{"id":"industrial-referral-agreements-act-1986","name":"Industrial Referral Agreements Act 1986","slug":"industrial-referral-agreements-act-1986","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"sa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":105555,"registerId":"sa-industrial-referral-agreements-act-1986-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Industrial Referral Agreements Act 1986","content":"South Australia\nIndustrial Referral Agreements Act 1986\nAn Act to make provision with respect to the resolution of certain disputes; and for other purposes.\n\nContents\n1\tShort title\n2\tInterpretation\n3\tReferral of matter to SAET by agreement\n4\tRegulations\nLegislative history\n\nThe Parliament of South Australia enacts as follows:\n1—Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Industrial Referral Agreements Act 1986.\n2—Interpretation\nA word or expression used in this Act that is the subject of a definition under section 4 of the Fair Work Act 1994 when used in that Act will have the same meaning in this Act as it has in that Act.\n3—Referral of matter to SAET by agreement\n\t(1)\tThis section applies to an industrial matter or an industrial dispute if 2 or more parties have entered into an agreement in writing (a referral agreement) to seek the assistance of SAET by making a referral to SAET in order to obtain (as the case may be)—\n\t(a)\tthe resolution of an industrial matter arising between the parties (including by making a determination about levels of remuneration, conditions of employment or other industrial matters);\n\t(b)\tthe resolution of an industrial dispute between the parties (including by settling a dispute about whether appropriate remuneration has been paid to a person under a contract of employment or whether there has been a breach of a condition of employment);\n\t(c)\tthe resolution of the question whether, on the balance of probabilities, the dismissal of an employee was harsh, unjust or unreasonable.\n\t(2)\tA referral agreement may relate to a particular matter or dispute, or to matters or disputes of a specified class.\n\t(3)\tThe parties to a referral agreement may be—\n\t(a)\tan employer, or group of employers;\n\t(b)\tan employee, or group of employees;\n\t(c)\ta registered association;\n\t(d)\tthe United Trades and Labor Council.\n\t(4)\tThe parties to a referral agreement may agree that SAET is—\n\t(a)\tto act as a conciliator, mediator or arbitrator;\n\t(b)\tto make recommendations to the parties;\n\t(c)\tto make determinations or orders that the parties agree to accept or observe,\nas specified in the referral agreement.\n\t(5)\tA party seeking the assistance of SAET under a referral agreement will do so in accordance with the rules.\n\t(6)\tOn a referral under this Act, SAET has and may perform or exercise such functions or powers with respect to the matter as SAET might exercise in the exercise of its jurisdiction under section 7 of the Fair Work Act 1994, subject to any limitation or exclusion specified in the referral agreement and not so as to give any form of relief outside the referral agreement.\n\t(7)\tThe regulations may make provision for or with respect to the application of the provisions of the Fair Work Act 1994 and the South Australian Employment Tribunal Act 2014 (with such modifications, if any, as may be prescribed by the regulations) to the performance or exercise of functions or powers under this Act.\n\t(9)\tSubject to any regulations made for the purposes of subsection (7), rules of SAET may be made in connection with the practice and procedure of SAET in the performance or exercise of functions or powers conferred by referral agreements.\n\t(10)\tA determination, order or other decision of SAET on a referral under this Act—\n\t(a)\tis binding on the parties to the referral agreements; and\n\t(b)\tmay be enforced under the Fair Work Act 1994 in the same way as a determination, order or other decision of SAET to the same effect.\n\t(12)\tSAET may, in acting under this Act, make any determination as to the scope or operation of the relevant referral agreement, or as to the meaning of any provision of the referral agreement, and any such determination will then have effect according to its terms.\n\t(13)\tSAET may, at any time after a matter or dispute has been referred to SAET under this Act, determine to take no action on the referral, or to suspend or discontinue any action on the referral, if SAET considers or is satisfied that—\n\t(a)\tthe matter or dispute should be determined in some other manner; or\n\t(b)\tproceedings that relate to the subject matter of the referral have been commenced under the Fair Work Act 1994, or before some other body or person; or\n\t(c)\tthere is some other reasonable cause that justifies a decision not to proceed, or to suspend or discontinue any action under this section,\n(and such a determination will have effect according to its terms).\n\t(14)\tThe following provisions apply in connection with the application of Part 5 of the South Australian Employment Tribunal Act 2014 in relation to a determination under this section:\n\t(a)\tif the referral agreement provides that a determination will be final and conclusive, the determination will not be subject to review or appeal under Part 5 of the South Australian Employment Tribunal Act 2014;\n\t(b)\tif an application for review or appeal under Part 5 of the South Australian Employment Tribunal Act 2014 is made, the determination will be taken to be part of the referral to SAET under the referral agreement.\n\t(15)\tIf an application is made, it will be taken to be part of the referral to SAET under the referral agreement.\n\t(16)\tThe functions and powers conferred on SAET by or under this Act are in addition to, and do not derogate from, any other function or power of SAET under the Fair Work Act 1994 and the South Australian Employment Tribunal Act 2014.\n\t(17)\tA referral agreement may be amended from time to time by agreement between the parties to the referral agreement.\n\t(18)\tOnce a referral has been made a party cannot withdraw from the referral agreement without the agreement in writing of the other party or parties to the agreement.\n4—Regulations\nThe Governor may make such regulations as are contemplated by this Act, or as are necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Act.\nLegislative history\nNotes\n\t•\tPlease note—References in the legislation to other legislation or instruments or to titles of bodies or offices are not automatically updated as part of the program for the revision and publication of legislation and therefore may be obsolete.\n\t•\tEarlier versions of this Act (historical versions) are listed at the end of the legislative history.\n\t•\tFor further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes or www.legislation.sa.gov.au.\nFormerly\nCommercial Arbitration Act 1986\nCommercial Arbitration and Industrial Referral Agreements Act 1986\nLegislation repealed by principal Act\nThe Industrial Referral Agreements Act 1986 repealed the following:\nArbitration Act 1891\nLegislation amended by principal Act\nThe Industrial Referral Agreements Act 1986 amended the following:\nLocal and District Criminal Courts Act 1926\nSupreme Court Act 1935\nPrincipal Act and amendments\nNew entries appear in bold.\nYear\nNo\nTitle\nAssent\nCommencement\n1986\n102\nCommercial Arbitration Act 1986\n18.12.1986\n9.7.1987 (Gazette 9.7.1987 p57)\n1992\n64\nCommercial Arbitration (Uniform Provisions) Amendment Act 1992\n12.11.1992\n1.1.1993 (Gazette 17.12.1992 p2192)\n2006\n17\nStatutes Amendment (New Rules of Civil Procedure) Act 2006\n6.7.2006\nPt 16 (ss 54—61)—4.9.2006 (Gazette 17.8.2006 p2831)\n2006\n41\nStatutes Amendment (Public Sector Employment) Act 2006\n14.12.2006\nPt 8 (ss 25—27)—1.4.2007 (Gazette 29.3.2007 p930)\n2009\n77\nBuilding and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2009\n10.12.2009\nSch 1 (cl 3)—10.12.2011 (s 7(5) Acts Interpretation Act 1915)\n2011\n32\nCommercial Arbitration Act 2011\n22.9.2011\nSch 1 (cll 1—7)—1.1.2012 (Gazette 15.12.2011 p4986)\n2016\n63\nStatutes Amendment (South Australian Employment Tribunal) Act 2016\n8.12.2016\nPt 11 (ss 108 & 109)—1.7.2017 (Gazette 16.5.2017 p1221)\nProvisions amended\nNew entries appear in bold.\nEntries that relate to provisions that have been deleted appear in italics.\nProvision\nHow varied\nCommencement\nLong title\namended under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002\n4.9.2006\n\namended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 2\n1.1.2012\nPt 1\n\n\nheading\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 7\n1.1.2012\ns 1\namended by 41/2006 s 25\n1.4.2007\n\namended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 3\n1.1.2012\ns 2\nomitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002\n4.9.2006\ns 2\nSch 1 cl 1 redesignated as s 2 by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(5)\n1.1.2012\ns 2(1)\ncl 1(1) amended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(1)\n1.1.2012\ns 2(2)\ncl 1(2) deleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(4)\n1.1.2012\ns 3 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 3(1)\nomitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002\n4.9.2006\ns 3(6)\nsubstituted by 17/2006 s 54\n4.9.2006\ns 3(7)\ninserted by 17/2006 s 54\n4.9.2006\n\namended by 41/2006 s 26(1)\n1.4.2007\ns 3(8) and (9)\ninserted by 41/2006 s 26(2)\n1.4.2007\ns 3(9a)\ninserted by 77/2009 Sch 1 cl 3\n10.12.2011\ns 3(10)\ninserted by 41/2006 s 26(2)\n1.4.2007\ns 3\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 3\nSch 1 cl 2 redesignated as s 3 by 32/2001 Sch 1 cl 6(5)\n1.1.2012\ns 3(1)\ncl 2(1) amended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(2)\n1.1.2012\n\namended by 63/2016 s 108(1)\n1.7.2017\ns 3(4) and (5)\namended by 63/2016 s 108(1)\n1.7.2017\ns 3(6)\ncl 2(6) amended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(1)\n1.1.2012\n\namended by 63/2016 s 108(1), (2)\n1.7.2017\ns 3(7)\ncl 2(7) amended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(1)\n1.1.2012\n\namended by 63/2016 s 108(3)\n1.7.2017\ns 3(8)\ncl 2(8) amended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(3)\n1.1.2012\n\ndeleted by 63/2016 s 108(4)\n1.7.2017\ns 3(9)\ncl 2(9) amended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(3)\n1.1.2012\n\namended by 63/2016 s 108(1), (5)\n1.7.2017\ns 3(10)\ncl 2(10) amended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(1)\n1.1.2012\n\namended by 63/2016 s 108(1), (6)\n1.7.2017\ns 3(11)\ncl 2(11) amended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(3)\n1.1.2012\n\ndeleted by 63/2016 s 108(7)\n1.7.2017\ns 3(12)\ncl 2(12) amended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(1)\n1.1.2012\n\namended by 63/2016 s 108(8)\n1.7.2017\ns 3(13)\ncl 2(13) amended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(1)\n1.1.2012\n\namended by 63/2016 s 108(1), (8)\n1.7.2017\ns 3(14)\nsubstituted by 63/2016 s 108(9)\n1.7.2017\ns 3(15)\namended by 63/2016 s 108(1), (10)\n1.7.2017\ns 3(16)\ncl 2(16) amended by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 6(1)\n1.1.2012\n\namended by 63/2016 s 108(1), (11)\n1.7.2017\ns 4 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 4(1)\ns 4 redesignated as s 4(1) by 64/1992 s 3(d)\n1.1.1993\nthe Court\namended by 17/2006 s 55\n4.9.2006\ndomestic arbitration agreement\ndeleted by 64/1992 s 3(a)\n1.1.1993\ninternational arbitration agreement\ndeleted by 64/1992 s 3(b)\n1.1.1993\nprescribed arbitration agreement\ndeleted by 64/1992 s 3(c)\n1.1.1993\ns 4(2)\ninserted by 64/1992 s 3(d)\n1.1.1993\ns 4\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 4\ns 57 redesignated as s 4 by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 5\n1.1.2012\ns 5\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\nPt 2\n\n\nheading\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 7\n1.1.2012\ns 6\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 4\n1.1.1993\n\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\nss 7—10\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 11\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 5\n1.1.1993\n\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\nss 12 and 13\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\nPt 3\n\n\nheading\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 7\n1.1.2012\nss 14—16\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 17 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 17(1)\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 6\n1.1.1993\ns 17\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 18 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 18(2)\namended by 64/1992 s 7\n1.1.1993\ns 18\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 19 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 19(3)\namended by 64/1992 s 8\n1.1.1993\ns 19\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 20\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 9\n1.1.1993\n\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 21\namended by 64/1992 s 10\n1.1.1993\n\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\nss 22—25\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\nss 26 and 27\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 11\n1.1.1993\n\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\nPt 4\n\n\nheading\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 7\n1.1.2012\nss 28—30\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 31 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 31(1)\namended by 64/1992 s 12(a), (b)\n1.1.1993\ns 31(2)\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 12(c)\n1.1.1993\ns 31(3) and (4)\ninserted by 64/1992 s 12(c)\n1.1.1993\ns 31\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 32 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 32(1)\namended by 64/1992 s 13\n1.1.1993\ns 32\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 33\namended by 17/2006 s 56(1), (2)\n4.9.2006\n\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 34 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 34(3)\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 14(a)\n1.1.1993\ns 34(5)\namended by 64/1992 s 14(b)\n1.1.1993\ns 34(6)\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 14(c)\n1.1.1993\nss 34—37\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\nPt 5\n\n\nheading\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 7\n1.1.2012\ns 38 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 38(4)\namended by 64/1992 s 15(a)\n1.1.1993\n\namended by 17/2006 s 57(1)\n4.9.2006\ns 38(5)\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 15(b)\n1.1.1993\n\namended by 17/2006 s 57(2)\n4.9.2006\ns 38(6)\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 15(b)\n1.1.1993\n\namended by 17/2006 s 57(3)\n4.9.2006\ns 38(7)\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 15(b)\n1.1.1993\ns 38(8)\ndeleted by 64/1992 s 15(b)\n1.1.1993\ns 38\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 39 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 39(2)\namended by 17/2006 s 58\n4.9.2006\ns 39(3) and (4)\ndeleted by 64/1992 s 16\n1.1.1993\ns 39\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 40 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 40(1)\namended by 64/1992 s 17(a)\n1.1.1993\n\namended by 17/2006 s 59\n4.9.2006\ns 40(6)\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 17(b)\n1.1.1993\ns 40(7)\ninserted by 64/1992 s 17(b)\n1.1.1993\nss 40—45\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 46 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 46(1)\namended by 64/1992 s 18(a)\n1.1.1993\ns 46(3)\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 18(b)\n1.1.1993\nss 46—49\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\nPt 6\n\n\nheading\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 7\n1.1.2012\nss 50—52\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 53 before deletion by 32/2011\n\n\ns 53(1)\namended by 64/1992 s 19(a), (b)\n1.1.1993\n\namended by 17/2006 s 60(1)\n4.9.2006\ns 53(2)\namended by 64/1992 s 19(c)\n1.1.1993\n\namended by 17/2006 s 60(2)\n4.9.2006\ns 53(3)\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 19(d)\n1.1.1993\ns 53(4)\ndeleted by 64/1992 s 19(d)\n1.1.1993\ns 53\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 54\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 20\n1.1.1993\n\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 55\nsubstituted by 64/1992 s 21\n1.1.1993\n\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\nPt 7\n\n\nheading\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 7\n1.1.2012\ns 56\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 4\n1.1.2012\ns 57—see s 4\n\n\nSch\nomitted under Legislation Revision and Publication Act 2002\n4.9.2006\nSch 1\ninserted by 41/2006 s 27\n1.4.2007\nheading\ndeleted by 32/2011 Sch 1 cl 7\n1.1.2012\ncll 1 and 2—see ss 2 and 3\n\n\nTransitional etc provisions associated with Act or amendments\nCommercial Arbitration (Uniform Provisions) Amendment Act 1992\n22—Transitional provisions\n\t(1)\tSubject to this section, the amendments made by this Act apply in relation to an arbitration agreement (whenever made) and an arbitration under such an agreement.\n\t(2)\tThe amendment made by section 9 of this Act does not apply in relation to arbitration proceedings that were commenced before the commencement of the amendment.\n\t(3)\tSection 26 of the principal Act as in force before the commencement of this Act continues to apply in relation to—\n\t(a)\tan order made under that section before that commencement; or\n\t(b)\tan application pending under that section immediately before that commencement.\nStatutes Amendment (South Australian Employment Tribunal) Act 2016\n109—Transitional provisions\n\t(1)\tIn this section—\nprincipal Act means the Industrial Referral Agreements Act 1986;\nrelevant day means the day on which this Part comes into operation;\nTribunal means the South Australian Employment Tribunal.\n\t(2)\tA decision, direction, determination or order of the Industrial Relations Commission of South Australia under the principal Act in force immediately before the relevant day will, on and from the relevant day, be taken to be a decision, direction, determination or order of the Tribunal.\n\t(3)\tA right to take action with respect to any matter in existence before the relevant day, with the effect that the relevant proceedings would have been commenced before the Industrial Relations Commission of South Australia under the principal Act, will be exercised as if this Part had been in operation before the right arose, so that the relevant proceedings may be commenced instead before the Tribunal.\n\t(4)\tAny proceedings before the Industrial Relations Commission of South Australia under the principal Act immediately before the relevant day will, subject to such directions as the President of the Tribunal thinks fit, be transferred to the Tribunal where they may proceed as if they had been commenced before that Tribunal.\n\t(5)\tThe Tribunal may—\n\t(a)\treceive in evidence any transcript of evidence in proceedings before the Industrial Relations Commission, and draw any conclusions of fact from that evidence that appear proper; and\n\t(b)\tadopt any findings or determinations of the Industrial Relations Commission that may be relevant to proceedings before the Tribunal; and\n\t(c)\tadopt or make any decision (including a decision in the nature of a determination), direction or order in relation to proceedings before the Industrial Relations Commission before the relevant day (including so as to make a decision or determination, or a direction or order, in relation to proceedings fully heard before the relevant day); and\n\t(d)\ttake other steps to promote or ensure the smoothest possible transition from 1 jurisdiction to another in connection with the operation of this section.\nHistorical versions\nReprint No 1—1.1.1993\n\n4.9.2006\n\n1.4.2007\n\n10.12.2011\n\n1.1.2012\n\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope cannot be assessed — the actual text of the Industrial Referral Agreements Act 1986 (SA) was not returned by the provided URL. A broken page from the SA legislation website was supplied instead."},"complexity_factors":["No legislative text was retrievable — the source URL returned a 404 error page rather than the Act's content","Complexity cannot be meaningfully assessed without access to the actual provisions of the legislation","Score of 1 reflects absence of content to analyse, not simplicity of the underlying Act"],"plain_english_summary":"**No legislation could be analysed.**\n\nThe link provided did not return the actual text of the *Industrial Referral Agreements Act 1986* (SA). Instead, it returned a **404 \"Page Not Found\" error** from the South Australian legislation website, likely because the URL was created before a website update on 24 March 2026 and is now broken.\n\n**What this means for you:** No meaningful legal analysis of this Act can be provided based on the content supplied. To access the actual legislation, try:\n- Visiting [www.legislation.sa.gov.au](https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au) and searching for the Act by name\n- Updating any old bookmarks as advised on the error page\n- Contacting the SA Office of Parliamentary Counsel at OPCWeb@sa.gov.au if the Act cannot be located"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The legislative history shows the Act was formerly the Commercial Arbitration Act 1986 and has been heavily amended and retitled. Its present form is focused on written industrial referral agreements to SAET and cross-links enforcement and procedure to the Fair Work Act 1994 and the South Australian Employment Tribunal Act 2014. Numerous earlier provisions were repealed or transferred by subsequent amendments, narrowing and refocusing the Act onto industrial referral mechanisms (see 'Formerly Commercial Arbitration Act 1986' and amendment entries, and ss 2 and 3 as currently drafted)."},"complexity_factors":["Cross-references to external legislation (Fair Work Act 1994; South Australian Employment Tribunal Act 2014) create dependencies and require reading multiple statutes to understand scope and enforcement (s2; s3(6), s3(7), s3(10)).","Broad tribunal discretion to define referral scope, interpret agreement terms, and to suspend, discontinue or decline referrals adds legal uncertainty (s3(12); s3(13)).","Multiple modes of tribunal involvement (conciliation, mediation, arbitration, recommendations, binding determinations) increase procedural permutations parties can choose or contest (s3(4)).","Regulations and tribunal rules may modify application and procedure, creating delegated complexity and variability (s3(5); s3(7); s4).","Binding effect and enforceability under a separate statute mean practical remedies and enforcement mechanisms sit outside this Act (s3(10)).","Restrictions on withdrawal after referral and ability to make determinations final and unreviewable limit post-referral options and raise strategic stakes for parties (s3(14); s3(18)).","Extensive amendment and repeal history — including renaming from Commercial Arbitration Act and deletions of many original provisions — require attention to transitional provisions and historical context to determine current effect (Legislative history; Transitional provisions)."],"plain_english_summary":"The Act lets two or more parties sign a written referral agreement to ask the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET) to resolve industrial matters or disputes — for example pay, employment conditions or whether a dismissal was harsh, unjust or unreasonable. SAET can conciliate, mediate, arbitrate, make recommendations or issue determinations agreed to by the parties; those determinations are binding and enforceable under the Fair Work Act. It affects employers, employees, registered associations and the United Trades and Labor Council and changes how disputes may be submitted and finalised."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The legislation has undergone significant scope reduction. Originally enacted as the Commercial Arbitration Act 1986, it covered both commercial arbitration and industrial disputes. The 2011 amendments removed all commercial arbitration provisions (Parts 2-7, sections 4-56) to a separate Commercial Arbitration Act 2011, leaving only the industrial referral provisions. The 2016 amendments then transferred jurisdiction from the Industrial Relations Commission to the South Australian Employment Tribunal. What began as a broad commercial and industrial arbitration statute is now a narrow, specialized industrial dispute resolution mechanism."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to other Acts (Fair Work Act 1994 and South Australian Employment Tribunal Act 2014)","Nested conditional provisions (subsections 14-15 dealing with appeals and finality)","Incorporation of external rules and regulations by reference","Non-sequential section numbering (missing subsections 8, 11, etc.) indicating legislative history complexity","Transitional provisions requiring understanding of predecessor bodies (Industrial Relations Commission)","Multiple amendment layers visible in legislative history (1986, 1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2016)"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act creates a system for resolving workplace disputes in South Australia through voluntary agreements. Here's what it does:\n\n**The basic idea**\nEmployers and employees (or their representatives) can sign a written agreement called a \"referral agreement\" to take a workplace dispute to SAET (the South Australian Employment Tribunal) for help resolving it.\n\n**What kinds of disputes?**\n- Disagreements about pay, working conditions, or other employment terms\n- Disputes about whether someone was paid correctly or whether employment conditions were breached\n- Claims that someone was fired unfairly (harsh, unjust, or unreasonable dismissal)\n\n**Who can use this?**\n- Individual employers or groups of employers\n- Individual employees or groups of employees\n- Registered unions or employer associations\n- The United Trades and Labor Council\n\n**What can SAET do?**\nDepending on what the parties agree in their referral agreement, SAET can:\n- Act as a **conciliator** (help parties reach agreement through discussion)\n- Act as a **mediator** (facilitate negotiations)\n- Act as an **arbitrator** (hear evidence and make a binding decision)\n- Make recommendations\n- Make binding orders or determinations\n\n**Key features**\n- **Binding decisions**: Once SAET makes a decision, the parties must follow it, and it can be enforced like other tribunal decisions\n- **Flexibility**: Parties can agree on the scope of what SAET can decide\n- **No backing out**: Once a referral is made, a party can't withdraw without written agreement from the other side\n- **Amendments allowed**: The agreement can be changed if all parties agree\n- **SAET can refuse**: The tribunal can decline to hear a matter if it thinks it should go elsewhere, if other proceedings have started, or for other good reasons\n\n**Why it matters**\nThis provides a streamlined, consensual way to resolve workplace conflicts without going through more formal or adversarial processes. It gives parties control over how their dispute is handled while ensuring the outcome is enforceable."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/industrial-referral-agreements-act-1986","history":"/api/acts/industrial-referral-agreements-act-1986/history","analysis":"/api/acts/industrial-referral-agreements-act-1986/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/industrial-referral-agreements-act-1986/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/industrial-referral-agreements-act-1986/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/industrial-referral-agreements-act-1986/documents"}}