521CAccommodation arrangements for remote areas

521C Accommodation arrangements for remote areas

This section applies only in remote areas

(1) This section applies if rights under this Part are to be exercised by a permit holder on premises that are located in a place where accommodation is not reasonably available to the permit holder unless the occupier of the premises on which the rights are to be exercised provides the accommodation, or causes it to be provided.

Where parties cannot agree on an accommodation arrangement

(2) If all of the following are satisfied:

(a) to provide accommodation, or cause accommodation to be provided, to the permit holder would not cause the occupier undue inconvenience;

(b) the permit holder, or the organisation of which the permit holder is an official, requests the occupier to provide, or cause to be provided, accommodation for the purpose of assisting the permit holder to exercise rights under this Part on the premises;

(c) the request is made within a reasonable period before accommodation is required;

(d) the permit holder, and the organisation of which the permit holder is an official, have been unable to enter into an accommodation arrangement with the occupier by consent;

the occupier must enter into an accommodation arrangement for the purpose of assisting the permit holder to exercise rights under this Part.

Note: The FWC may deal with disputes about whether accommodation is reasonably available, whether providing accommodation or causing it to be provided would cause the occupier undue inconvenience and whether a request to provide accommodation is made within a reasonable period (see subsection 505(1)).

Costs

(3) If an accommodation arrangement is entered into under subsection (2), the occupier must not charge an organisation or a permit holder a fee for accommodation under the arrangement that is more than is necessary to cover the cost to the occupier of providing the accommodation, or causing it to be provided.

Note: This subsection is a civil remedy provision (see Part 4‑1).

FWC’s powers if rights misused whilst in accommodation

(4) For the purposes of this Part, the FWC may treat the conduct of the permit holder whilst in accommodation under an accommodation arrangement to which the occupier is a party, whether entered into under subsection (2) or by consent, as conduct engaged in as part of the exercise of rights by the permit holder under this Part.