Referral of powers to the Commonwealth

On 1 January 2010, Queensland’s private sector industrial relations powers were referred to the Commonwealth. However, the department continued to work with the Commonwealth Government to provide private sector industrial relations services to Queensland’s workers and employers, particularly those who were referred to the Commonwealth from 1 January 2010.

The national industrial relations system applies to all Queensland private sector employees, while public sector and local government workers remain under the state industrial relations system.