{"id":"outworkers-improved-protection-act-2003","name":"Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003","slug":"outworkers-improved-protection-act-2003","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":174179,"registerId":"vic-outworkers-improved-protection-act-2003-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003","content":"Version No. 021\n\n**Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003**\n\n**No. 22 of 2003**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n1 November 2018\n\n**table of provisions**\n\n*Section Page*\n\nPart 1—Preliminary 1\n\n1 Purposes 1\n\n2 Commencement 1\n\n3 Definitions 1\n\nPart 2—Protection of outworkers 7\n\nDivision 1—Outworkers as employees 7\n\n4 Outworkers are employees for the purposes of certain laws 7\n\nDivision 2—Unpaid remuneration 8\n\n5 Definitions 8\n\n6 Claims by outworkers for unpaid remuneration 9\n\n7 Liability of apparent employer for unpaid remuneration for which an unpaid remuneration claim has been made 9\n\n8 Liability of actual employer for unpaid remuneration for which an unpaid remuneration claim has been made 10\n\n9 Recovery of amount of unpaid remuneration 11\n\n10 Offences relating to unpaid remuneration claims and referred claims 11\n\n11 Effect of sections 5 to 10 12\n\n12 Liability of principal contractor for remuneration payable to outworkers of subcontractor 12\n\n13 Written statements for the purposes of section 12 13\n\n14 Operation of section 12 14\n\nDivision 3—Minimum conditions 14\n\n14A Minimum conditions for outworkers 14\n\nPart 3—Ensuring ethical clothing industry outwork practices 17\n\nDivision 1—Ethical Clothing Trades Council of Victoria 17\n\n15 Establishment and functions 17\n\n16 Membership 19\n\n17 Chairperson 20\n\n18 Constitution and procedure 20\n\n19 Quarterly reports 20\n\n20 Report on implementation of ethical outwork practices 21\n\n21 Assistance for Council 22\n\nDivision 2—Mandatory code of practice 22\n\n22 When can a mandatory code of practice be made? 22\n\n23 What can the mandatory code contain? 23\n\n24 How is the mandatory code made? 23\n\n25 Effect of the mandatory code 23\n\n26 Variation and revocation 24\n\n27 Availability of the mandatory code 24\n\n28 Competition policy authorisation 24\n\n29 Exemptions 25\n\nPart 4—Compliance 26\n\nDivision 1—Information services officers 26\n\n30 What are the functions of information services officers? 26\n\n31 Appointment of information services officers 26\n\n32 Identity cards 27\n\n33 Police to assist information services officers 27\n\n34 When may powers be exercised? 27\n\n35 Power of entry 28\n\n36 Powers on entry 30\n\n37 Power to require production of documents 31\n\n38 Retention of documents 31\n\n39 Confidentiality 31\n\nDivision 2—Entry and inspection by union officials 32\n\n40 Definitions and purpose of Division 32\n\n41 Investigating suspected contraventions of Act 33\n\n42 Discussions with outworkers 34\n\n43 Conduct not authorised under sections 41 and 42 35\n\n44 Entry with Court order 35\n\n45 Issue of permits 36\n\n46 Revocation of permits 37\n\n47 Conduct attracting civil penalties 38\n\n48 Civil penalties 39\n\n49 Application and enforcement of civil penalties 39\n\nDivision 3—Victimisation 40\n\n50 Prohibition of victimisation 40\n\nDivision 4—Other offences 40\n\n51 Failing to produce documents, hindering information services officers and giving them false information 40\n\n52 Protection against self-incrimination 41\n\n53 Impersonation of information services officer 41\n\nDivision 5—Prosecutions, evidence and recovery of money 42\n\n54 Proceedings for offences to be brought in Industrial Division of the Magistrates' Court 42\n\n55 Who can prosecute under this Act? 42\n\n56 Judicial notice of signatures 43\n\n58 Conduct of agents imputed to corporations 44\n\n59 Reverse onus of proof in certain cases 44\n\n60 Recovery of money owed 44\n\n61 Court may order payment of arrears on finding of guilt 45\n\n62 Representation in Magistrates' Court proceedings 46\n\n63 Proceedings by and against unincorporated clubs 47\n\nPart 5—General 48\n\n64 Review of Act 48\n\n65 Regulations 48\n\nSchedule 50\n\nEndnotes 56\n\n1 General information 56\n\n2 Table of Amendments 58\n\n3 Amendments Not in Operation 61\n\n4 Explanatory details 62\n\n**Version No.** **021**\n\n**Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003**\n\n**No. 22 of 2003**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n1 November 2018\n\n**The Parliament of Victoria enacts as follows:**\n\nPart 1—Preliminary\n\n\t1 Purposes\n\nThe main purposes of this Act are—\n\n(a) to improve the protection of outworkers in the clothing industry;\n\n(b) to establish an Ethical Clothing Trades Council of Victoria.\n\n\t2 Commencement\n\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act comes into operation on a day or days to be proclaimed.\n\n(2) If a provision of this Act does not come into operation before 1 January 2004, it comes into operation on that day.\n\n\t3 Definitions\n\nIn this Act—\n\nS. 3 def. of *Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard* inserted by No. 40/2007 s. 3, substituted by No. 24/2009 s. 19(1)(a).\n\n***Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard*** means  the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard that continues in existence under the Fair Work Transition Act;\n\nS. 3 def. of *clothing industry* inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 4(1)(a).\n\n***clothing industry*** means the industry including wholly or partly designing, preparing, manufacturing, processing or finishing, or wholly or partly controlling, managing or supervising the designing, preparing, manufacturing, processing or finishing, of any type of garment, apparel or articles (such as aprons, all descriptions of whitework, including napery, sheets, pillow slips, pillow shams, diapers, handkerchiefs, towels, chenille bedspreads, mosquito nets, chenille bath mats, and when made into clothing or whitework establishment cot covers, blankets or bedspreads, scarves, collars, cuffs, neckware, muffs, rugs and mats such as are made in the establishment of a furrier from furred, haired or woollen skins, hats, caps, bonnets, berets or any other kind of headwear, umbrellas or parasols or the like), whether inside or outside of a factory or workroom;\n\n***clothing work*** means packing, processing or working on articles or material in the clothing industry;\n\n***Code of Practice Committee*** means the committee described in clause 5 of Part 2 of the Homeworkers Code;\n\nS. 3 def. of *common rule order* repealed by No. 24/2009 s. 19(1)(b).\n\n* * * * *\n\nS. 3 def. of *Common-wealth Act* repealed by No. 24/2009 s. 19(1)(c).\n\n* * * * *\n\nS. 3 def. of *Common-wealth Fair Work Act* inserted by No. 24/2009 s. 19(2).\n\n***Commonwealth Fair Work Act*** means the Fair Work Act 2009 of the Commonwealth;\n\n***Council*** means Ethical Clothing Trades Council of Victoria established by section 15;\n\nS. 3 def. of *Department* amended by No. 43/2012 s. 3(Sch. item 37).\n\n***Department*** means Department of Business and Innovation;\n\n***employer***—\n\n(a) includes—\n\n(i) a person who is usually an employer; and\n\n(ii) an unincorporated club;\n\n(b) in Division 2 of Part 2, does not include a person whose sole business in connection with the clothing industry is the sale of clothing by retail;\n\n**Note**\n\nSection 4(1)(b) provides that a person who engages an outworker is an employer.\n\nS. 3 def. of *Fair Work Transition Act* inserted by No. 24/2009 s. 19(2).\n\n***Fair Work Transition Act*** means the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 of the Commonwealth;\n\nS. 3 def. of *federal award* substituted by No. 24/2009 s. 19(1)(d).\n\n***federal award*** means—\n\n(a) an award that is a transitional instrument that continues in existence under the Fair Work Transition Act;\n\n(b) a transitional award or common rule that continues in existence under the Fair Work Transition Act;\n\n(c) any other award-based transitional instrument under the Fair Work Transition Act;\n\n(d) any award that is taken to be a modern award under the Fair Work Transition Act;\n\n(e) any other modern award, within the meaning of the Commonwealth Fair Work Act;\n\n***Homeworkers Code*** means the agreement, known as the Homeworkers Code of Practice, containing two parts and Part 2 of which was signed on behalf of the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, the Council of the Textile and Fashion Industries Ltd, the Australian Chamber of Manufactures and the Australian Business Chamber and various individual companies in 1997;\n\n***information services officer*** means a person appointed under section 31;\n\nS. 3 def. of *interested organisation* amended by No. 24/2009 s. 19(1)(e).\n\n***interested organisation*** means an organisation (other than within the meaning in this Act) that is representative of a significant number of employers in an industry or a range of industries;\n\n***lawful entitlements*** of an outworker means the entitlements conferred on the outworker by law, including any entitlements conferred by or under relevant industrial legislation or any other legislation;\n\n***mandatory code*** means the code of practice (if any) in force under Division 2 of Part 3;\n\n***member*** of the Council includes the chairperson;\n\nS. 3 def. of *National Employment Standards* inserted by No. 24/2009 s. 19(2).\n\n***National Employment Standards*** has the same meaning as in the Commonwealth Fair Work Act;\n\nS. 3 def. of *organisation* inserted by No. 24/2009 s. 19(2).\n\n***organisation***  has the same meaning as in the Commonwealth Fair Work Act;\n\n***outwork*** means clothing work contracted to be performed outside the contractor's factory or workshop;\n\nS. 3 def. of *outwork document* amended by No. 24/2009 s. 19(1)(f).\n\n***outwork document*** means a document relating to the contracting out of clothing work and includes a document that is required to be kept by an employer or contractor by or under relevant industrial legislation;\n\nS. 3 def. of *outworker* amended by No. 9/2005 s. 4(1)(b).\n\n***outworker*** means a person engaged, in or about a private residence or other premises that are not necessarily business or commercial premises, to perform clothing work;\n\nS. 3 def. of *payment of wages provisions* inserted by No. 24/2009 s. 19(2).\n\n***payment of wages provisions*** means Division 2 of Part 2-9 of the Commonwealth Fair Work Act;\n\n***peak body*** means a body that is representative of a significant number of organisations representing employers, employees or outworkers in an industry or a range of industries;\n\nS. 3 def. of *police officer* inserted by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 120.1).\n\n***police officer*** has the same meaning as in the **Victoria Police Act 2013**;\n\nS. 3 def. of *registered organisation* repealed by No. 24/2009 s. 19(1)(g).\n\n* * * * *\n\nS. 3 def. of *relevant industrial legislation* amended by No. 12/2018 s. 60(1).\n\n***relevant industrial legislation*** means—\n\n(a) this Act;\n\n(b) the **Long Service Leave Act 2018**;\n\n(c) the **Public Holidays Act 1993**;\n\n(d) regulations and other subordinate instruments made under an Act specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c);\n\n***Secretary*** means Secretary to the Department;\n\n***subordinate instrument*** has the meaning given by section 3 of the **Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984**.\n\nPart 2—Protection of outworkers\n\nDivision 1—Outworkers as employees\n\n\t4 Outworkers are employees for the purposes of certain laws\n\n(1) For the purposes of the laws specified in subsection (2)—\n\n(a) an outworker is an employee;\n\n(b) a person who engages an outworker is an employer;\n\n(c) the contract between an outworker and a person who engages him or her is a contract of employment;\n\n(d) the conditions on or under which an outworker performs work are conditions of employment;\n\n(e) the relationship between an outworker and a person who engages him or her is an employment relationship.\n\n(2) The laws referred to in subsection (1) are—\n\n(a) this Act;\n\nS. 4(2)(b) repealed by No. 24/2009 s. 20(1).\n\n* * * * *\n\nS. 4(2)(c) substituted by No. 12/2018 s. 60(2).\n\n(c) the **Long Service Leave Act 2018**;\n\nS. 4(2)(d) amended by No. 107/2004 s. 182.\n\n(d) the **Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004**;\n\n(e) the **Public Holidays Act 1993**;\n\nS. 4(2)(ea) inserted by No. 71/2007 s. 27(1), repealed by No. 24/2009 s. 20(2).\n\n* * * * *\n\nS. 4(2)(f) amended by Nos 71/2007 s. 27(2), 24/2009 s. 20(3).\n\n(f) regulations and other subordinate instruments made under an Act specified in paragraph (a), (c), (d) or (e).\n\nDivision 2—Unpaid remuneration\n\nS. 5 amended by No. 9/2005 s. 4(2) (ILA s. 39B(1)).\n\n\t5 Definitions\n\n(1) In this Division—\n\n***remuneration*** includes—\n\n(a) any remuneration or other amount, including commission, payable in relation to work done by an outworker;\n\n(b) amounts payable to an outworker in respect of annual leave or long service leave;\n\n(c) an amount for which an outworker is entitled to be reimbursed or compensated for an expense incurred or loss sustained by the outworker;\n\n***unpaid remuneration claim*** means a claim for unpaid remuneration under section 6.\n\nS. 5(2) inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 4(2).\n\n(2) For the avoidance of doubt, a reference in this Division to remuneration includes a reference to any amount to which an outworker is entitled in accordance with section 14A(1).\n\n\t6 Claims by outworkers for unpaid remuneration\n\n(1) An outworker may make a claim under this section for any unpaid remuneration against the person the outworker believes is his or her employer (the ***apparent employer***) if the employer has not paid the outworker all or any of the remuneration for work done by the outworker for the employer (the ***unpaid remuneration***).\n\n(2) The claim must be made within 6 months after the work is completed.\n\n(3) The claim is to be made by serving a written notice on the apparent employer that—\n\n(a) claims payment of the unpaid remuneration; and\n\n(b) sets out the following particulars—\n\n(i) the name of the outworker;\n\n(ii) the address at which the outworker may be contacted;\n\n(iii) a description of the work done;\n\n(iv) the date on which the work was done;\n\n(v) the amount of unpaid remuneration claimed in respect of the work.\n\n(4) The particulars set out in the unpaid remuneration claim must be verified by statutory declaration.\n\n(5) This section applies only in respect of remuneration for work carried out after the commencement of this section.\n\n\t7 Liability of apparent employer for unpaid remuneration for which an unpaid remuneration claim has been made\n\n(1) Except as provided by subsection (4), an apparent employer served with an unpaid remuneration claim under section 6 is liable (subject to any proceedings as referred to in section 9) for the amount of unpaid remuneration claimed.\n\n(2) An apparent employer may, within 14 days after being served with an unpaid remuneration claim, refer the claim in accordance with this section to another person the apparent employer knows or has reasonable grounds to believe is the person for whom the work was done (the ***actual employer***).\n\n(3) An apparent employer refers an unpaid remuneration claim in accordance with this section by—\n\n(a) advising the outworker concerned in writing of the name and address of the actual employer; and\n\n(b) serving a copy of the claim (a ***referred claim***) on the actual employer.\n\n(4) The apparent employer is not liable for the whole or any part of an amount of unpaid remuneration claimed for which the actual employer served with a referred claim accepts liability in accordance with section 8.\n\nS. 7(5) inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 5.\n\n(5) An apparent employer cannot refer an unpaid remuneration claim under this section to a person that is a business or body corporate owned or managed by the outworker who made the claim.\n\n\t8 Liability of actual employer for unpaid remuneration for which an unpaid remuneration claim has been made\n\n(1) An actual employer served with a referred claim under section 7 may, within 14 days after the service, accept liability for the whole or any part of the amount of unpaid remuneration claimed by paying it to the outworker concerned.\n\n(2) An actual employer who accepts liability must serve notice in writing on the apparent employer of that acceptance and of the amount paid.\n\n(3) If the apparent employer has paid to the outworker concerned any part of the amount of unpaid remuneration claimed for which the actual employer served with the referred claim has not accepted liability, the apparent employer may deduct or set-off the amount the apparent employer has paid to the outworker from any amount that the apparent employer owes to the actual employer (whether or not in respect of work the subject of the referred claim).\n\n\t9 Recovery of amount of unpaid remuneration\n\n(1) Sections 60 and 61 apply to recovery of an amount payable to an outworker from an apparent employer who fails to make a payment in respect of an amount of unpaid remuneration for which the employer is liable under section 7.\n\n(2) In proceedings referred to in subsection (1), an order for the apparent employer to pay the amount concerned must be made unless the apparent employer proves that the work was not done or that the amount claimed for the work in the unpaid remuneration claim is not the correct amount in respect of the work.\n\n\t10 Offences relating to unpaid remuneration claims and referred claims\n\nA person must not—\n\n(a) make any statement that the person knows is false or misleading in a material particular in any referred claim under section 7 or any notice served for the purposes of section 8; or\n\n(b) serve a referred claim on a person under section 7 that the person does not know, or have reasonable grounds to believe, is an actual employer.\n\n1. 120 penalty units.\n\n\n\t11 Effect of sections 5 to 10\n\nS. 11(1) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 21.\n\n(1) Sections 5 to 10 do not limit or exclude any other rights of recovery of remuneration of an outworker, or any liability of any person with respect to the remuneration of an outworker, whether or not arising under this Act or any other law.\n\n**Note**\n\nAn outworker may, for example, seek an order from the Magistrates' Court under section 60 instead of making an unpaid remuneration claim under section 6.\n\n(2) Nothing in section 8(3) limits or excludes any right of recovery arising under any other law with respect to any amount of money owed by the apparent employer to the actual employer.\n\n\t12 Liability of principal contractor for remuneration payable to outworkers of subcontractor\n\n(1) This section applies where—\n\n(a) a person (the ***principal contractor***) has entered into a contract for the carrying out of work by another person (the ***subcontractor***); and\n\n(b) outworkers employed or engaged by that subcontractor are engaged in carrying out the work (the ***relevant outworkers***); and\n\n(c) the work is carried out in connection with a business undertaking of the principal contractor.\n\n(2) The principal contractor is liable for the payment of any remuneration of the relevant outworkers that has not been paid for work done in connection with the contract during any period of the contract unless the principal contractor has a written statement given by the subcontractor under this section for that period of the contract.\n\n(3) The principal contractor may withhold any payment due to the subcontractor under the contract until the subcontractor gives a written statement under this section for any period up to the date of the statement. Any penalty for late payment under the contract does not apply to any payment withheld under this subsection.\n\nS. 12(4) amended by No. 9/2005 s. 6(1).\n\n(4) Sections 60 and 61 apply to the recovery of remuneration payable by a principal contractor under this section as if a reference in those sections to an employer were a reference to the principal contractor.\n\n\t13 Written statements for the purposes of section 12\n\n(1) The written statement referred to in section 12 is a statement by the subcontractor that all remuneration payable to relevant outworkers for work under the contract done during that period has been paid.\n\n(2) The regulations may prescribe the form and content of the written statement.\n\n(3) The subcontractor must keep a copy of any written statement under this section for at least 6 years after it was given.\n\n(4) The written statement is not effective to relieve the principal contractor of liability under section 12 if the principal contractor had, when given the statement, reason to believe it was false.\n\n(5) A subcontractor must not give the principal contractor a written statement knowing it to be false.\n\n1. 120 penalty units.\n\n\n\t14 Operation of section 12\n\n(1) Section 12 does not apply in relation to a contract if the subcontractor is in receivership or in the course of being wound up or, in the case of an individual, is bankrupt and if payments made under the contract are made to the receiver, liquidator or trustee in bankruptcy.\n\nS. 14(2) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 22.\n\n(2) Nothing in section 12 or this section limits or excludes any liability with respect to payment of remuneration by a person who is a principal contractor arising under this Act or any other law.\n\nS. 14(3) inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 6(2).\n\n(3) A principal contractor is not excluded from liability for the payment of any remuneration of a relevant outworker under section 12 only because the subcontractor is a business or body corporate owned or managed by the relevant outworker.\n\nPt. 2 Div. 3 (Heading and s. 14A) inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 7.\n\nDivision 3—Minimum conditions\n\nS. 14A inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 7.\n\n\t14A Minimum conditions for outworkers\n\nS. 14A(1) substituted by No. 40/2007 s. 4(1).\n\n(1) An outworker engaged by a person is entitled to the same benefits, terms and conditions as he or she would, if he or she were an employee of the person, have under—\n\nS. 14A(1)(a) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 23(1)(a).\n\n(a) any federal award applicable to the clothing industry if the person were bound by the award or the award applied to the person; and\n\nS. 14A(1)(b) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 23(1)(b).\n\n(b) the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard; and\n\nS. 14A(1)(c) inserted by No. 24/2009 s. 23(2).\n\n(c) the National Employment Standards; and\n\nS. 14A(1)(d) inserted by No. 24/2009 s. 23(2).\n\n(d) the payment of wages provisions.\n\nS. 14A(2) substituted by No. 40/2007 s. 4(2).\n\n(2) A person who engages an outworker must not provide a benefit, term or condition of engagement to the outworker that is less than a benefit, term or condition that, if the outworker were an employee of the person, would apply under—\n\nS. 14A(2)(a) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 23(3)(a).\n\n(a) any federal award applicable to the clothing industry if the person were bound by the award or the award applied to the person; and\n\nS. 14A(2)(b) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 23(3)(b).\n\n(b) the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard; and\n\nS. 14A(2)(c) inserted by No. 24/2009 s. 23(4).\n\n(c) the National Employment Standards; and\n\nS. 14A(2)(d) inserted by No. 24/2009 s. 23(4).\n\n(d) the payment of wages provisions.\n\n1. 120 penalty units.\n\n\nS. 14A(3) amended by No. 40/2007 s. 4(3).\n\n(3) An entitlement otherwise conferred by subsection (1) or an obligation otherwise imposed by subsection (2) does not apply if the same kind of entitlement or obligation is conferred or imposed by or under a federal award or an Act of the Commonwealth.\n\nPart 3—Ensuring ethical clothing industry outwork practices\n\nDivision 1—Ethical Clothing Trades Council of Victoria\n\n\t15 Establishment and functions\n\n(1) The Ethical Clothing Trades Council of Victoria is established.\n\n(2) The Council has the functions conferred on it by or under this or any other Act.\n\n(3) In particular, and without limiting subsection (2), the Council has the following functions in relation to the clothing industry—\n\n(a) to advise and make recommendations to the Minister generally on the industry and outwork practices in the industry, including the impact of developments in the industry on outworkers;\n\n(b) to advise the Minister on the level of compliance of sectors of the industry with their obligations (whether or not voluntarily undertaken) to ensure that outworkers receive their lawful entitlements;\n\n(c) to make recommendations about the means by which compliance with those obligations might be encouraged and enforced;\n\n(d) to foster the adoption and observance of self‑regulatory mechanisms, such as the Homeworkers Code and other voluntary industry agreements, through consultation with the Code of Practice Committee, industry retailers and manufacturers, relevant industrial organisations and other interested persons and bodies;\n\n(e) to support changes to the Homeworkers Code that the Council considers might increase its effectiveness in ensuring that outworkers receive their lawful entitlements;\n\n(f) to promote, as may be appropriate, the Homeworkers Code, any similar voluntary industry code and any code made under this Act, and persons who comply with those codes;\n\n(g) to facilitate consultation between industry retailers and relevant industrial organisations concerning the making and implementation of voluntary agreements relating to outwork practices in the industry;\n\n(h) to conduct education programs and disseminate information relating to outworkers and the industry;\n\n(i) to advise and make recommendations to the Minister on the operation, and any amendment to or revocation of, the mandatory code (if in force) and the scope of any exemptions that should be given by the regulations;\n\n(j) to make the reports referred to in this Division.\n\n(4) The Council may provide advice, and make recommendations, to the Minister even though the Minister has not requested it to do so.\n\n(5) In performing its functions, the Council—\n\n(a) must consider, where relevant, anything done or published by the Ethical Clothing Trades Council of New South Wales; and\n\n(b) is subject to the control and direction of the Minister, except in relation to any report given to the Minister under this Division.\n\n\t16 Membership\n\n(1) The Council consists of the following 7 part‑time members appointed by the Minister—\n\n(a) a chairperson;\n\n(b) a person appointed from a list of 3 names submitted by the Australian Retailers Association, Victorian Division;\n\n(c) a person appointed from a list of 3 names submitted by the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry;\n\n(d) a person appointed from a list of 3 names submitted by the Australian Industry Group, Victorian Branch;\n\n(e) a person appointed from a list of 3 names submitted by the Victorian Trades Hall Council;\n\n(f) a person appointed from a list of 3 names submitted by the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (Victorian Branch);\n\n(g) a person having the experience or skills in the clothing industry that the Minister considers will enable the person to make a contribution to the work of the Council or who is chosen by the Minister to represent consumer, community or other interests.\n\n(2) If a list for the purposes of subsection (1)(b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) is not submitted within the time or in the manner directed by the Minister, the Minister may appoint a person to be a member instead of the member required to be appointed, being a person who in the Minister's opinion is suitably representative of the persons represented by the body referred to in that paragraph.\n\n\t17 Chairperson\n\n(1) The Minister may appoint as chairperson a person who the Minister considers has a sufficient knowledge of outwork practices in the clothing industry to ensure that the work of the Council is efficiently performed.\n\n(2) The chairperson must not be a person who represents an employer, employees or outworkers in the clothing industry or a person who has a direct financial interest in the clothing industry.\n\n\t18 Constitution and procedure\n\nThe Schedule has effect with respect to the Council.\n\n\t19 Quarterly reports\n\n(1) The Council must—\n\n(a) monitor whether outworkers are receiving their lawful entitlements; and\n\n(b) make quarterly written reports to the Minister on its findings.\n\n(2) The Council must report on, and may include recommendations with respect to, the following matters in a quarterly report—\n\n(a) activities of clothing industry retailers and manufacturers in relation to their obligations under the Homeworkers Code;\n\n(b) participation by clothing industry retailers in voluntary agreements relating to outwork practices in the industry;\n\n(c) activities of clothing industry retailers and manufacturers in relation to their obligations under the mandatory code (if in force).\n\n(3) The first quarterly report for the purposes of this section is to be made as soon as practicable after the end of 3 months after the commencement of this section.\n\n(4) The Minister may waive the requirement that the Council make a quarterly report for any period specified by the Minister.\n\n\t20 Report on implementation of ethical outwork practices\n\n(1) The Council must—\n\n(a) evaluate action (whether voluntary or otherwise) taken by the clothing industry during the period of 12 months after the commencement of this section to improve compliance in the industry with obligations to ensure outworkers receive their lawful entitlements; and\n\n(b) report to the Minister on its findings.\n\n(2) The report must include the Council's recommendation as to—\n\n(a) whether, if a mandatory code were made, it would improve compliance; and\n\n(b) the content of the code, including appropriate compliance mechanisms.\n\n(3) The Council must forward the report to the Minister as soon as practicable after the end of the 12 month period.\n\n(4) As soon as practicable after receiving the report—\n\n(a) the Minister must cause it to be laid before each House of Parliament; or\n\n(b) if a House is not sitting when the Minister seeks to comply with paragraph (a), the Minister must give the report to the clerk of that House.\n\n(5) The clerk of a House must—\n\n(a) give a copy of the report to each member of the House as soon as practicable after the report is received under subsection (4)(b); and\n\n(b) cause the report to be laid before the House on the next sitting day of the House.\n\n(6) A report that is given to the clerk of a House under subsection (4)(b) is taken to have been published by order, or under the authority, of the House.\n\n\t21 Assistance for Council\n\nThe Council may, with the approval of the Minister, arrange for the use of the services of any staff (by secondment or otherwise) or facilities of a government department.\n\nDivision 2—Mandatory code of practice\n\n\t22 When can a mandatory code of practice be made?\n\n(1) The Minister may make a mandatory code of practice for the purpose of ensuring that outworkers receive their lawful entitlements.\n\n(2) In particular, the Minister may make the code if he or she considers—\n\n(a) that current voluntary self-regulatory mechanisms are inadequate to achieve improvements in the level of compliance with obligations to ensure that outworkers receive their lawful entitlements; or\n\n(b) that persons engaged in the clothing industry are not attempting in good faith to negotiate improvements or extensions to those voluntary self-regulatory mechanisms.\n\n(3) The Minister may make the code only after considering a report of the Council under section 20 (report on implementation of ethical outwork practices).\n\n\t23 What can the mandatory code contain?\n\n(1) The mandatory code may require employers or other persons engaged in the clothing industry, or a sector of the clothing industry, specified or described in the code to adopt the standards of conduct and practice set out in the code with respect to outworkers.\n\n(2) The code may apply, adopt or incorporate  \n(with or without modification) a standard or other document prepared or published by a body specified in the code, as in force at a particular time or as in force from time to time.\n\n\t24 How is the mandatory code made?\n\n(1) The Minister makes the mandatory code by order published in the Government Gazette.\n\n(2) The code takes effect on the day the order is published or the later day specified in the order.\n\n\t25 Effect of the mandatory code\n\n(1) An employer or other person engaged in the clothing industry, or a sector of the clothing industry, specified or described in the mandatory code must not fail, without reasonable excuse, to adopt any standard of conduct or practice set out in the code with respect to outworkers that the employer or other person is required by the code to adopt.\n\n1. 120 penalty units.\n\n\nS. 25(2) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 24.\n\n(2) If there is an inconsistency between the provisions of the mandatory code and the provisions of a federal award, the provisions of the federal award that are applicable to outworkers prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.\n\n\t26 Variation and revocation\n\n(1) The Minister may, by order published in the Government Gazette, amend or revoke the mandatory code at any time.\n\n(2) Before amending or revoking the code, the Minister—\n\n(a) must consult the Council and consider any relevant report or recommendation made by it; and\n\n(b) may consult any other organisations or persons the Minister thinks appropriate.\n\n(3) If the Minister revokes the mandatory code, he or she may make another mandatory code in accordance with this Division.\n\n\t27 Availability of the mandatory code\n\nThe Secretary must ensure that copies of the mandatory code as amended from time to time are available for public inspection, without charge, at the principal office of the Department during ordinary office hours.\n\n\t28 Competition policy authorisation\n\n(1) This section takes effect on the day on which the mandatory code takes effect.\n\nS. 28(2) amended by No. 21/2012 s. 239(Sch. 6 item 31).\n\n(2) For the purposes of Part IV of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 of the Commonwealth and of the Competition Code, the following are specifically authorised—\n\n(a) any agreements entered into before or after the commencement of this section by persons in order to comply with any requirements imposed on them by the mandatory code;\n\n(b) the conduct of the persons in entering into those agreements;\n\n(c) the conduct of the persons in performing those agreements;\n\n(d) any thing done by persons in order to comply with any requirements imposed on them by the mandatory code.\n\nS. 28(3) amended by No. 21/2012 s. 239(Sch. 6 item 31).\n\n(3) Things authorised to be done by subsection (2) are authorised only to the extent (if any) that they would otherwise contravene Part IV of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 of the Commonwealth or the Competition Code.\n\n(4) In this section—\n\n***agreement*** includes a contract, arrangement or understanding.\n\n\t29 Exemptions\n\nThe regulations may exempt any person or body or class of persons or bodies from the operation of the mandatory code or from a specified provision of the code.\n\nPart 4—Compliance\n\nDivision 1—Information services officers\n\n\t30 What are the functions of information services officers?\n\n(1) The primary function of information services officers is to provide information about the operation of relevant industrial legislation to employers, employees, outworkers and other interested members of the community.\n\n(2) Information services officers also have the function of ensuring compliance with relevant industrial legislation, and any other functions conferred by or under this or any other Act.\n\nS. 31 amended by No. 108/2004 s. 117(1) (Sch. 3 item 147.1).\n\n\t31 Appointment of information services officers\n\nThe Secretary may, by instrument, appoint as an information services officer for the purposes of this Act a person employed under Part 3 of the **Public Administration Act 2004** who, in the Secretary's opinion—\n\n(a) is competent to perform the functions and exercise the powers of an information services officer; and\n\n(b) is of good repute, having regard to character, honesty and integrity; and\n\n(c) agrees in writing to perform the functions of an information services officer in accordance with the criteria established from time to time by the Secretary.\n\n\t32 Identity cards\n\n(1) Each information services officer must be issued with an identity card in the form approved by the Secretary.\n\n(2) The identity card must bear a photograph and the signature of the information services officer.\n\n(3) An information services officer must produce his or her identity card for inspection—\n\n(a) before exercising a power under this Division other than a requirement made by post, fax, e-mail or other electronic communication; and\n\n(b) at any time during the exercise of a power under this Division, if asked to do so.\n\n1. 10 penalty units.\n\n\n\t33 Police to assist information services officers\n\nS. 33(1) amended by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 120.2).\n\n(1) An information services officer may request the assistance of a police officer.\n\nS. 33(2) amended by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 120.2).\n\n(2) A police officer may assist an information services officer to take any action authorised by this Division.\n\n\t34 When may powers be exercised?\n\n(1) An information services officer may exercise powers under this Division only to the extent that it is reasonably necessary to do so for the purpose of determining compliance with relevant industrial legislation.\n\n(2) In exercising powers under this Division, an information services officer must—\n\n(a) cause as little inconvenience as possible; and\n\n(b) not remain on premises any longer than is reasonably necessary.\n\n\t35 Power of entry\n\n(1) At any time during working hours, an information services officer may without force enter—\n\n(a) any premises at which the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that outwork is being or has been performed; or\n\n(b) any premises, being a place of business at which the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that there are outwork documents that are relevant to the purpose of determining compliance with relevant industrial legislation.\n\n(2) If an owner or occupier of premises is present when an information services officer exercises a power of entry under this section, the officer must—\n\n(a) produce his or her identity card for inspection; and\n\n(b) inform the owner or occupier of the purpose of the entry.\n\n(3) If an information services officer exercises a power of entry under this section without the owner or occupier being present, the officer must—\n\n(a) on leaving the premises, leave a notice setting out—\n\n(i) the time of entry; and\n\n(ii) the purpose of entry; and\n\n(iii) a description of all things done while on the premises; and\n\n(iv) the time of departure; and\n\n(v) the procedure for contacting the officer for further details of the entry; and\n\n(b) post a copy of that notice—\n\n(i) to the owner of the premises, if the identity and address of that owner are known to the officer; and\n\n(ii) to the occupier of the premises, if the identity and address of the occupier are known to the officer.\n\n(4) An information services officer does not have authority to enter any part of premises used for residential purposes, unless—\n\n(a) the officer has, before the entry and in addition to complying with subsection (2), informed the occupier that he or she may refuse to consent to the entry; and\n\n(b) the occupier has consented to the entry.\n\n(5) If an occupier consents to an entry under subsection (4), the information services officer who requested consent must before entering the premises ask the occupier to sign an acknowledgment in the prescribed form stating—\n\n(a) that the occupier has been informed of the purpose of the entry; and\n\n(b) that the occupier has been informed that he or she may refuse to consent to the entry; and\n\n(c) that the occupier has consented to the entry; and\n\n(d) the date and time that the occupier consented.\n\n(6) An occupier who signs an acknowledgment must be given a copy of the signed acknowledgment before the information services officer leaves the premises.\n\n(7) If, in any proceeding, an acknowledgment is not produced to the court or a tribunal, it must be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that the occupier did not consent to the entry.\n\n(8) Subsection (4) does not apply to any part of premises used both for residential purposes and for work in or in connection with the clothing industry. However, an information services officer may only enter such premises under this section if an owner or occupier is present.\n\n\t36 Powers on entry\n\nOn exercising a power of entry under section 35, an information services officer may—\n\n(a) inspect any work, material, machinery, appliance, article, facility or other thing;\n\n(b) take samples of any goods or substances in accordance with the regulations;\n\n(c) interview any outworker or employee;\n\n(d) require a person having the custody of, or access to, an outwork document relevant to the purpose of determining compliance with relevant industrial legislation to produce the document to the information services officer within a reasonable period specified by the information services officer;\n\n(e) inspect, and make copies of or take extracts from, a document produced to him or her.\n\n\t37 Power to require production of documents\n\n(1) An information services officer, by written notice, may require a person to produce to him or her, within a reasonable period specified in the notice, an outwork document relevant to the purpose of determining compliance with relevant industrial legislation.\n\n(2) An information services officer may inspect, and make copies of or take extracts from, a document produced to him or her under subsection (1).\n\n\t38 Retention of documents\n\n(1) An information services officer may retain a document produced to him or her for the period necessary for the purpose of performing functions and exercising powers as an information services officer.\n\n(2) During the period that the information services officer retains a document, he or she must permit the person otherwise entitled to its possession to inspect it and make copies of or take extracts from it.\n\n\t39 Confidentiality\n\n(1) An information services officer must not, except to the extent necessary to carry out his or her functions, give to any other person, whether directly or indirectly, any information acquired by the officer in carrying out those functions.\n\n1. 60 penalty units.\n\n\n(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the giving of information—\n\n(a) to a court or tribunal in the course of legal proceedings; or\n\n(b) pursuant to an order of a court or tribunal; or\n\n(c) to the extent reasonably required to enable the investigation or the enforcement of a law of Victoria or of any other State or Territory or of the Commonwealth; or\n\n(d) with the written authority of the Secretary; or\n\n(e) with the written authority of the person to whom the information relates.\n\nDivision 2—Entry and inspection by union officials\n\n\t40 Definitions and purpose of Division\n\n(1) In this Division—\n\nS. 40(1) def. of *ancillary document* repealed by No. 24/2009 s. 25(1).\n\n* * * * *\n\nS. 40(1) def. of *AWA* repealed by No. 24/2009 s. 25(1).\n\n* * * * *\n\n***Court*** means Magistrates' Court sitting as the Industrial Division;\n\n***officer*** of the Union includes any person who is concerned in, or takes part in, the management of the Union;\n\n***permit*** means permit issued under section 45;\n\n***Union*** means Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (Victorian Branch).\n\nS. 40(2) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 25(2).\n\n(2) The purpose of this Division is to provide certain rights of entry, inspection and discussion for authorised representatives of the Union.\n\n\t41 Investigating suspected contraventions of Act\n\n(1) This section applies if a person who holds a permit suspects that a contravention of this Act has occurred, or is occurring.\n\n(2) For the purpose of investigating the suspected contravention, the person may enter, during working hours, any premises—\n\nS. 41(2)(a) substituted by No. 24/2009 s. 26(1).\n\n(a) occupied by an employer or contractor who is bound by a federal award that relates to outwork or to whom a federal award that relates to outwork applies; or\n\n(b) where outworkers work who are, or are eligible to become, members of the Union.\n\n(3) After entering the premises, the person may, for the purpose of investigating the suspected contravention—\n\n(a) require the employer or contractor to allow the person, during working hours, to inspect and, if the person wishes, to make copies of any of the following that are kept by the employer or contractor on the premises and are relevant to the suspected contravention—\n\n(i) any time sheets; or\n\n(ii) any pay sheets; or\n\nS. 41(3)(a)(iii) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 26(2).\n\n(iii) any other documents; and\n\n(b) during working hours, inspect or view any work, material, machinery, or appliance, that is relevant to the suspected contravention; and\n\n(c) during working hours, interview any employees or outworkers who are—\n\n(i) members of the Union; or\n\n(ii) eligible to become members of the Union—\n\nabout the suspected contravention.\n\n(4) For the purpose of investigating the suspected contravention, the person may (regardless of whether the person exercises powers under subsection (2) or (3)) require an employer or contractor mentioned in subsection (2)—\n\n(a) to produce documents of the kind mentioned in any of subparagraphs (i), (ii) or (iii) of subsection (3)(a) at the premises of the employer or contractor or at some other agreed place; and\n\n(b) if the documents are to be produced at the premises of the employer or contractor—to allow the person, during working hours, to enter the premises and—\n\n(i) inspect the documents; and\n\n(ii) if the person wishes to do so—make copies of the documents; and\n\n(c) if the documents are to be produced at some other place—to allow the person, at an agreed time, to inspect the documents at that place and, if the person wishes to do so, to make copies of them.\n\n\t42 Discussions with outworkers\n\nS. 42(1) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 27(1).\n\n(1) Subject to subsection (2), a person who holds a permit may enter premises in which outworkers who are, or are eligible to become, members of the Union work for the purpose of holding discussions with any of those outworkers who wish to participate in those discussions.\n\n(2) The person may only enter the premises during working hours and may only hold the discussions during the outworkers' meal-time or other breaks.\n\nS. 42(3) amended by No. 9/2005 s. 8,  \nrepealed by No. 24/2009 s. 27(2).\n\n* * * * *\n\n\t43 Conduct not authorised under sections 41 and 42\n\n(1) If—\n\n(a) a person proposes to enter, or is on, premises in accordance with section 41 or 42; and\n\n(b) the occupier of the premises requires the person to show his or her permit—\n\nthe person is not entitled under that section to enter or remain on the premises unless he or she shows the occupier the permit.\n\n(2) A person is only entitled to enter premises, and exercise powers, under section 41 or 42, if the person has given the occupier of the premises at least 24 hours notice of the person's intention to do so, except as provided by section 44.\n\n(3) A person is not, in exercising any powers under section 41 or 42, entitled to enter any part of premises used for residential purposes, except with the permission of the occupier.\n\n\t44 Entry with Court order\n\n(1) On the ex parte application of a person who holds a permit, the Court may by order waive the requirement to give the occupier of premises notice of an intention to enter premises, or exercise powers, under section 41 or 42, if the Court is satisfied that to give such notice would defeat the purpose for which the power is intended to be exercised.\n\n(2) Before entering premises in accordance with a Court order under subsection (1), the person seeking entry must—\n\n(a) announce that he or she is authorised by the order to enter the premises; and\n\n(b) give any person at the premises an opportunity to allow entry to the premises.\n\n(3) The person seeking entry need not comply with subsection (2) if he or she believes on reasonable grounds that immediate entry to the premises is required to ensure—\n\n(a) the safety of any person; or\n\n(b) that an effective entry is not frustrated.\n\n(4) If the occupier or another person who apparently represents the occupier is present at the premises when entry under a Court order is being made, the person entering must—\n\n(a) identify himself or herself to the occupier or person representing the occupier by producing his or her permit for inspection; and\n\n(b) give the occupier or person representing the occupier a copy of the order.\n\n\t45 Issue of permits\n\n(1) The Court may, on application by the secretary of the Union, issue a permit for the purposes of this Division to an officer or employee of the Union.\n\n(2) The regulations may prescribe the form and content of the permit.\n\n(3) Unless revoked earlier, a permit remains in force until the earlier of—\n\n(a) 3 years after the day on which it was issued;\n\n(b) the time at which the person to whom it was issued ceases to be an officer or employee of the Union.\n\n(4) If one or more permits issued to a person under this section have been revoked, the Court must take that fact into account when deciding whether to issue a further permit under this section to the person.\n\n\t46 Revocation of permits\n\n(1) An application for revocation of a permit may be made to the Court by—\n\n(a) an employer claiming that—\n\n(i) the employer, or an employee or outworker of the employer, has been hindered or obstructed by the holder of the permit; or\n\n(ii) the holder of the permit has otherwise acted in an improper manner; or\n\nS. 46(1)(b) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 28.\n\n(b) an organisation of employers, claiming that—\n\n(i) one of its members, or an employee or outworker of one of its members, has been hindered or obstructed by the holder of the permit; or\n\n(ii) the holder of the permit has otherwise acted in an improper manner; or\n\n(c) an information services officer claiming that—\n\n(i) an employer, or an employee or outworker of an employer, has been hindered or obstructed by the holder of the permit; or\n\n(ii) the holder of the permit has otherwise acted in an improper manner.\n\n(2) An application for the revocation of a permit must set out the grounds on which the application is made.\n\n(3) The Court may, on an application under subsection (1), revoke the permit if satisfied that the grounds for the application have been made out.\n\n\t47 Conduct attracting civil penalties\n\n(1) A person exercising powers under section 41 or 42 must not deliberately hinder or obstruct an employer, contractor, employees or outworkers.\n\n(2) The occupier of premises must not refuse or unduly delay entry to the premises by a person entitled to enter the premises under section 41 or 42.\n\n(3) An employer or contractor must not refuse or fail to comply with a requirement under section 41(3)(a) or (4).\n\n(4) A person must not otherwise intentionally hinder or obstruct a person exercising powers under section 41 or 42.\n\n(5) For the avoidance of doubt, a failure to agree on a place or a time as mentioned in section 41(4)(a) or (c) does not constitute hindering or obstructing a person exercising powers under section 41(4).\n\n(6) A person to whom a permit has been issued must, within 14 days after the expiry or revocation of the permit, return the permit to the Court.\n\n\t48 Civil penalties\n\n(1) If a person contravenes a penalty provision, the contravention is not an offence. However, a court may make an order imposing a penalty on a person who contravenes a penalty provision.\n\n(2) The penalty cannot be more than $10 000 for a body corporate or $2000 in other cases.\n\n(3) An application for an order under subsection (1) may be made by any person.\n\n(4) A court may grant an injunction requiring a person not to contravene, or to cease contravening, a penalty provision.\n\n(5) In this section—\n\n***court*** means Supreme Court, County Court or Magistrates' Court;\n\n***penalty provision*** means section 47(1), (2), (3), (4) or (6).\n\n\t49 Application and enforcement of civil penalties\n\n(1) A court that imposes a penalty under section 48(1) may order that the penalty, or a part of the penalty, be paid—\n\n(a) into the Consolidated Fund; or\n\nS. 49(1)(b) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 29.\n\n(b) to a particular organisation or other person.\n\n(2) An order imposing a penalty under section 48(1) is taken, for the purposes of enforcement, to be an order made by the court in a civil proceeding.\n\nDivision 3—Victimisation\n\n\t50 Prohibition of victimisation\n\nS. 50(1) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 30.\n\n(1) An employer, a contractor, an organisation or an interested organisation must not victimise an outworker.\n\n1. 120 penalty units.\n\n\n(2) An employer, contractor or organisation victimises an outworker if the employer, contractor or organisation subjects or threatens to subject the outworker to any detriment because the outworker, or a person associated with the outworker, has—\n\n(a) claimed a benefit or exercised a power or right that he or she is entitled to claim or exercise under this Act; or\n\n(b) brought, or otherwise participated in, a proceeding under this Act; or\n\n(c) informed any person of an alleged contravention of this Act or the regulations by any person.\n\n(3) In this section—\n\n***outworker*** includes a prospective outworker;\n\n***employer*** includes a prospective employer.\n\nDivision 4—Other offences\n\n\t51 Failing to produce documents, hindering information services officers and giving them false information\n\n(1) A person must not, without reasonable excuse—\n\n(a) fail to comply with a requirement to produce a document under section 36 or 37; or\n\n(b) otherwise obstruct or hinder an information services officer performing functions or exercising powers under this Act.\n\n1. 60 penalty units.\n\n\n(2) A person must not—\n\n(a) give information to an information services officer that the person knows to be false or misleading in a material particular; or\n\n(b) produce a document to an information services officer that the person knows to be false or misleading in a material particular without indicating the respect in which it is false or misleading and, if practicable, providing correct information.\n\n1. 60 penalty units.\n\n\n\t52 Protection against self-incrimination\n\n(1) It is a reasonable excuse for a natural person to refuse or fail to give information, produce a document or do any other thing that the person is required to do by or under this Part, if the giving of the information, production of the document or doing of the thing would tend to incriminate the person.\n\n(2) Despite subsection (1), it is not a reasonable excuse for a natural person to refuse or fail to produce a record or other document that the person is required to keep by this Act or the regulations, if the production of the record or other document would tend to incriminate the person.\n\n\t53 Impersonation of information services officer\n\nA person must not impersonate an information services officer.\n\n1. 60 penalty units.\n\n\nDivision 5—Prosecutions, evidence and recovery of money\n\n\t54 Proceedings for offences to be brought in Industrial Division of the Magistrates' Court\n\nIf a person is charged with an offence against this Act, the charge must be heard, and all penalties recovered, before the Magistrates' Court sitting as the Industrial Division.\n\n\t55 Who can prosecute under this Act?\n\n(1) A prosecution for an offence against this Act may only be brought by—\n\n(a) a person authorised by—\n\n(i) the Minister; or\n\n(ii) the Secretary, if the Minister has authorised the Secretary to give such an authorisation; or\n\nS. 55(1)(a)(iii) amended by No. 108/2004 s. 117(1) (Sch. 3 item 147.1).\n\n(iii) a person employed in the Department under Part 3 of the **Public Administration Act 2004** who the Minister has authorised to give such an authorisation; or\n\n(b) an officer of the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (Victorian Branch).\n\n(2) Any authorisation for the purposes of subsection (1)(a)—\n\n(a) must be in writing; and\n\n(b) may be given generally, or only in relation to a particular case or cases, or a particular class of case or cases; and\n\n(c) may be revoked by the person who gave it at any time by notice in writing.\n\n(3) The revocation of an authorisation does not affect any proceedings started by a person before that person's authorisation was revoked unless the notice of revocation states otherwise.\n\n(4) In a prosecution for an offence under this Act, the Industrial Division of the Magistrates' Court must presume, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, that the prosecutor is authorised to bring the prosecution.\n\n(5) A prosecution may only be conducted by—\n\n(a) the person authorised by or under subsection (1) to bring the prosecution; or\n\nS. 55(5)(b) substituted by No. 18/2005 s. 18(Sch. 1 item 76), amended by No. 17/2014 s. 160(Sch. 2 item 67).\n\n(b) an Australian lawyer briefed by the person authorised to bring the prosecution.\n\n\t56 Judicial notice of signatures\n\nAll courts must take judicial notice of—\n\n(a) the signature of a person who is, or was at the time the signature purports to have been made, the Minister, the Secretary, an employee to whom section 55(1)(a)(iii) applies or a person referred to in section 55(1)(b); and\n\n(b) the fact that a person listed in paragraph (a) held the position he or she purported to hold at the time the signature purports to have been made.\n\nS. 57 repealed by No. 24/2009 s. 31.\n\n* * * * *\n\n\t58 Conduct of agents imputed to corporations\n\nFor the purposes of this Act, any conduct engaged in on behalf of a corporation—\n\n(a) by a director, employee or agent of the corporation acting within the scope of the person's actual or apparent authority; or\n\n(b) by any other person at the direction, or with the consent (express or implied) of such a director, employee or agent—\n\nis also conduct engaged in by the corporation.\n\n\t59 Reverse onus of proof in certain cases\n\nIn a prosecution against an employer for failing to pay an outworker an amount owed to the outworker under a contract of employment if—\n\n(a) the outworker is dead; and\n\n(b) the employer alleges that the period shown in the charge as being the period of continuous employment of the outworker with the employer is wrong—\n\nthe employer bears the onus of proving the allegation.\n\n\t60 Recovery of money owed\n\n(1) An outworker who is owed any money by an employer under relevant industrial legislation, or under any contract of employment, may take proceedings in the Industrial Division of the Magistrates' Court to recover the money owing. The debt must arise out of the employment relationship.\n\n(2) The proceedings must be started within 6 years after the outworker's entitlement to the money arising.\n\n(3) Before proceedings may be started under this section, the employer must be given a written demand for the money owed.\n\n(4) If the Court is satisfied that the employer—\n\n(a) had reasonable notice of the outworker's claim; and\n\n(b) had no reasonable grounds on which to dispute the claim; and\n\n(c) in the circumstances should have paid the claim without the need for proceedings being taken to establish the validity of the claim—\n\nthe Court may order the employer to pay interest to the outworker on top of any other amount to which the outworker is entitled.\n\n(5) The interest must not be greater than the rate fixed under section 2 of the **Penalty Interest Rates Act 1983** that applies at the time the Court makes the order.\n\n(6) If a claim is made under this section by an outworker's personal representative, subsections (4) and (5) apply despite anything to the contrary in section 29 of the **Administration and Probate Act 1958**.\n\n\t61 Court may order payment of arrears on finding of guilt\n\n(1) If the Industrial Division of the Magistrates' Court finds an employer guilty of an offence relating to the underpayment of an outworker, the Court may order the employer to pay the outworker any amount that the outworker was underpaid and that is still owed to the outworker, in addition to imposing a penalty for the offence.\n\n(2) However, under this section the Court may only order the employer to pay an amount in respect of a period of up to 6 years.\n\n(3) Subsections (4), (5) and (6) of section 60 apply to this section.\n\n(4) An order under this section may be enforced as if it were an order made by the Court in a civil proceeding. However, if any amount remains to be paid after all reasonable means of civil enforcement have been tried, the order may be enforced as if it were a fine imposed by the Court.\n\n(5) Nothing in this section limits an outworker's rights under section 60, and nothing in that section limits the power of the Court under this section.\n\n\t62 Representation in Magistrates' Court proceedings\n\n(1) An outworker may be represented in any proceeding referred to in section 60 or 61 by a person who is an employee or agent of—\n\nS. 62(1)(a) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 32.\n\n(a) an organisation of which the outworker is a member or eligible to become a member; or\n\n(b) a peak body of which an organisation representing the outworker is a member.\n\n(2) An employer may be represented in any proceeding referred to in section 60 or 61 by a person who is an employee or agent of—\n\nS. 62(2)(a) amended by No. 24/2009 s. 32.\n\n(a) an organisation of which the employer is a member or eligible to become a member; or\n\n(b) an interested organisation of which the employer is a member or eligible to become a member; or\n\n(c) a peak body of which an organisation representing the employer is a member.\n\n\t63 Proceedings by and against unincorporated clubs\n\n(1) For the purposes of this Act, the treasurer of a club is to be taken to be the employer of a person employed or engaged for the purposes or on behalf of the club, and any proceeding that may be taken under this Act by or against the club may be taken by or against the treasurer on behalf of the club.\n\n(2) The treasurer is authorised to retain out of the funds of the club sufficient money to meet payments made by the treasurer on behalf of the club under this section.\n\n(3) In this section—\n\n***club*** means an unincorporated club;\n\n***treasurer*** includes a person having possession or control of any funds of a club.\n\nPart 5—General\n\n\t64 Review of Act\n\n(1) The Minister must review this Act to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing those objectives.\n\n(2) The review is to be undertaken before the end of, or as soon as possible after, the period of 5 years after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.\n\n(3) The Minister must cause a report on the outcome of the review to be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as practicable after the review is completed and in any event before the end of the period of 6 years after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.\n\n\t65 Regulations\n\n(1) The Governor in Council may make regulations for or with respect to—\n\n(a) requiring employers to keep records in relation to the contracting out of work in the clothing industry and the engagement of outworkers;\n\nS. 65(1)(ab) inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 9(1).\n\n(ab) requiring employers to provide records referred to in paragraph (a) or copies of them to specified persons or bodies;\n\nS. 65(1)(ac) inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 9(1).\n\n(ac) requiring a person to enter a written agreement with an outworker before engaging the outworker and prescribing matters to be included in that agreement;\n\nS. 65(1)(ad) inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 9(1).\n\n(ad) requiring employers to lodge agreements referred to in paragraph (ac) or copies of them with specified persons or bodies;\n\nS. 65(1)(ae) inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 9(1).\n\n(ae) requiring employers to give information to outworkers and prescribing the content and manner of giving that information;\n\nS. 65(1)(af) inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 9(1).\n\n(af) requiring persons intending to engage outworkers to be registered with specified persons or bodies;\n\nS. 65(1)(ag) inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 9(1).\n\n(ag) providing mechanisms for the resolution of disputes between employers and outworkers;\n\n(b) prescribing any matter or thing required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed or necessary to be prescribed to give effect to this Act.\n\n(2) The regulations—\n\n(a) may be of general or limited application;\n\n(b) may differ according to differences in time, place or circumstances;\n\nS. 65(2)(c) amended by No. 9/2005 s. 9(2)(a).\n\n(c) may impose a penalty, not exceeding 20 penalty units, for a contravention of the regulations;\n\nS. 65(2)(d) inserted by No. 9/2005 s. 9(2)(b).\n\n(d) may confer a discretionary authority or impose a duty on a specified person or body or specified class of person or body.\n\nSchedule\n\nSection 18\n\nConstitution and procedure of Council\n\nPart 1—Constitution\n\n\t1 Period of office of members\n\nSubject to this Schedule, a member holds office for the period (not exceeding 3 years) specified in his or her instrument of appointment, and is eligible for re-appointment.\n\n\t2 Payment of members\n\nSch. cl. 2(1) amended by No. 108/2004 s. 117(1) (Sch. 3 item 147.2).\n\n(1) A member, other than a member who is an employee in the public service within the meaning of the **Public Administration Act 2004**, is entitled to receive the fees, if any, that are fixed from time to time by the Minister in respect of the member.\n\n(2) A member is entitled to receive the allowances that are fixed from time to time by the Minister.\n\n\t3 Acting members\n\n(1) The Minister may appoint a person who is eligible to be appointed as a member to act as member—\n\n(a) during a vacancy in the office of the member; or\n\n(b) if the member is absent or, for any other reason, is unable to perform the duties of office.\n\n(2) In the case of an acting member appointed  \nfor a member who was appointed under section 16(1)(b), (c), (d), (e) or (f), the acting member must be appointed from the same, or another, list submitted by the organisation that nominated the member.\n\n(3) The Minister—\n\n(a) may determine the terms and conditions of appointment of an acting member; and\n\n(b) may terminate the appointment at any time.\n\n(4) While acting in a member's place, the acting member—\n\n(a) has all the powers and must perform all the duties of the member; and\n\n(b) is entitled to be paid the fees and allowances (if any) to which the member would have been entitled.\n\n(5) An acting member is eligible for re-appointment.\n\n\t4 Resignation and removal\n\n(1) A member may resign from the office of member by writing signed by the member and delivered to the Minister.\n\n(2) The Minister may remove a member from office at any time.\n\n(3) The office of a member also becomes vacant if the member—\n\nSch. cl. 4(3)(a) amended by No. 4/2008 s. 32(Sch. item 22).\n\n(a) becomes an insolvent under administration; or\n\n(b) is convicted in Victoria of an offence punishable by imprisonment for 12 months or more or elsewhere of an offence that, if committed in Victoria, would be so punishable; or\n\n(c) becomes incapable of performing the duties of a member; or\n\n(d) is absent, without leave first being granted by the Council, for 4 consecutive meetings of the Council of which reasonable notice has been given to the member personally or by post.\n\n\t5 Effect of other Acts\n\nSch. cl. 5(1) substituted by Nos 108/2004 s. 117(1) (Sch. 3 item 147.3), 80/2006 s. 26(Sch. item 79).\n\n(1) The **Public Administration Act 2004** (other than Part 3 of that Act) applies to a member in respect of the office of member.\n\n(2) If by or under any Act provision is made—\n\n(a) requiring a person who is the holder of a specified office to devote the whole of his or her time to the duties of that office; or\n\n(b) prohibiting the person from engaging in employment outside the duties of that office—\n\nthe provision does not operate to disqualify the person from holding that office and also the office of a member or from accepting and retaining any remuneration payable to the person under this Act as a member.\n\n(3) For the avoidance of doubt, the office of member is not to be taken to be an office or place of profit under the Crown for the purposes of section 55(d), 80A(5A)(a) or 83(4) of the **Constitution Act 1975** or section 13A(5A)(a) or (5C) of the **County Court Act 1958**.\n\nPart 2—Procedure\n\n\t6 General procedure\n\n(1) The chairperson, or in his or her absence, the acting chairperson, or in the absence of both of them, a member elected by the members present, must preside at a meeting of the Council.\n\n(2) The quorum of the Council is 4 members.\n\n(3) A question arising at a meeting is determined by a majority of votes and the person presiding has a deliberative vote and, in the case of an equality of votes, a second or casting vote.\n\n(4) The Council must ensure that accurate minutes are kept of each meeting.\n\n(5) The Council may transact any of its business at a meeting at which the members or any of them participate by telephone, closed-circuit television or in any other similar way.\n\n(6) Subject to this Act, the Council may regulate its own procedure.\n\n\t7 Conflicts of interest\n\n(1) Whenever the Council is to make a decision on a matter at a meeting, each member present at the meeting must, before the matter is considered, declare any direct or indirect pecuniary interest that he or she has in the matter.\n\n1. 5 penalty units.\n\n\n(2) The Council or the chairperson must cause the declaration to be tabled at that meeting or at the next meeting of the Council and the person presiding at that meeting must cause the declaration to be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.\n\n(3) A member who has a conflict of interest in a matter—\n\n(a) must not be present during any deliberations on the matter, unless a full declaration of the interest has been made and the Council directs otherwise; and\n\n(b) is not entitled to vote on the matter.\n\n(4) A member who has a conflict of interest in a matter must not be present during any deliberations leading to a direction, or take part in making a direction under subclause (3)(a).\n\n(5) If a member votes on a matter in contravention of subclause (3)(b), his or her vote must be disallowed.\n\n\t8 Resolutions without meetings\n\n(1) If—\n\n(a) the Council has taken reasonable steps to give notice to each member setting out the terms of a proposed resolution; and\n\n(b) at least 4 of the members sign a document containing a statement that they are in favour of the resolution in the terms set out in the document—\n\na resolution in those terms is deemed to have been passed at a meeting of the Council held on the day on which the document is signed or, if the members referred to in paragraph (b) do not sign it on the same day, on the day on which the last of those members signs the document.\n\n(2) For the purposes of subclause (1), 2 or more separate documents containing a statement in identical terms, each of which is signed by one or more members, are deemed to constitute one document.\n\n(3) If a resolution is deemed by this section to have been passed at a meeting of the Council, each member must as soon as practicable be advised of the matter and given a copy of the resolution.\n\n(4) The members referred to in subclause (1)(b) must not include a member who, because of clause 7, is not entitled to vote on the resolution.\n\n\t9 Effect of a vacancy or defect\n\nAn act or decision of the Council is not invalid only because—\n\n(a) of a vacancy in its membership; or\n\n(b) of a defect or irregularity in the appointment of any of its members; or\n\n(c) in the case of an acting member, the occasion for that member so acting had not arisen or had ceased.\n\n\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\n*Minister's second reading speech—*\n\n*Legislative Assembly: 27 February 2003*\n\n*Legislative Council: 8 April 2003*\n\nThe long title for the Bill for this Act was \"to improve the protection of outworkers in the clothing industry, to establish an Ethical Clothing Trades Council of Victoria and for other purposes.\"\n\nThe **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** was assented to on 13 May 2003 and came into operation on 1 November 2003: Government Gazette 17 July 2003 page 1792.\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided section or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subsections or subclauses, the original section or clause becomes subsection or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original section or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any heading inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; sections; clauses; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms. See section 36(1A)(2A).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Act. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 forms part of that Act. Any punctuation inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act. See section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in an Act form part of that Act, whether inserted in the Act before, on or after 1 January 2001. Provision numbers include section numbers, subsection numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of an Act is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of an Act.  \nSee section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThis publication incorporates amendments made to the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** by Acts and subordinate instruments.\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n**Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, No. 107/2004**\n\n| Assent Date: | 21.12.04 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 182 on 1.7.05: s. 3(1) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n**Public Administration Act 2004, No. 108/2004**\n\n| Assent Date: | 21.12.04 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 117(1)(Sch. 3 item 147) on 5.4.05: Government Gazette 31.3.05 p. 602 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n**Outworkers (Improved Protection) (Amendment) Act 2005, No. 9/2005**\n\n| Assent Date: | 27.4.05 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | 1.8.05: s. 2 |\n| Current State: | All of Act in operation |\n\n\n**Legal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2005, No. 18/2005**\n\n| Assent Date: | 24.5.05 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 18(Sch. 1 item 76) on 12.12.05: Government Gazette 1.12.05 p. 2781 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n**Public Sector Acts (Further Workplace Protection and Other Matters) Act 2006, No. 80/2006**\n\n| Assent Date: | 10.10.06 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 26(Sch. item 79) on 11.10.06: s. 2(1) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n**Outworkers and Contractors Legislation Amendment Act 2007, No. 40/2007**\n\n| Assent Date: | 28.8.07 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | Ss 3, 4(1)(3) on 27.3.06: s. 2(2); s. 4(2) on 1.1.08: s. 2(4) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n**Victorian Workers' Wages Protection Act 2007, No. 71/2007**\n\n| Assent Date: | 11.12.07 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 27 on 1.12.08: s. 2(2) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n**Motor Car Traders Amendment Act 2008, No. 4/2008**\n\n| Assent Date: | 4.3.08 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 32(Sch. item 22) on 1.12.08: s. 2(2) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n**Fair Work (Commonwealth Powers) Act 2009, No. 24/2009**\n\n| Assent Date: | 17.6.09 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | Ss 19–32 on 1.7.09: Special Gazette (No. 227) 1.7.09 p. 1 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n**Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012, No. 21/2012**\n\n| Assent Date: | 8.5.12 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 239(Sch. 6 item 31) on 1.7.12: Special Gazette (No. 214) 28.6.12 p. 1 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n**Statute Law Revision Act 2012, No. 43/2012**\n\n| Assent Date: | 27.6.12 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 3(Sch. item 37) on 28.6.12: s. 2(1) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n**Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014, No. 17/2014**\n\n| *Assent Date:* | 25.3.14 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Commencement Date:* | S. 160(Sch. 2 item 67) on 1.7.15: Special Gazette (No. 151) 16.6.15 p. 1 |\n| *Current State:* | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n**Victoria Police Amendment (Consequential and Other Matters) Act 2014, No. 37/2014**\n\n| Assent Date: | 3.6.14 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 10(Sch. item 120) on 1.7.14: Special Gazette (No. 200) 24.6.14 p. 2 |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n**Long Service Leave Act 2018, No. 12/2018**\n\n| Assent Date: | 15.5.18 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Commencement Date: | S. 60 on 1.11.18: s. 2(2) |\n| Current State: | This information relates only to the provision/s amending the **Outworkers (Improved Protection) Act 2003** |\n\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n3 Amendments Not in Operation\n\nThere are no amendments which were Not in Operation at the date of this publication.\n\n4 Explanatory details\n\nNo entries at date of publication.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act has expanded beyond a narrow protection measure into a multifaceted regulatory regime. Originally aimed at improving protection for outworkers and establishing an advisory Council, later amendments and the Act’s own machinery broadened scope in concrete ways: (a) alignment and cross‑referencing with Commonwealth workplace instruments (federal awards, NES and Fair Work provisions) brings federal standards into the Act’s minimum‑conditions rule (s.14A); (b) principal‑contractor liability and the written‑statement defence create compliance obligations across contracting chains (ss.12–13); (c) a mandatory-code power backed by competition‑law authorisation enables sector‑wide compulsory standards and authorised cooperative compliance arrangements (ss.22, 28); and (d) an expanded enforcement toolkit (information services officers, union permit entry, and civil/criminal remedies) increases the State’s ability to monitor and enforce compliance (Parts 3–5). Those additions materially broaden the Act’s operational footprint and the administrative/compliance costs imposed on industry compared with a simple worker‑protection statute."},"complexity_factors":["Comprehensive definitions section (s.3) with over 30 defined terms and many cross‑references to Commonwealth Acts (Fair Work Act, Fair Work Transition Act) and other Victorian Acts (e.g. Long Service Leave Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act).","Multiple, interlocking enforcement regimes: administrative (information services officers), union permit entry, civil recovery in Magistrates’ Court (Industrial Division), criminal offences and civil penalties (Parts 4 and 5).","Layered liability rules with conditional mechanics: unpaid remuneration claims (ss.5–10) include time limits, referral windows, and reverse onus elements; principal contractor liability (ss.12–14) depends on written statements and specific exceptions. ","Mandatory code power introduces regulatory delegation and competition‑law authorisation (ss.22–28), requiring coordination between Minister, Council and industry and creating potential cross‑jurisdictional complexity. ","Significant procedural detail and exceptions: entry powers with residential‑premises consent rules (s.35), notice and court‑order exceptions for union entry (ss.43–44), and inspection/retention/confidentiality rules (ss.36–39).","Mix of penalties and remedies: criminal penalties (penalty units), civil penalties and court‑ordered recovery/interest (ss.10, 25, 47–61), requiring different proof standards and enforcement paths. ","Regulation‑making power that can substantially change operational requirements (s.65) — regulations may prescribe written agreements, registration, record‑keeping and dispute resolution, expanding the Act's practical scope beyond statutory text."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does, in plain English**\n\n- Establishes a special legal framework to protect \"outworkers\" in the clothing industry — people who do garment-related work outside a contractor’s factory or workshop (for example, at home) (definition: s.3).\n\n- Treats outworkers as employees for certain Victorian laws (so typical employee protections and employer obligations apply for those laws) (s.4).\n\n- Creates a straightforward process for outworkers to recover unpaid pay (remuneration). An outworker can serve a written claim within 6 months of finishing the work; the person the outworker believes is their employer (the “apparent employer”) is initially liable unless they refer the claim to the true hirer (the “actual employer”) within 14 days (ss.5–9). There are penalties for false statements in that process (s.10).\n\n- Makes a principal contractor (the head contractor who hires a subcontractor) liable for unpaid pay owing to outworkers of a subcontractor unless the subcontractor gives a written statement confirming all relevant outworker pay has been paid (ss.12–14). The principal contractor may withhold payments to a subcontractor until that statement is given (s.12(3)).\n\n- Requires that outworkers be engaged on minimum conditions equivalent to what they would receive if they were employees — namely, the terms in applicable federal awards, the Australian Fair Pay and Conditions Standard, the National Employment Standards and certain payment-of-wages rules. It is an offence to provide less favourable terms (s.14A).\n\n- Establishes an Ethical Clothing Trades Council of Victoria to monitor and advise the Minister on industry compliance, to run education, and to report quarterly and after 12 months on whether voluntary measures are working and whether a mandatory code would help (ss.15–21). The Council’s membership is a mix of government-appointed representatives from employer groups, unions, industry and a community/consumer seat (s.16).\n\n- Gives the Minister power, after considering the Council’s 12‑month report, to make a mandatory code of practice for the clothing industry if voluntary self‑regulation is found inadequate. The code can require standards of conduct and compliance mechanisms; non‑compliance with the mandatory code attracts penalties (ss.22–27). The Act specifically authorises (to the limited extent necessary) conduct or agreements needed to comply with a mandatory code that might otherwise raise competition-law issues (s.28).\n\n- Provides enforcement tools and inspectors: the Secretary can appoint information services officers whose role is to give information and to check compliance. They have powers of entry during working hours, to inspect work and documents and to interview workers, subject to limits (for example, parts of premises used for residence require consent) (ss.30–39).\n\n- Gives the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia (Victorian Branch) a route to obtain court-issued permits allowing union officers to enter workplaces (subject to notice and other procedural rules) to investigate suspected contraventions and speak with outworkers; the Act also sets out protections against obstructing permitted entry and civil penalties for obstructive conduct (ss.40–49).\n\n- Prohibits victimisation of outworkers for asserting rights under the Act (s.50), creates offences for refusing to produce documents or giving false information to inspectors (s.51), and protects against self-incrimination in limited circumstances (s.52).\n\n- Provides civil and criminal enforcement routes and remedies: outworkers may recover unpaid money in the Industrial Division of the Magistrates’ Court (time limits, demand requirements and interest available are specified) (ss.54, 60–61). The Court can order payment of arrears where an employer is convicted (s.61).\n\n- Confers regulation‑making power to prescribe record‑keeping, written contracts, registration or dispute‑resolution mechanisms and other matters necessary to implement the Act (s.65).\n\n**Who this affects**\n\n- Outworkers in the clothing industry (direct beneficiaries).\n- People and businesses who engage outworkers (employers and contractors) — they face minimum conditions, record‑keeping, inspection exposure and potential liability for unpaid pay (ss.4, 14A, 35–39, 12–13).\n- Principal contractors who subcontract clothing work (potential liability unless they get subcontractor declarations) (ss.12–13).\n- Unions, industry bodies and the Minister/Council (decision‑makers and enforcement participants) (Parts 3 and 4).\n- Retailers, manufacturers and other industry participants who may be subject to a mandatory code and its compliance requirements (ss.22–27).\n\n**Why it matters — the practical mechanics and incentives**\n\n- The Act shifts financial risk onto visible hirers: an apparent employer is initially liable for unpaid outworker pay, and principal contractors can be held to account for subcontractor shortfalls (ss.7, 12). That creates an incentive for contracting parties to check subcontractors’ payroll compliance (s.13 requires subcontractor statements and retention of records).\n\n- To avoid liability, principals must obtain and rely on written statements from subcontractors (s.13). Those statements must be kept for six years and false statements carry penalties — this increases administrative and compliance costs for subcontractors and gives the principal a simple compliance step to reduce risk (s.13(3)–(5)).\n\n- The minimum‑conditions clause (s.14A) ties state protection to federal award and NES standards; employers must not provide less favourable terms than those standards. This aligns state-level protection with federal workplace instruments and constrains pay/practice flexibility for businesses that use outworkers.\n\n- If voluntary industry measures are judged inadequate, the Minister can impose a mandatory code that requires industry‑wide practices. The Act authorises certain cooperative conduct needed to comply with such a code even where those arrangements might otherwise raise competition questions (s.28). That reduces legal uncertainty for firms seeking to comply but can also compel sector‑wide changes to purchasing, contracting or compliance systems.\n\n- Enforcement depends on a mix of administrative officers (information services officers) and union access (permit regime). Employers must make records available and can be inspected (ss.35–37, 41). The practical effectiveness of enforcement therefore depends on resourcing of inspectors, the exercise of permit powers by the union and the courts’ willingness to impose sanctions — those are implementation risks.\n\n- The Act creates both criminal penalties (for some offences) and civil penalties/injunctions for obstructive conduct and for failing to adopt mandatory code standards (ss.10, 25, 47–49, 51). That dual approach allows for fines and for recovery of unpaid wages through civil processes (ss.60–61).\n\n**Who pays; who decides; what behaviour changes**\n\n- Who pays: employers and principal contractors bear direct financial exposure for unpaid remuneration and for penalties; subcontractors bear administrative burdens (making statements, keeping records) and risk penalties for false statements (ss.7, 12–14, 13(5)).\n\n- Who decides: the Minister (on making a mandatory code and appointing the Council’s chair), the Secretary (appointing information services officers), the Court (issuing and revoking union permits and hearing enforcement matters) and the Council (advisory and reporting role) (ss.15–18, 31, 44–46, 22–24).\n\n- Behaviour likely to change: increased record‑keeping and auditing of subcontractors; inclusion of explicit written agreements with outworkers and subcontractors; use of subcontractor statements as a compliance condition; greater willingness to allow inspections and meetings with union reps where required; potential industry restructuring of contracting arrangements to manage or avoid liability.\n\n**Trade‑offs, costs and implementation risks**\n\n- Compliance costs rise for employers and subcontractors (record-keeping, written agreements, administrative checks to ensure statements are accurate) (s.65 and ss.12–13).\n\n- Withholding payments by principal contractors (s.12(3)) protects workers but can create cash‑flow pressure on subcontractors and may shift bargaining power in contracting chains.\n\n- The Act authorises union access to workplaces (with permits) to investigate and speak to outworkers (Part 4, Division 2). That creates an enforcement channel that can be effective, but it also creates potential for industrial friction and the need for careful procedural safeguards (notice requirements, court oversight where urgent access is needed) (ss.41–46).\n\n- The mandatory code mechanism (ss.22–27) allows the Minister to require industry practices beyond voluntary arrangements; this can standardise compliance but also impose sector‑wide obligations that affect prices, contracting practices and competition — the Act expressly addresses competition law tension by limited authorisation (s.28).\n\n- Enforcement capacity depends on appointments, resources for information services officers and the court permit system; without adequate resourcing those enforcement levers may be less effective in practice.\n\n**Key sections to look at for practical implementation**\n\n- Definitions and employee‑status treatment: s.3 and s.4\n- Unpaid‑remuneration claims: ss.5–11\n- Principal contractor liability and written‑statement defence: ss.12–14, including penalties in s.13(5)\n- Minimum conditions required for outworkers: s.14A\n- Council establishment and reporting: ss.15–21\n- Mandatory code power and competition authorisation: ss.22–28\n- Information services officers’ powers and limits: ss.30–39\n- Union permit entry and procedural safeguards: ss.41–46\n- Remedies and recovery of unpaid money: ss.60–61\n- Regulation‑making and record‑keeping powers: s.65"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available text, the Act appears consistent with its original intent: protecting home-based outworkers in the clothing and textile industry by guaranteeing minimum conditions and extending supply chain liability. There is no visible evidence of scope creep or significant amendment away from its original purpose, though the truncated nature of the provided text limits certainty."},"complexity_factors":["Redefines the boundary between 'employee' and 'independent contractor' for a specific class of worker, creating legal complexity around classification","Imposes liability up a multi-party supply chain, meaning responsibility is distributed across several types of business entities","Intersects with both state industrial relations law and Commonwealth workplace relations frameworks, creating potential jurisdictional tension","The provided legislative text is heavily truncated and largely metadata/version history only, limiting full analysis of operative provisions","Targets a niche but legally complex sector (home-based piecework in textile/clothing industries) with unique enforcement challenges"],"plain_english_summary":"This law protects outworkers—people (often at home, in clothing/textiles) doing piecework who are vulnerable to exploitation—by giving them enforceable minimum pay and conditions and by holding businesses up the supply chain (retailers, manufacturers, contractors, labour hire) responsible. \n\nIt matters because it closes a loophole where contractors are treated as self‑employed to avoid obligations, ensuring outworkers have legal recourse and stronger enforcement against underpayment and poor conditions."},"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"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 2003 Act focused primarily on establishing the Ethical Clothing Trades Council and creating basic employment status for outworkers. However, significant amendments in 2005, 2007, and 2009 substantially expanded the scope: (1) Division 3 (Minimum conditions) was added in 2005, creating substantive entitlement rights tied to federal awards; (2) The 2009 amendments completely restructured the Act to align with the new federal Fair Work system, replacing references to the old Workplace Relations Act; (3) Record-keeping and written agreement requirements were added via regulation-making powers in 2005; (4) The supply chain liability provisions (s. 12) were strengthened to prevent evasion through corporate structures. The Act evolved from a framework/council-establishment statute into a comprehensive regulatory scheme with detailed enforcement mechanisms."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple overlapping definitions of 'employer' that change depending on which Part or Division you're in (e.g., s. 3 definition excludes retail-only businesses in Division 2 of Part 2)","Extensive cross-referencing with federal industrial relations legislation (Fair Work Act 2009, Fair Work Transition Act) requiring knowledge of both Victorian and Commonwealth systems","Conditional liability chains in Division 2 of Part 2: unpaid remuneration claims can be referred from apparent employer to actual employer, with specific time limits (14 days) and evidentiary requirements","Nested exceptions in section 12 regarding principal contractor liability — liability doesn't apply if subcontractor is in receivership/bankruptcy, but written statements can be false (s. 13(4))","Dual enforcement mechanisms: criminal offences (penalty units) and civil penalties (s. 48), with different procedures and maximum amounts","Complex entry powers with different rules for residential vs. commercial premises, consent requirements, and acknowledgment forms (ss. 35-36)","Union entry rights (Division 2 of Part 4) operate under a separate permit system with 24-hour notice requirements and court-order exceptions","Schedule contains detailed procedural rules for the Council including conflict of interest provisions, casting votes, and deemed resolutions without meetings","Multiple amendments over 15 years (2003-2018) updating references to federal legislation, creating patchwork of historical and current terminology"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis Act protects **outworkers** — people who do clothing work (like sewing, finishing garments, or packing textiles) in their own homes or private premises rather than in factories. These workers are often vulnerable to exploitation, underpayment, and poor working conditions because they work in isolation and may be treated as independent contractors rather than employees.\n\n**Key protections include:**\n\n*   **Employment status:** Outworkers are legally treated as **employees** (not contractors) for the purposes of Victorian workplace safety laws, long service leave, and public holidays — even if they work from home. This means they get the same basic protections as factory workers.\n\n*   **Getting paid:** The Act creates a special claims process for unpaid wages. If an outworker isn't paid, they can make a formal claim against the person they believe is their employer (the \"apparent employer\"). That employer can pass the claim up the chain to the \"actual employer\" if they can prove someone else was really responsible. Importantly, **head contractors** (big companies at the top of the supply chain) can be held liable for unpaid wages if their subcontractors don't pay outworkers, unless they get proper written proof that wages have been paid.\n\n*   **Minimum conditions:** Outworkers must receive the same pay and conditions as factory workers doing similar jobs — including any applicable federal awards, the National Employment Standards, and minimum wage laws.\n\n*   **Ethical Clothing Trades Council:** The Act establishes a Council with representatives from unions, employer groups, and retailers to monitor the industry, promote ethical practices, and advise the government on whether a mandatory code of conduct is needed.\n\n*   **Mandatory code of practice:** If voluntary measures fail, the Minister can create a binding code that forces clothing companies to meet specific standards regarding outworker treatment.\n\n*   **Enforcement powers:** Special government inspectors (information services officers) can enter workplaces and homes (with consent) to check records, interview workers, and ensure compliance. Union officials from the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union can also enter premises with permits to investigate suspected breaches.\n\n*   **Anti-victimisation:** It's illegal to punish or threaten outworkers for asserting their rights under this law.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n*   **Outworkers** — primarily home-based clothing workers, often women from migrant communities\n*   **Clothing manufacturers and contractors** — especially those who subcontract work to home-based workers\n*   **Retailers and principal contractors** — who can be held responsible for wages further down their supply chain\n*   **The Textile Clothing and Footwear Union** — which has special entry and inspection rights\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis law tackles **wage theft** and exploitation in the \"hidden\" parts of the fashion industry. By treating home-based workers as employees, creating liability up the supply chain, and giving unions and inspectors strong powers to check compliance, it aims to stop the practice of paying sweatshop wages to vulnerable workers who sew garments in their living rooms."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/outworkers-improved-protection-act-2003","history":"/api/acts/outworkers-improved-protection-act-2003/history","analysis":"/api/acts/outworkers-improved-protection-act-2003/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/outworkers-improved-protection-act-2003/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/outworkers-improved-protection-act-2003/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/outworkers-improved-protection-act-2003/documents"}}