separate to and different from the 2021/22 WALGA Salary and Workforce Survey.
Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 (IR Bill)
The IR Bill was given Royal Assent on 22 December 2021 as Act No. 30 of 2021. Part 1 of the Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Act 2021 (WA) (IRLA Act) commenced on 22 December, which deals with preliminary matters. All other parts of the IRLA Act will be proclaimed by publishing a notice of proclamation in the Western Australian Government Gazette.
The declaration that all Local Governments are not national system employers will have the effect of transitioning all Local Governments to the State industrial relations system if it is endorsed by the Federal Minister for Industrial Relations, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash. We have not received confirmation on whether the declaration will be endorsed by the Federal Minister.
New public holiday added to WA’s Calendar
In November 2021, we circulated the public holiday sheets for Western Australia and the Northern Territory to our subscribers. With the passing of the IR Bill on 16 December 2021 an additional public holiday has be added to WA’s calendar.
Easter Sunday is already observed as a public holiday in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, and is scheduled for WA on:
- Sunday, 17 April 2022, and
- Sunday, 9 April 2023.
The new public holiday will be observed on Easter Sunday itself, rather than an alternative day, unless a statutory instrument provides for substitution to another day.
Our updated public holiday information sheet for WA Local Government subscribers can be accessed from the WALGA website. Please note you will need to login to the subscriber section of the website. If you don’t have a login please click here to create an account and follow the instructions on how to sign up.
Sector briefing – Preparing for Omicron
A reminder that WALGA is hosting a webinar on Friday, 21 January from 10:30am to 12 noon focused on preparing for Omicron and Local Government business continuity and contingency planning.
The webinar will include an update from the Department of Health and presentations from LGIS.
To register for the webinar, click here.
Work health and safety legislation information sessions
On 15 December 2021 Minister Stephen Dawson MLC announced that the commencement of the new Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) (WHS Act) will be delayed until March 2022.
WALGA will be hosting a webinar for Local Governments on Wednesday, 9 February from 2:00pm to 3:30pm, with presentations from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) and LGIS. The webinar will provide an overview of the requirements of the new legislation for Local Governments with responsibility for managing Volunteer Bushfire Brigades. Click here to register.
DMIRS has also commenced a series of WHS Act webinars and in-person sessions across metropolitan Perth and regional areas. Local Governments wishing to attend can register here.
If you have any questions about this alert, please email WALGA Employee Relations or call 1300 366 956.
