The Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) is a Federal tribunal. The functions of the AIRC are broadly to: facilitate agreement making between employers and employees or organisations of employees about wages and conditions of employment; ensure that a safety net of fair minimum wages and conditions of employment is established and maintained; prevent and settle industrial disputes, so far as possible by conciliation, and, where appropriate within the limits specified by the Workplace Relations Act 1996, by arbitration; facilitate equal remuneration for work of equal value; conciliate claims for relief in relation to termination of employment, and if necessary to arbitrate whether a termination is harsh, unjust or unreasonable, and deal with matters concerning organisations, particularly registration, amalgamation, cancellation, representation rights, alteration of eligibility rules and change of name.

independent industrial tribunal established under the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth) to carry out the following broad functions: facilitate agreement making between employers and employees or organisations of employees about wages and conditions of employment ensure that a safety net of fair minimum wages and conditions of employment is established and maintained prevent and settle industrial disputes, so far as possible by conciliation, and, where appropriate within the limits specified by the Workplace Relations Act 1996 [WR Act], by arbitration facilitate equal remuneration for work of equal value conciliate claims for relief in relation to termination of employment, and if necessary to arbitrate whether a termination is harsh, unjust or unreasonable deal with matters concerning organisations, particularly registration, amalgamation, cancellation, representation rights, alteration of eligibility rules and change of name ( AIRC Website: www.airc.gov.au).

A body established under the Industrial Relations Act to prevent and settle industry disputes by conciliation and arbitration. In the Australian industrial relations system, conciliation is a process used to resolve industrial disputes between parties, with a member of the AIRC attempting to persuade the conflicting parties to find common ground and settle their differences. It may be followed by arbitration if an agreement is not reached.