The purpose of this Circular is to advise you of a decision of the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW (the Commission) concerning principles for the review of awards.

In its decision of 18 December 1998 the Commission established award review principles in accordance with Section 19 of the Industrial Relations Act 1996. Section 19 requires the Commission to review each award at least once every three years. The purpose of the review is to modernise awards, to consolidate awards relating to the same industry and to rescind obsolete awards. A copy of the principles is attached for information.

The award review process may be initiated by the award parties or by the Commission. When initiated by award parties, applications for award review will ordinarily be made in conjunction with some other application, whether it be for the variation of an award, the making of a new award or the consolidation of an award. Award parties should be prepared to conduct a section 19 award review in the context of any other applications which they are currently considering or are preparing.

A list of obsolete public sector awards is being prepared in consultation with the Public Service Association of NSW. Once agreed, the agreed list will be forwarded to the Commission for rescission action.

Any enquiries may be directed to your Client Contact Officer, Employee Relations Division, Public Sector Management Office.

C. Gellatly
Director-General