5Purpose of Council

5 Purpose of Council

(1) The purpose of the Council is to provide, in the public interest, a regular and organized means by which representatives of the Government of the Commonwealth, of employers and of employees, and, when the Minister considers it appropriate, representatives of other persons, bodies and organisations may consult together on workplace relations matters of national concern. (2) It is the intention of this Act that: (a) meetings of the Council shall be conducted on a non‑political basis; (b) the Council will not interfere with the proper performance of the functions of industrial tribunals; and (c) subject to the rights of persons participating in meetings of the Council to report to the persons, bodies and organisations by which they are nominated and to the right of the Council to make announcements that those persons agree are in the public interest, the views expressed at those meetings will be kept confidential.