The State IR Transition (SIRT) Bulletin provides the sector with a monthly update on the proposed transition of WA Local Governments and Regional Councils to the State industrial relations system under the Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Act 2021. SIRT Key Updates are released during the month if significant announcements are required.
Wednesday, May 31, 2023
2023 State wage case

In the April 2023 SIRT Bulletin we provided information about the 2023 State Wage Case, the process for making submissions and how the State Wage Case decision will impact on Local Governments. We also advised that WALGA would be filing a written submission on behalf of the sector. A copy of WALGA’s written submissions is available on the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) website here. You will also find the other written submissions from the s.50 parties (the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA, the Minister for Industrial Relations and UnionsWA) and the WA Council of Social Service here.
Thursday, April 27, 2023
State Wage Case 2023

The Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC) issues a State Wage Case General Order (State Wage Order) annually in June which sets the WA minimum wage for adults, apprentices and trainees, and adjusts wage rates under the State awards. The State Wage Order now applies to all Local Governments in WA (with the exception of the Shire of Christmas Island and the Shire of Cocos (Keeling) Islands). Local Governments must ensure that the wages paid to employees are the same as, or higher than, the State minimum wage. As a general rule, many Local Governments provide much higher rates of pay than the State minimum wage which is important for the attraction and retention of staff.
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Right of entry refresher

The Local Government sector is experiencing an increase in union activities since the transition to the State industrial relations (IR) system on 1 January 2023.
Monday, January 23, 2023
WA Local Governments now required to operate in the State industrial relations system

From 1 January 2023, Local Governments and Regional Councils (WA Local Governments) named in Schedule 4 of the Industrial Relations (General) Regulations 1997 (WA) (IR Regulations) are required to operate in the State industrial relations system.
 

 
Friday, December 23, 2022

WA Local Governments will transition to the State IR system on 1 January 2023

The final steps to transition WA Local Governments and Regional Councils (Local Governments) to the State industrial relations (IR) system on 1 January 2023 have now been completed.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Outstanding steps before WA Local Governments transition to the State IR system on 1 January 2023

The outstanding legislative steps that are required to be completed before WA Local Governments and Regional Councils (Local Governments) transition to the State industrial relations (IR) system on 1 January 2023 can be viewed here
 
Monday, November 21, 2022
New Industrial Relations Regulations to assist with transition

WALGA’s ongoing advocacy with the State Government has successfully resulted in the making of a new regulation to assist Local Governments with the transition to the State industrial relations (IR) system.
Tuesday, November 01, 2022
WA Local Governments transition to State IR system on 1 January 2023
 
The State Government has announced that the ‘relevant day’ for the transition to the State industrial relations (IR) system will be 1 January 2023.
Thursday, October 20, 2022
Preparing for the transition
 
Although a public announcement has not been made by the State Government about the date for the transition, we strongly encourage Local Governments to prepare for the transition by taking steps as set out in the new SIRT Transition Checklist we have developed for WALGA ER subscribers.
Monday, October 17, 2022
Federal Government support for State IR Transition 

It has been confirmed that the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations has provided in principle support to transition WA Local Governments and Regional Councils (Local Governments) to the State industrial relations (IR) system.
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Survey – What training do you need to help transition to the State IR system?
 
The State Government has asked WALGA to identify specific training courses and workshops that Local Governments and Regional Councils (Local Governments) are seeking funding for to upskill their staff to prepare for the State industrial relations (IR) transition.
Monday, August 29, 2022
Progress of the proposed transition of Local Governments to the State IR system

There have been no developments about the proposed transition of Local Governments to the State IR system since the July SIRT Bulletin.
 
WALGA has a meeting scheduled with the advisor to the Hon. Bill Johnston MLA, Minister for Industrial Relations and representatives from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety in August 2022 to discuss funding for the sector to support the transition.
Thursday, July 28, 2022
Progress of the proposed transition of Local Governments to the State IR system

A summary of the outstanding steps that are required to be completed before Local Governments are transitioned to the State industrial relations (IR) system can be viewed here.
Monday, June 20, 2022
Proclamation of IRLA Act and enactment of amended legislation
 
The remaining parts of the Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Act 2021 (WA) will commence on 20 June 2022. The Government Gazette setting out the proclamations can be viewed here.
Monday, May 30, 2022
Progress of the proposed transition of Local Governments to the State IR system
 
WALGA Employee Relations has prepared a new fact sheet to assist the sector to understand and keep track of the steps that are to be completed before WA Local Governments and Regional Councils (Local Governments) are transitioned to the State industrial relations (IR) system.
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Progress of the proposed transition of Local Governments to the State IR system

The progress of the proposed transition of Local Governments (including Regional Councils) (Local Governments) to the State industrial relations (IR) system is on hold with the calling of the 2022 Federal election which will be held on 21 May 2022.
Monday, March 28, 2022
No changes to the progress of the proposed transition of Local Governments to the State IR system

On 22 December 2021, the Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 (IR Bill) received Royal Assent but is yet to be Proclaimed in the Government Gazettes.
Monday, February 28, 2022
Update on the proposed transition of Local Governments to the State IR system
 
With the exception of the new Easter Sunday Public Holiday which has now been proclaimed, the outstanding steps required before Local Governments are required to transition to the State industrial relations (IR) system reported in the December Bulletin remain unchanged.
Friday, January 28, 2022
Update on the proposed transition of Local Governments to the State IR system
 
On 22 December 2021, the Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 (IR Bill) received Royal Assent but is yet to be Proclaimed in the Government Gazettes. This means that the outstanding steps required before Local Governments are required to transition to the State industrial relations (IR) system reported in the December Bulletin remain unchanged.
Friday, December 17, 2021
Passage of IR Bill through State Parliament
 
On 16 December 2021, the Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 (IR Bill) was passed by the Parliament of Western Australia and is waiting assent.
Thursday, November 25, 2021
In the previous State IR Transition Bulletin Key Update we outlined the changes proposed by the Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 (IR Bill) for Local Governments (LGs), including the proposed transition to the State industrial relations system (State IR System) and new entitlements and conditions planned for that system.
Thursday, October 21, 2021
New IR Bill tabled in WA Parliament
In the first State IR Transition Bulletin we confirmed that the WA State Government intended to reintroduce legislation to transition the Local Government (LG) sector into the State Industrial Relations System (State IR System).
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
This is the first of a series of monthly updates on the proposed transition of WA Local Governments and Regional Councils (LGs) to the State industrial relations system (State IR System).