61JApproval of enterprise agreement

### 61J Approval of enterprise agreement > *\[Section 61J Inserted by No. 59 of 1992, s. 40 \]* > > > (1)  [*\[Section 61J Subsection (1) amended by No. 74 of 2005, s. 11, Applied:15 Feb 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-02-15/act-2005-074#GS11@Hpa@EN) [*\[Section 61J Subsection (1) amended by No. 104 of 2000, Sched. 2, Applied:01 Jan 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-01-01/act-2000-104#JS2@JT@tr@oc9@EN) *\[Section 61J Subsection (1) amended by No. 90 of 1994, s. 18 \]*Subject to [subsections (1A)](#GS61J@Gs1A@EN) and [(1C)](#GS61J@Gs1C@EN) , the Commissioner must approve an enterprise agreement unless satisfied that– > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 61J Subsection (1) amended by No. 18 of 1997, s. 31, Applied:28 Jun 1997\]*](/view/html/inforce/1997-06-28/act-1997-018#GS31@Hpa@EN) the conditions of employment specified in the agreement do not comply with the minimum conditions of employment specified in [section 61F](#GS61F@EN) ; or > > > > > > > (b) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   > > > > > > > (c) the matters referred to in [section 61E](#GS61E@EN) are not contained in the agreement; or > > > > > > > (ca) the bargaining process adopted by the parties to the agreement was not appropriate and fair; or > > > > > > > (d) the agreement was made under duress; or > > > > > > > (e) [*\[Section 61J Subsection (1) amended by No. 18 of 1997, s. 31, Applied:28 Jun 1997\]*](/view/html/inforce/1997-06-28/act-1997-018#GS31@Hpb@EN) [*\[Section 61J Subsection (1) amended by No. 104 of 2000, s. 20, Applied:01 Jan 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-01-01/act-2000-104#GS20@EN) any matter raised during a hearing convened under [section 61I](#GS61I@EN) by the Minister, or by an organization intervening under [section 27](#GS27@EN) , justifies refusal of the approval of the agreement; or > > > > > > > (f) [*\[Section 61J Subsection (1) amended by No. 18 of 1997, s. 31, Applied:28 Jun 1997\]*](/view/html/inforce/1997-06-28/act-1997-018#GS31@Hpb@EN) the agreement is not fair in all the circumstances; or > > > > > > > (g) [*\[Section 61J Subsection (1) amended by No. 18 of 1997, s. 31, Applied:28 Jun 1997\]*](/view/html/inforce/1997-06-28/act-1997-018#GS31@Hpb@EN) the requirements referred to in [section 61I(2)](#GS61I@Gs2@EN) , [(2A)](#GS61I@Gs2A@EN) and [(2B)](#GS61I@Gs2B@EN) have not been met. > > > (1A)  [*\[Section 61J Subsection (1A) inserted by No. 74 of 2005, s. 11, Applied:15 Feb 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-02-15/act-2005-074#GS11@Hpb@EN) The Commissioner must ensure that an enterprise agreement does not disadvantage the employees to be covered by the agreement. > > > (1B)  [*\[Section 61J Subsection (1B) inserted by No. 74 of 2005, s. 11, Applied:15 Feb 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-02-15/act-2005-074#GS11@Hpb@EN) An enterprise agreement is taken to disadvantage employees if its approval would result, on balance, in a reduction in the overall terms and conditions of employment of those employees compared with the award or agreement that would otherwise apply to those employees. > > > (1C)  [*\[Section 61J Subsection (1C) inserted by No. 74 of 2005, s. 11, Applied:15 Feb 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-02-15/act-2005-074#GS11@Hpb@EN) Notwithstanding [subsection (1A)](#GS61J@Gs1A@EN) , the Commissioner may approve an enterprise agreement if he or she is satisfied that it is appropriate to approve the agreement having taken into account all of the circumstances including – > > > > > > (a) whether or not the genuine consent of the parties to the agreement has been given; and > > > > > > > (b) the public interest; and > > > > > > > (c) any other matter the Commissioner considers relevant. > > > (2)  [*\[Section 61J Subsection (2) amended by No. 104 of 2000, Sched. 2, Applied:01 Jan 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-01-01/act-2000-104#JS2@JT@tr@oc10@EN) If the Commissioner approves an enterprise agreement, the Commissioner must– > > > > > > (a) by notice in writing advise the parties to the agreement and the Minister of the approval and their right to withdraw from the agreement under [section 61K](#GS61K@EN) ; and > > > > > > > (b) forward a copy of the agreement to the Minister. > > > (3)  [*\[Section 61J Subsection (3) amended by No. 104 of 2000, Sched. 2, Applied:01 Jan 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-01-01/act-2000-104#JS2@JT@tr@oc11@EN) *\[Section 61J Subsection (3) amended by No. 90 of 1994, s. 18 \]*[*\[Section 61J Subsection (3) substituted by No. 18 of 1997, s. 31, Applied:28 Jun 1997\]*](/view/html/inforce/1997-06-28/act-1997-018#GS31@Hpc@EN) If the Commissioner refuses to approve an enterprise agreement, the Commissioner, by notice in writing, must advise the parties to the agreement and the Minister of the reasons for the refusal.