In the making of the Ipswich City Council Civic Centre Employees Certified Agreement 2024 [2026] QIRC 26 (2 February 2026)

Industrial Relations Act 2016 (Qld) ch 4

Mr T. Stephens for The Australian Workers' Union of Employees, Queensland

[1] On 18 December 2025, the Ipswich City Council made an application, pursuant to

s 189 of the Act, to certify the Ipswich City Council Civic Centre Employees Certified Agreement 2024.

[2] The named parties to the agreement are the Council and the following employee organisations:

• The Australian Workers' Union of Employees, Queensland

• United Workers' Union, Industrial Union of Employees, Queensland

[3] I am satisfied that all parties have agreed on the terms of the agreement, which were approved by a valid majority of relevant employees in a properly conducted ballot.

[4] The agreement is signed by all the above-mentioned parties. Consequently, I am satisfied that upon certification, pursuant to s 189(2) of the IR Act, the agreement will cover all parties and the Council's employees covered by the classifications contained in the agreement.

[5] Having regard to the submissions made by the parties who appeared at the hearing today,[1] and the affidavit of Mr Matt Smith, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Ipswich City Council, affirmed on 18 December 2025:

• I am satisfied of each relevant requirement in ch 4, pt 5, div 2, sub-div 2 of the Act; and

• There is nothing in the agreement which would require me to refuse to grant the application pursuant to ch 4, pt 5, div 2, sub-div 3 of the Act.

[6] The application to certify the Ipswich City Council Civic Centre Employees Certified Agreement 2024 is granted.

[7] The Ipswich City Council Civic Centre Employees Certified Agreement 2024 operates from the day it is certified, namely 2 February 2026.

[8] Although the nominal expiry date of the Ipswich City Council Civic Centre Employees Certified Agreement 2024 is 1 July 2027, it continues to operate until it is terminated under the IR Act.

The Ipswich City Council Civic Centre Employees Certified Agreement 2024 is certified.

[1] I note the correspondence of Mr Alec Nash, Lead Industrial Officer of the United Workers' Union, Industrial Union of Employees, Queensland ('UWU') dated 23 December 2025, wherein Mr Nash wrote that UWU supports the termination of the existing Agreement and certification of the proposed Agreement but would be unable to attend the hearing.