Registered Organisations Commission
Agency overview
Formed1 May 2017[1]
Preceding agency
Dissolved6 March 2023
Superseding agency
JurisdictionCommonwealth of Australia
HeadquartersMelbourne
Minister responsible
  • Tony Burke, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Agency executive
  • Mark Bielecki (2017–2023), Commissioner
Parent agencyFair Work Ombudsman[1]
Websitewww.roc.gov.au

The Registered Organisations Commission (ROC) was an independent, statutory authority of the Australian Government, responsible for the regulation and education of registered organisations (that is, trade unions and employer organisations) in Australia.[2] The ROC was established on 1 May 2017 under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Act 2016 (Cth)[3] and was abolished on 6 March 2023, with its functions transferring to the Fair Work Commission.

The role of the ROC includes the following functions:[2]

  • assessing the financial reports, annual returns, and disclosure statements by organisations and their branches;
  • arranging elections for organisations and their branches;
  • approving governance and compliance training;
  • providing education, assistance and advice to organisations; and
  • conducting inquiries and investigations into breaches of registered organisation legislation.

The legislation establishing the ROC (originally put into the Australian Parliament as the Fair Work Amendment (Registered Organisations) Bill 2014) was one of the double dissolution triggers for the 2016 federal election under section 57 of the Australian Constitution.[4] Following the election, the Turnbull government was successful in passing the legislation establishing the ROC with the vote of Senators Pauline Hanson, Nick Xenophon and Derryn Hinch.[5]

Ahead of the 2022 Australian federal election, the Australian Labor Party led by Anthony Albanese promised to abolish the ROC, with Albanese calling it “discredited and politicised”, a decision that was criticised by some parties.[6] Following the election, the Government passed the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 which abolished the ROC and transferred its functions to the Fair Work Commission. The abolition took effect on 6 March 2023.[7]

The Registered Organisations Commissioner, in office from the establishment of the ROC on 1 May 2017 until its abolition on 6 March 2023, was Mr Mark Bielecki, a former South Australian Regional Commissioner at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "'The Registered Organisations Commission', Annual Report 2017–18". Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Our role". Registered Organisations Commission. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  3. ↑ "Fair Work Amendment (Registered Organisations) Act 2016". Austlii. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  4. ↑ Bills laid aside or negatived, their history and status as possibly meeting the requirements of section 57 of the Constitution (44th Parliament – 1st and 2nd sessions) Archived 27 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 20 April 2016
  5. ↑ Kelly, Joe (22 November 2016). "Election trigger registered organisations bill passes Senate". The Australian. News Corporation. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  6. ↑ Thompson, Angus (9 March 2022). "Construction watchdog says lawlessness will thrive without oversight". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "Abolition of the ABCC and ROC". Fair Work Ombudsman. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  8. ↑ "About the Commissioner". Registered Organisations Commission. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
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