Public Service Arbitrator

The Commonwealth Arbitration (Public Service) Act of 1920 made provision for the appointment of a Public Service Arbitrator, to determine all matters submitted to the arbitrator relating to salaries, wages, rates of pay, or terms or conditions of service or employment of officers and employers of the Public Service. The arbitrator had the power to vary any determination, re-open any questions, give an interpretation of any determination and to allow amendments to a claim on application. The Arbitration (Public Service) Act of 1920 made provision for all claims pending in the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration to be transferred to the Public Service Arbitrator, and all determination that were made under the 1911 Act to be deemed as determinations made by the Arbitrator under the 1920 Act. Prior to this legislation the Aritration (Public Service) Act of 1911 gave the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration the power to deal with such matters. The Arbitration (Public Service) Act of 1920 commenced on 31 March 1921 as proclaimed in the Commonwealth Gazette No. 29 of 1921. The Arbitrator was appointed by the Governor-General, for a term of seven years and was eligible for re-appointment. Mr Atlee Hunt C.M.G. was the first Public Service Arbitrator appointed in February 1921. The Conciliation and Arbitration Act (No. 2) of 1983 repealed the Arbitration (Public Service) Act 1920 and related Acts, and transferred the jurisdiction of the Public Service Arbitrator to the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. However, the office of the Public Service Arbitrator continued to operate until the 1983 Act came into operation on 1 June 1984.

Description added 27 Feb 2020

National Archives of Australia agency details for CA 570; Australian Trade Union Archives website http://www.atua.org.au/biogs/ALE1422b.htm