Prohibited: provisions requiring payment to be made after 30 days 8
10A. Prohibited: provisions allowing less than minimum notice period 8
Prohibited: prescribed provisions 8
Other provisions of contract not affected 8
Division 2 — Implied provisions
Time for payment 9
Interest on overdue payments 9
Making payment claims 9
15A. Minimum period of notice for terminating contract 9
Interpretation of implied provisions 9
Part 3 — Road Freight Transport Industry Council
Road Freight Transport Industry Council established 10
Membership of Council 10
Functions 11
Powers 11
Minister may give directions 11
Minister to have access to information 12
Constitution and proceedings of Council 12
Remuneration and allowances 12
Department to provide support services to Council 13
Part 4 — Code of conduct
Regulations may prescribe code of conduct 14
Content of code of conduct 14
Part 5 — Negotiations for owner‑driver contracts
Section 1 - Owner-Drivers (Contracts and Disputes) Act 2007 - Owner-Drivers (Contracts and Disputes) Act 2007 | Zoe
Negotiating agents for owner‑drivers 17
Negotiating agents for hirers 17
Part 6 — Unconscionable conduct
Unconscionable conduct by hirers 19
Unconscionable conduct by owner‑drivers 20
31A. Unfair terms 22
Part 6A — Misleading or deceptive conduct
31B. Misleading or deceptive conduct by hirer 24
31C. Misleading or deceptive conduct by owner‑driver 24
Part 6B — Discrimination
31D. Discrimination against owner‑driver 25
Part 7 — Inspectors
Functions of inspectors 27
Obstructing or hindering inspector 27
Part 8 — Rights of entry, inspection and access to records
Division 1 — Preliminary
33A. Term used: record 28
Division 2 — Access to records
Access to and inspection of records 28
Division 3 — Authorised representative’s right of entry to conduct investigation
34A. Terms used 29
34B. Authorised representative 30
34C. Authorised representative who ceases to hold authority or entry permit 31
34D. Revocation or suspension of authority 31
34E. Written authority of owner‑driver required 32
Authorised representative’s right of entry 33
35A. Authority must be shown on request 33
35B. Conduct in workplace 33
35C. Authorised representative’s powers relating to production and inspection of records or other documents 34
Prohibiting obstruction or delay of exercise of power 35
Part 9 — Road Freight Transport Industry Tribunal
Terms used 36
Industrial Relations Commission sitting as the Road Freight Transport Industry Tribunal 36
38A. Tribunal’s power to make summary determination 37
38B. Tribunal’s power to make default determination 38
Jurisdiction to be exercised by Commissioner with necessary qualifications 39
Persons who may refer disputes and matters to the Tribunal 39
Intervention in proceeding 40
41A. When referral not required 40
Representation 41
Applied provisions: practice, procedure and appeals 41
Conciliation 42
Compulsory attendance at conciliation 43
Enforcement for the purposes of sections 44 and 45 44
Determination of dispute where no resolution by conciliation 45
47A. Remedies that may be given 45
Order to prevent entering into of owner‑driver contracts 46
Other jurisdictions 47
Enforcement of monetary order 48
Enforcement of order other than conciliation or monetary order 49
Part 10 — Miscellaneous
Trade Practices Act and Competition Code 50
Confidentiality 51
Laying documents before Parliament 51
Protection from liability 52
Protection for compliance with this Act 52
Regulations 52
Review of Act 53
Part 11 — Transitional provisions
Notice of termination before commencement day 54
Schedule 1 — Implied provisions
Division 1 — Responding to claims for payment
Responding to a payment claim 55
Division 2 — Interest on overdue amounts
Interest payable on overdue amounts 55
Division 3 — Making claims for payment
Content of claim for payment 55
Division 4 — Termination of contract
Notice of termination 56
Payment in lieu of notice 56
Schedule 2 — Constitution and proceedings of Council
Division 1 — General provisions
Term of office 58
Chairman and deputy chairman 58
Resignation, removal, etc. 58
Leave of absence 59
Council member unable to act 59
Savings 59
Calling of meetings 60
Presiding officer 60
Quorum 60
Voting 60
Minutes 60
Resolution without meeting 60
Holding meetings remotely 61
Committees 61
Council to determine own procedures 61
Division 2 — Disclosure of interests etc.
Disclosure of interests 61
Voting by interested members 62
Clause 17 may be declared inapplicable 62
Quorum where clause 17 applies 62
Minister may declare clauses 17 and 19 inapplicable 63
Notes
Compilation table 64
Other notes 65
Defined terms
Western Australia
Owner-Drivers (Contracts and Disputes) Act 2007
An Act —
to promote a safe and sustainable road freight transport industry by regulating the relationship between persons who enter into contracts to transport goods in heavy vehicles and persons who hire them to do so; and
to establish the Road Freight Transport Industry Tribunal and the Road Freight Transport Industry Council,
and for related purposes.
Part 1 — Preliminary
1. Short title
This is the Owner-Drivers (Contracts and Disputes) Act 2007.
2. Commencement
(1) This Act comes into operation on a day fixed by proclamation.
(2) Different days may be fixed under subsection (1) for different provisions.
Note for this section:
Under section 22 of the Interpretation Act 1984, this section and section 1 come into operation on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.
3. Terms used
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears —
code of conduct means the code of conduct made under Part 4;
Council means the Road Freight Transport Industry Council established by section 17;
Department means the department of the Public Service principally assisting in the administration of this Act;
goods includes freight and materials;
guideline rates means rates of payment published in accordance with section 27(1)(f);
heavy vehicle has the meaning given in the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Act 2012 section 3(1);
hirer means a person who engages an owner‑driver under an owner‑driver contract;
inspector means an Industrial Inspector as defined in the IR Act section 7;
IR Act means the Industrial Relations Act 1979;
minimum notice period, in relation to the termination of an owner‑driver contract, is —
(a) 90 days; or
(b) if the aggregate term of the original contract and any consecutive series of successive contracts between the same parties that contain substantially similar terms and conditions is less than 90 days — 7 days;
notice period, in relation to the termination of an owner‑driver contract, is the period —
(a) beginning on the day on which one party gives the other party written notice of termination of the contract; and
(b) ending on the day on which the termination of the contract is to take effect;
owner‑driver has the meaning given to that term in section 4;
owner‑driver contract has the meaning given to that term in section 5;
party, in relation to an owner‑driver contract, means a party to the contract;
payment claim means a claim made under an owner‑driver contract —
(a) by the owner‑driver to the hirer for payment of an amount in relation to the performance by the owner‑driver of the owner‑driver’s obligations under the contract; or
(b) by the hirer to the owner‑driver in relation to the performance or non‑performance by the owner‑driver of the owner‑driver’s obligations under the contract;
prescribed representative body means a body that —
(a) represents the interests of owner‑drivers or hirers; and
(b) is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition;
Registrar has the meaning given to that term by the IR Act section 7;
transport association means —
(a) a representative body prescribed by the regulations for the purpose of this definition; or
(b) the Transport Workers’ Union of Australia, Industrial Union of Workers, Western Australian Branch;
Tribunal has the meaning given to that term in section 38(2);
workplace means a place, whether or not in a vehicle, building or other structure, where owner‑drivers or hirers work or are likely to be in the course of their work.
[Section 3 amended: No. 47 of 2011 s. 27; No. 8 of 2012 s. 151; No. 17 of 2014 s. 30; No. 36 of 2022 s. 4.]
4. Term used: owner-driver
(1) In this section —
listed public company has the same meaning as it has in the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 of the Commonwealth;
officer, of a body corporate, has the same meaning as it has in the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth.
(2) For the purposes of this Act an owner‑driver is —
(a) a natural person —
(i) who carries on the business of transporting goods in one or more heavy vehicles supplied by that person; and
(ii) whose principal occupation is the operation of those vehicles (whether solely or with the use of other operators); or
(b) a body corporate (other than a listed public company) that carries on the business of transporting goods in one or more heavy vehicles that are —
(i) supplied by the body corporate or an officer of the body corporate; and
(ii) operated by an officer of the body corporate (whether solely or with the use of other operators) whose principal occupation is the operation of those vehicles; or
(c) a partnership of persons, at least one of whom is a person referred to in paragraph (a).
5. Term used: owner‑driver contract
(1) For the purposes of this Act, an owner‑driver contract is a contract (whether written or oral or partly written and partly oral) entered into in the course of business by an owner‑driver with another person for the transport of goods in a heavy vehicle by the owner‑driver.
(2) It does not matter that an owner‑driver contract provides for an owner‑driver to perform services other than transporting goods, as long as the services to be performed under the contract predominantly relate to the transport of goods.
(3) To avoid doubt, an owner‑driver contract does not include a contract that is a contract of employment.
6. Application of Act
(1) This Act applies to and in relation to owner‑drivers who are engaged —
(a) under an owner‑driver contract that is entered into in Western Australia or that is subject to the law of Western Australia; or
(b) to transport goods wholly within Western Australia; or
(c) to transport goods from Western Australia to another place, or from another place to Western Australia, if a substantial part of the services under the owner‑driver contract are performed in Western Australia.
(2) However, this Act does not apply in relation to an owner‑driver contract if the owner‑driver who is a party to the contract has the benefit of, or is otherwise covered by —
(a) a contract determination made under Chapter 6 of the Industrial Relations Act 1996 of New South Wales; or
(b) an order made under the Owner Drivers and Forestry Contractors Act 2005 of Victoria,
in relation to the contract.
7. Act prevails over owner‑driver contracts
(1) A provision in an agreement or arrangement in force on, or entered into after, the coming into operation of this section, whether an owner‑driver contract or not and whether in writing or not, that —
(a) purports to exclude, modify or restrict the operation of this Act or the code of conduct; or
(b) is contrary to or inconsistent with anything in this Act, the code of conduct or an order of the Tribunal,
has no effect.
(2) A provision in an agreement or arrangement that has no effect because of subsection (1) does not prejudice or affect the operation of other provisions of the agreement or arrangement.
(3) Any purported waiver, whether in an owner‑driver contract and whether in writing or not, of an entitlement under this Act has no effect.
(4) Despite subsection (1), during the 6 months beginning on and including the day on which this section comes into operation, a provision of an owner‑driver contract that is contrary to or inconsistent with a provision of this Act or the code of conduct prevails to the extent of the inconsistency.
8. Act binds Crown
This Act binds the Crown in right of the State and, so far as the legislative power of Parliament permits, in all its other capacities.
Part 2 — Content of owner‑driver contracts
Division 1 — Prohibited provisions
9. Prohibited: pay if paid/when paid provisions
A provision in an owner‑driver contract has no effect if it purports to make the liability of a party (A) to pay money under the contract to another party contingent, whether directly or indirectly, on A being paid money by another person (whether or not a party).
10. Prohibited: provisions requiring payment to be made after 30 days
A provision in an owner‑driver contract that purports to require a payment to be made more than 30 days after a payment claim for the payment is made is to be read as being amended to require the payment to be made within 30 days after the claim is made.
10A. Prohibited: provisions allowing less than minimum notice period
A provision in an owner‑driver contract has no effect if it purports to allow a party to terminate the contract by giving notice of less than the minimum notice period.
[Section 10A inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 5.]
11. Prohibited: prescribed provisions
A provision in an owner‑driver contract has no effect if it is a provision that is prescribed by the regulations to be a prohibited provision.
12. Other provisions of contract not affected
A provision in an owner‑driver contract that has no effect because of section 9 or 11 or that is amended under section 10 does not prejudice or affect the operation of other provisions of the contract.
Division 2 — Implied provisions
13. Time for payment
The provisions in Schedule 1 Division 1 are implied in an owner‑driver contract that does not have a written provision about the time by when a payment must be made.
14. Interest on overdue payments
The provisions in Schedule 1 Division 2 are implied in an owner‑driver contract that does not have a written provision about interest to be paid on any payment that is not made within the time required by the contract.
15. Making payment claims
The provisions in Schedule 1 Division 3 are implied in an owner‑driver contract that does not have a written provision about how a party is to make a payment claim against another party.
15A. Minimum period of notice for terminating contract
The provisions in Schedule 1 Division 4 are implied in an owner‑driver contract that does not have a valid provision about the notice period required to be given to terminate the contract.
[Section 15A inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 6.]
16. Interpretation of implied provisions
Despite any provision in an owner‑driver contract to the contrary, the Interpretation Act 1984 and sections 3 to 5 of this Act apply to the interpretation of a provision that is implied in an owner‑driver contract under this Part.
Part 3 — Road Freight Transport Industry Council
17. Road Freight Transport Industry Council established
A body called the Road Freight Transport Industry Council is established.
18. Membership of Council
(1) The Council is to consist of not more than 8 persons appointed by the Minister, having regard to the experience, skills and qualifications that the Minister considers appropriate to enable Council members to make a contribution to the work of the Council.
(2) A Council member may be appointed on a full‑time or part‑time basis.
(3) The Minister shall seek nominations for appointments to the Council from —
(a) the chief executive officer of the Department; and
(b) a representative body prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection; and
(c) the Transport Workers’ Union of Australia, Industrial Union of Workers, Western Australian Branch; and
(d) any other person or body from which the Minister considers it appropriate to seek nominations and will specifically seek nominations from persons able to represent the interests of regional Western Australia.
(4) The Minister must consider nominations lodged under subsection (3) but may appoint a person as a Council member whether or not the person has been nominated under that subsection.
[Section 18 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 7.]
19. Functions
(1) The functions of the Council are —
(a) to provide advice and recommendations to the Minister in relation to the development and review of the code of conduct; and
(b) to prepare and review on a regular basis the guideline rates; and
(c) to promote, and to encourage compliance with, the code of conduct and the guideline rates; and
(d) to develop, publish and promote model owner‑driver contracts; and
(e) to provide advice and recommendations to the Minister in relation to any other matters relevant to —
(i) owner‑driver contracts; or
(ii) the commercial practices generally engaged in by owner‑drivers and hirers in relation to each other.
(2) The Council has any other function given to it under this Act or another written law.
20. Powers
The Council has all the powers it needs to perform its functions.
21. Minister may give directions
(1) The Minister may give written directions to the Council with respect to the performance of its functions, either generally or in relation to a particular matter, and the Council must give effect to any such direction.
(2) The Minister must cause the text of any direction given under subsection (1) to be laid before each House of Parliament, or dealt with under section 54, within 14 days after the direction is given.
(3) The text of a direction given under subsection (1) must be included in the annual report submitted by the accountable authority of the Department under the Financial Management Act 2006 Part 5.
[Section 21 amended: No. 47 of 2011 s. 13.]
22. Minister to have access to information
(1) In this section —
document includes any tape, disk or other device or medium on which information is recorded or stored;
information means information specified, or of a description specified, by the Minister that relates to the functions of the Council.
(2) The Minister is entitled —
(a) to have information in the possession of the Council; and
(b) if the information is in or on a document, to have, and make and retain copies of, that document.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the Minister may —
(a) request the Council to furnish information to the Minister; and
(b) request the Council to give the Minister access to information.
(4) The Council must comply with a request under subsection (3).
23. Constitution and proceedings of Council
Schedule 2 sets out provisions as to the constitution and proceedings of the Council.
24. Remuneration and allowances
Each Council member is to be paid the remuneration and allowances that the Minister, on the recommendation of the Public Sector Commissioner, determines in the case of that member.
[Section 24 amended: No. 39 of 2010 s. 89.]
25. Department to provide support services to Council
The Department must provide the Council with any support services that the Council reasonably requires.
Part 4 — Code of conduct
26. Regulations may prescribe code of conduct
(1) The Governor, on the recommendation of the Minister, may make regulations prescribing a code of conduct in relation to the engagement of owner‑drivers under owner‑driver contracts and conduct and practice under owner‑driver contracts.
(2) Before making a recommendation under subsection (1), the Minister must consult with the Council.
27. Content of code of conduct
(1) The code of conduct may —
(a) provide for the conduct of negotiations for owner‑driver contracts, whether on an individual or joint basis; and
(b) require a hirer to pay an owner‑driver for services provided under an owner‑driver contract at a safe and sustainable rate of payment and describe how a safe and sustainable rate of payment is to be determined; and
(c) require a hirer to adopt the standards of conduct and practice set out in the code with respect to owner‑drivers; and
(d) require a hirer to make and keep records in relation to owner‑drivers, owner‑driver contracts, and services provided under owner‑driver contracts, in the manner and form set out in the code of conduct; and
(e) require a hirer, at such times as are specified in the code of conduct, to provide the owner‑driver with written information that is to include the current guideline rates and any other information specified in the code of conduct; and
(f) confer power on the Council to determine, amend or revoke, by notice published in the Gazette, guideline rates for the purpose of providing guidance as to rates and costs to —
(i) owner‑drivers and hirers when negotiating owner‑driver contracts; and
(ii) the Tribunal when determining whether payments have been made at a safe and sustainable rate;
and
(g) provide for any other matter relevant to the engagement of owner‑drivers under owner‑driver contracts.
(2) The Council must obtain the approval of the chairman of the Council before determining, amending or revoking any guideline rates.
(3) The guideline rates are to —
(a) specify the class of owner‑driver, vehicle and equipment to which they apply; and
(b) contain the following information —
(i) typical fixed and variable overhead costs for that class of owner‑driver, vehicle and equipment;
(ii) the base hourly rate or casual hourly rate that would typically apply to that class of owner‑driver if an owner‑driver of that class were, as an employee, performing substantially the same work.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (3)(b)(i), fixed and variable overhead costs include, but are not limited to —
(a) vehicle or equipment registration, maintenance and running costs; and
(b) business administration and insurance costs (including any premiums payable under the Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023); and
(c) self‑funding of superannuation; and
(d) finance costs; and
(e) costs of complying with any applicable laws; and
(f) costs of engaging additional or relief labour; and
(g) depreciation of vehicles and equipment.
[Section 27 amended: No. 21 of 2023 s. 709(2).]
Part 5 — Negotiations for owner‑driver contracts
28. Negotiating agents for owner‑drivers
(1) An owner‑driver or group of owner‑drivers may, by instrument, appoint a person or group of persons to be the negotiating agent for the owner‑driver or owner‑drivers in relation to the engagement of the owner‑driver or owner‑drivers, including the making, variation or termination of owner‑driver contracts.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a hirer must not refuse to recognise a negotiating agent duly appointed by an owner‑driver or group of owner‑drivers for the purposes of subsection (1).
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if the hirer has not been given a copy of the agent’s instrument of appointment before the refusal.
(4) If requested to do so by the negotiating agent, a hirer must deal exclusively with the agent within the scope of the agent’s authority.
(5) A person must not coerce, or attempt to coerce, an owner‑driver or group of owner‑drivers —
(a) to appoint, or not to appoint, a particular person or group of persons as a negotiating agent; or
(b) to terminate the appointment of a negotiating agent.
29. Negotiating agents for hirers
(1) A hirer may, by instrument, appoint a person or group of persons to be the negotiating agent for the hirer in relation to the engagement of an owner‑driver or owner‑drivers, including the making, variation or termination of owner‑driver contracts.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), an owner‑driver or group of owner‑drivers must not refuse to recognise a negotiating agent duly appointed by a hirer for the purposes of subsection (1).
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if the owner‑driver, or a representative of the group, refusing has not been given a copy of the agent’s instrument of appointment before the refusal.
(4) If requested to do so by the negotiating agent, an owner‑driver or group of owner‑drivers must deal exclusively with the agent within the scope of the agent’s authority.
(5) A person must not coerce, or attempt to coerce, a hirer —
(a) to appoint, or not to appoint, a particular person or group of persons as a negotiating agent; or
(b) to terminate the appointment of a negotiating agent.
Part 6 — Unconscionable conduct
30. Unconscionable conduct by hirers
(1) A hirer must not engage in conduct that is, in all the circumstances, unconscionable with respect to an owner‑driver in relation to the acquisition or possible acquisition by the hirer of services from the owner‑driver under an owner‑driver contract.
(2) Without limiting the matters to which the Tribunal may have regard for the purpose of determining whether a hirer has engaged in conduct that is unconscionable in contravention of subsection (1), the Tribunal may have regard to the following —
(a) the relative strengths of the negotiating positions of the hirer and owner‑driver;
(b) whether, as a result of conduct engaged in by the hirer, the owner‑driver was required to comply with conditions that were not reasonably necessary for the protection of the legitimate interests of the hirer;
(c) whether the owner‑driver was able to understand any documents relating to the acquisition or possible acquisition by the hirer of services from the owner‑driver under an owner‑driver contract;
(d) whether any undue influence or pressure was exerted on, or any unfair tactics were used against, the owner‑driver (or a person acting on behalf of the owner‑driver) by the hirer or a person acting on behalf of the hirer in relation to the acquisition or possible acquisition by the hirer of services from the owner‑driver under an owner‑driver contract;
(e) the amount for which, and the circumstances under which, the owner‑driver could have provided identical or equivalent services to a person other than the hirer, including as an employee;
(f) the extent to which the hirer’s conduct towards the owner‑driver was consistent with the hirer’s conduct in similar transactions between the hirer and other similar owner‑drivers;
(g) the requirements of the code of conduct;
(h) the extent to which the hirer unreasonably failed to disclose to the owner‑driver —
(i) any intended conduct of the hirer that might affect the interests of the owner‑driver; and
(ii) any risks to the owner‑driver arising from the hirer’s intended conduct that are risks that the hirer should have foreseen would not be apparent to the owner‑driver;
(i) the extent to which the hirer was willing to negotiate the terms and conditions of the acquisition or possible acquisition by the hirer of services from the owner‑driver under an owner‑driver contract;
(j) the extent to which the hirer acted in good faith;
(k) whether or not the owner‑driver contract provides for the payment of any increases in the owner‑driver’s fixed and variable overhead costs (as defined in section 27(4));
(l) the terms of an owner‑driver contract, including whether any term of the contract is an unfair term.
[Section 30 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 8.]
31. Unconscionable conduct by owner‑drivers
(1) An owner‑driver must not engage in conduct that is, in all the circumstances, unconscionable with respect to a hirer in relation to the provision or possible provision by the owner‑driver of services to the hirer under an owner‑driver contract.
(2) Without limiting the matters to which the Tribunal may have regard for the purpose of determining whether an owner‑driver has engaged in conduct that is unconscionable in contravention of subsection (1), the Tribunal may have regard to the following —
(a) the relative strengths of the negotiating positions of the owner‑driver and hirer;
(b) whether, as a result of conduct engaged in by the owner‑driver, the hirer was required to comply with conditions that were not reasonably necessary for the protection of the legitimate interests of the owner‑driver;
(c) whether the hirer was able to understand any documents relating to the provision or possible provision by the owner‑driver of services to the hirer under an owner‑driver contract;
(d) whether any undue influence or pressure was exerted on, or any unfair tactics were used against, the hirer (or a person acting on behalf of the hirer) by the owner‑driver or a person acting on behalf of the owner‑driver in relation to the provision or possible provision by the owner‑driver of services to the hirer under an owner‑driver contract;
(e) the amount for which, and the circumstances under which, the hirer could have acquired identical or equivalent services from a person other than the owner‑driver, including from an employee;
(f) the extent to which the owner‑driver’s conduct towards the hirer was consistent with the owner‑driver’s conduct in similar transactions between the owner‑driver and other similar hirers;
(g) the requirements of the code of conduct;
(h) the extent to which the owner‑driver unreasonably failed to disclose to the hirer —
(i) any intended conduct of the owner‑driver that might affect the interests of the hirer; and
(ii) any risks to the hirer arising from the owner‑driver’s intended conduct that are risks that the owner‑driver should have foreseen would not be apparent to the hirer;
(i) the extent to which the owner‑driver was willing to negotiate the terms and conditions of the provision or possible provision by the owner‑driver of services to the hirer under an owner‑driver contract;
(j) the extent to which the owner‑driver acted in good faith;
(k) the terms of an owner‑driver contract, including whether any term of the contract is an unfair term.
[Section 31 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 9.]
31A. Unfair terms
(1) In considering for the purposes of sections 30(2)(l) and 31(2)(k) whether a term of an owner‑driver contract is an unfair term, the Tribunal may have regard to the following —
(a) whether the term causes a significant imbalance in the parties’ rights and obligations arising under the contract;
(b) whether the term is reasonably necessary in order to protect the legitimate interests of a party;
(c) whether the term would cause significant detriment (financial or otherwise) to a party if it were to be applied or relied on;
(d) whether the term provides for the payment by the hirer to the owner‑driver of the guideline rate;
(e) the intelligibility of the contract generally, and of the term in particular;
(f) the extent to which the term, and its legal and practical effect, was accurately explained to a party;
(g) the extent to which a party understood the term and its effect before the term was agreed to;
(h) whether or not it was reasonably practicable for a party to reject, or negotiate for a change to, the term before it was agreed to;
(i) the relationship of the term to other terms of the contract;
(j) whether a party obtained independent legal or other expert advice before agreeing to the term;
(k) whether, at the time the term was agreed, a party knew, or could have found out by asking, that the term would cause the other party hardship;
(l) whether the term is usually found in owner‑driver contracts of that kind;
(m) the justification for the term;
(n) whether the term is harsh or oppressive;
(o) whether the term is inconsistent with any part of the code of conduct, whether or not that part of the code imposes duties or obligations on a person or prohibits a person from engaging in certain conduct.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(d), a term of an owner‑driver contract that provides for the payment by the hirer to the owner‑driver of less than the guideline rate is presumed to be unfair, unless the hirer proves otherwise.
(3) In considering for the purposes of sections 30(2)(l) and 31(2)(k) whether a term of an owner‑driver contract is an unfair term, the Tribunal must not have regard to any unfairness arising out of circumstances that were not reasonably foreseeable when the parties agreed to the term.
[Section 31A inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 10.]
Part 6A — Misleading or deceptive conduct
[Heading inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 11.]
31B. Misleading or deceptive conduct by hirer
A hirer must not engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive, or is likely to mislead or deceive, with respect to an owner‑driver in relation to the acquisition or possible acquisition by the hirer of services from the owner‑driver under an owner‑driver contract.
[Section 31B inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 11.]
31C. Misleading or deceptive conduct by owner‑driver
An owner‑driver must not engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive, or is likely to mislead or deceive, with respect to a hirer in relation to the provision or possible provision by the owner‑driver of services to the hirer under an owner‑driver contract.
[Section 31C inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 11.]
Part 6B — Discrimination
[Heading inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 11.]
31D. Discrimination against owner‑driver
(1) A hirer must not subject or threaten to subject an owner‑driver to any detriment for the reason, or for reasons including the reason, that the owner‑driver, or a person associated with the owner‑driver —
(a) has claimed, or proposes to claim, a benefit or exercised, or proposes to exercise, a power or right that the owner‑driver or associate is entitled to claim or exercise under this Act or the code of conduct; or
(b) has brought, or proposes to bring, or has otherwise participated in, a proceeding under this Act; or
(c) has informed, or proposes to inform, any person of an alleged contravention of this Act, the code of conduct or an order of the Tribunal under this Act; or
(d) has participated, or proposes to participate, in joint negotiations relating to owner‑driver contracts or the engagement of an owner‑driver.
(2) A hirer must not subject or threaten to subject an owner‑driver to any detriment because the owner‑driver, or a person associated with the owner‑driver —
(a) has raised, or proposes to raise, issues of health and safety in relation to the performance of services under an owner‑driver contract; or
(b) has sought, or proposes to seek, to —
(i) negotiate a proposed owner‑driver contract; or
(ii) renegotiate an existing owner‑driver contract.
(3) For the purposes of this section, subjecting an owner‑driver to detriment includes doing one or more of the following —
(a) terminating the owner‑driver’s owner‑driver contract;
(b) injuring the owner‑driver in relation to the terms and conditions of an owner‑driver contract to which the owner‑driver is a party;
(c) altering the position of an owner‑driver so as to prejudice their interests under an owner‑driver contract;
(d) refusing to engage a person as an owner‑driver;
(e) discriminating against an owner‑driver in the terms or conditions on which the owner‑driver is to be engaged as an owner‑driver.
[Section 31D inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 11.]
Part 7 — Inspectors
32. Functions of inspectors
(1) An inspector may, for the purposes of investigating whether or not this Act, the code of conduct or an owner‑driver contract is being complied with, exercise any of the powers that an Industrial Inspector has under the IR Act section 98(3) and, for that purpose, a reference in that provision to —
(a) that Act is to be read as a reference to this Act or the code of conduct; and
[(b) deleted]
(c) industrial location is to be read as a reference to workplace.
(2) The IR Act section 98(4) and (5) apply in relation to the exercise of powers under this section as if the powers were exercised under that Act.
[Section 32 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 12.]
33. Obstructing or hindering inspector
(1) A person must not obstruct or hinder an inspector in the exercise of an inspector’s powers under section 32.
(2) A person must not —
(a) fail to comply with a lawful requirement of an inspector; or
(b) refuse or fail to answer a question lawfully put to the person by an inspector.
(3) A person must not give an inspector information that is false or misleading in a material particular.
(4) A contravention of subsection (1), (2) or (3) is not an offence but those subsections are civil penalty provisions for the purposes of the IR Act section 83E.
Part 8 — Rights of entry, inspection and access to records
Division 1 — Preliminary
[Heading inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 13.]
33A. Term used: record
In this Part —
record means a record required to be kept under the code of conduct.
[Section 33A inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 13.]
Division 2 — Access to records
[Heading inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 14.]
34. Access to and inspection of records
(1) In this section —
relevant person means —
(a) the owner‑driver concerned; or
(b) a person authorised in writing by the owner‑driver to act on behalf of the owner‑driver for the purposes of this section.
(2) A hirer, on written request by a relevant person, must —
(a) produce to the relevant person the hirer’s records relating to the owner‑driver concerned; and
(b) let the relevant person inspect the records.
(3) The duty placed on a hirer under subsection (2) —
(a) continues for so long as the records are required to be kept under the code of conduct; and
(b) is not affected by the fact that an owner‑driver contract is no longer in force; and
(c) includes the further duties —
(i) to let the relevant person enter premises of the hirer for the purpose of inspecting the records; and
(ii) to let the relevant person take copies of the records;
and
(d) must be complied with not later than the 7th day after the day on which the request was made to the hirer.
(4) Nothing in this section limits or otherwise affects the powers of an inspector under this Act.
(5) A contravention of subsection (2) is not an offence but that subsection is a civil penalty provision for the purposes of the IR Act section 83E.
[Section 34 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 15.]
Division 3 — Authorised representative’s right of entry to conduct investigation
[Heading inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 16.]
34A. Terms used
In this Division —
authorised representative means a person to whom an authority is issued under section 34B(2);
occupier, of a workplace, includes a person in charge of the workplace;
officer has the meaning given in the IR Act section 7;
organisation has the meaning given in the IR Act section 7.
[Section 34A inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 16.]
34B. Authorised representative
(1) The secretary of an organisation that is a transport association may apply to the Registrar for a person nominated in the application to be issued with an authority for the purposes of this Division.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the Registrar to whom an application is made under subsection (1) must issue a written authority for the purposes of this Division to the person nominated in the application.
(3) The Registrar must not issue an authority unless the person nominated in the application —
(a) is an officer or employee of the organisation that makes the application under subsection (1); and
(b) is the holder of —
(i) a right of entry permit as defined in the IR Act section 49G(1) that was applied for by the secretary of the organisation that makes the application under subsection (1); or
(ii) an entry permit issued under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Commonwealth) section 512 that was applied for by the organisation that makes the application under subsection (1);
and
(c) has not previously been issued with an authority that was revoked by the Tribunal under section 34D(3) unless the Tribunal, on application by any person, has ordered that a new authority may be issued.
(4) Despite section 43, the IR Act section 49 does not apply to a decision of the Tribunal under subsection (3)(c) that a new authority may be issued.
(5) An authority issued under subsection (2) remains in force until it is revoked or suspended.
[Section 34B inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 16; amended: No. 43 of 2024 s. 158(2).]
34C. Authorised representative who ceases to hold authority or entry permit
(1) An authorised representative must, within 28 days after ceasing to hold a permit referred to in section 34B(3)(b), inform the Registrar that they no longer hold the permit.
(2) A contravention of subsection (1) is not an offence but that subsection is a civil penalty provision for the purposes of the IR Act section 83E.
[Section 34C inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 16; amended: No. 43 of 2024 s. 158(3).]
34D. Revocation or suspension of authority
(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Registrar must revoke an authorised representative’s authority —
(a) on application by the secretary of the organisation that made the application under section 34B(1); or
(b) if the Registrar becomes aware that the authorised representative no longer holds —
(i) a right of entry permit as defined in the IR Act section 49G(1); or
(ii) an entry permit issued under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Commonwealth) section 512.
(2) The Registrar must not revoke an authority under subsection (1) if proceedings pursuant to an application made under subsection (3) in relation to the authority are pending or in progress.
(3) The Tribunal may, on application by any person, revoke, or suspend for a period determined by the Tribunal, an authority issued under section 34B(2) if satisfied that the authorised representative —
(a) has acted in an improper manner in the exercise of any power conferred by this Division; or
(b) has intentionally and unduly hindered a hirer or owner‑driver during their work time; or
(c) no longer holds —
(i) a right of entry permit as defined in the IR Act section 49G(1); or
(ii) an entry permit issued under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Commonwealth) section 512.
(4) An application under subsection (3) for the revocation or suspension of an authority must set out the grounds on which the application is made.
(5) An authorised representative whose authority is revoked must, within 14 days after being informed in writing by the Registrar that their authority is revoked, return their written authority to the Registrar.
(6) A contravention of subsection (5) is not an offence but that subsection is a civil penalty provision for the purposes of the IR Act section 83E.
[Section 34D inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 16; amended: No. 43 of 2024 s. 158(4).]
34E. Written authority of owner‑driver required
An authorised representative is not entitled to exercise a power conferred by this Division for the purpose of conducting an investigation into a suspected breach of an owner‑driver contract to which the owner‑driver is a party unless the representative is authorised in writing by the owner‑driver who is a party to the contract to carry out the investigation.
[Section 34E inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 16.]
35. Authorised representative’s right of entry
An authorised representative may enter any workplace where an owner‑driver works, during working hours at the workplace, for the purpose of investigating any suspected breach of —
(a) this Act; or
(b) the code of conduct; or
(c) an owner‑driver contract to which the owner‑driver is a party.
[Section 35 inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 17.]
35A. Authority must be shown on request
An authorised representative must not enter or remain in a workplace if they fail or refuse to show, on request by the occupier, their written authority issued under section 34B(2) to enter the workplace.
[Section 35A inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 17.]
35B. Conduct in workplace
(1) An authorised representative does not have the right under section 35 to enter into any part of a workplace that is principally used for habitation by an occupier or a member of the occupier’s household.
(2) An authorised representative must comply with any reasonable request by an occupier to take a particular route to reach a room or area in the workplace.
(3) A request under subsection (2) is not unreasonable only because the route is not that which the authorised representative would have chosen.
[Section 35B inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 17.]
35C. Authorised representative’s powers relating to production and inspection of records or other documents
(1) For the purpose of investigating a suspected breach referred to in section 35, an authorised representative may —
(a) subject to subsection (2), require the hirer to produce for the authorised representative’s inspection, during working hours at the workplace or at any mutually convenient time and place, a record or other document kept by the hirer that is related to the suspected breach; and
(b) make copies of the record or other document related to the suspected breach; and
(c) during working hours at the workplace, inspect, and take photographs, film and audio, video or other recordings of, any work, material, machinery or appliance that is relevant to the suspected breach.
(2) An authorised representative must not require the hirer to produce a record or other document unless, before exercising the power, the representative has given the hirer —
(a) if the record or other document is kept at the workplace where the owner‑driver works — at least 24 hours’ written notice of the requirement; or
(b) if the record or other document is kept elsewhere — at least 48 hours’ written notice of the requirement.
(3) The Tribunal may, on the ex parte application of the authorised representative, waive the requirement under subsection (2) to give the hirer notice of an intended exercise of a power if the Tribunal is satisfied that to give such notice would defeat the purpose for which the power is intended to be exercised.
(4) If the requirement for notice is waived under subsection (3) —
(a) the Tribunal must give the authorised representative a certificate authorising the exercise of the power without notice; and
(b) the authorised representative must, after entering the workplace and before requiring the production of the record or other document, give the person who is the occupier of the workplace the certificate or a copy of the certificate.
(5) Nothing in this section limits or otherwise affects the powers of an inspector under this Act.
[Section 35C inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 17.]
36. Prohibiting obstruction or delay of exercise of power
(1) An occupier of a workplace must not refuse, or intentionally and unduly delay, an authorised representative’s entry to the workplace under section 35.
(2) A person must not intentionally and unduly hinder an authorised representative exercising a power under this Division.
(3) A contravention of subsection (1) or (2) is not an offence but those subsections are civil penalty provisions for the purposes of the IR Act section 83E.
[Section 36 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 18.]
Part 9 — Road Freight Transport Industry Tribunal
37. Terms used
(1) In this Part —
Chief Commissioner has the meaning given to that term in the IR Act section 7(1);
Commission has the meaning given to that term in the IR Act section 7(1);
Commissioner has the meaning given to that term in the IR Act section 7(1);
dispute means a dispute between one or more owner‑drivers and one or more hirers arising under or in relation to this Act, the code of conduct or an owner‑driver contract (including a payment dispute) and includes an allegation that a person has contravened this Act, the code of conduct or an owner‑driver contract.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, a payment dispute arises if, by the time the amount claimed in a payment claim is due to be paid under an owner‑driver contract, the amount has not been paid in full, or the claim has been rejected or wholly or partly disputed.
[Section 37 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 19.]
38. Industrial Relations Commission sitting as the Road Freight Transport Industry Tribunal
(1) By this section the Commission has jurisdiction to —
(a) hear and determine disputes that may be referred to the Commission under this Part; and
(b) enquire into and deal with any other matter in relation to the negotiation of owner‑driver contracts that may be referred to the Commission under this Part; and
(c) enquire into, deal with, hear and determine any matter referred to in Part 8 in relation to an authorised representative; and
(d) make a summary determination in accordance with section 38A; and
(e) make a default determination in accordance with section 38B.
(2) When sitting in exercise of the jurisdiction conferred by subsection (1) or under section 46, the Commission is to be known as the Road Freight Transport Industry Tribunal (the Tribunal).
(3) A determination of the Tribunal on a dispute or matter mentioned in subsection (1) has effect according to its substance.
[Section 38 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 20.]
38A. Tribunal’s power to make summary determination
(1) The Tribunal may determine (a summary determination) a dispute or matter referred under this Part without a hearing if —
(a) each party to the proceedings has had a reasonable opportunity to be heard; and
(b) the Tribunal is satisfied that —
(i) a person has frivolously or vexatiously referred or defended a dispute or matter; or
(ii) a party’s case has no merit.
(2) The Tribunal may, upon making a summary determination, make 1 or more of the orders or declarations set out in section 47A.
(3) The power in subsection (1) may be exercised —
(a) in relation to all or part of a dispute or matter; and
(b) either —
(i) on the Tribunal’s own initiative; or
(ii) on the application of a party to the proceedings.
(4) The Tribunal may set aside a summary determination and may do so on conditions as to the payment of costs or as to other matters.
(5) Despite section 43, the IR Act section 49 does not apply to a decision of the Tribunal —
(a) to refuse to make a summary determination; or
(b) to set aside a summary determination.
[Section 38A inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 21.]
38B. Tribunal’s power to make default determination
(1) This section does not apply to —
(a) a failure to comply with the determination of a dispute or matter by the Tribunal; or
(b) an order made in, or as a consequence of, the determination of a dispute or matter by the Tribunal.
(2) The Tribunal may make a determination (a default determination) against a party to the proceedings without a hearing if the party —
(a) does not comply with a direction, order or declaration made by the Tribunal during the course of the proceedings; or
(b) fails to file a response within the prescribed period.
(3) The Tribunal may, upon making a default determination, make 1 or more of the orders or declarations set out in section 47A.
(4) The Tribunal may set aside a default determination and may do so on conditions as to the payment of costs or as to other matters.
(5) Despite section 43, the IR Act section 49 does not apply to a decision of the Tribunal —
(a) to refuse to make a default determination; or
(b) to set aside a default determination.
[Section 38B inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 21.]
39. Jurisdiction to be exercised by Commissioner with necessary qualifications
(1) The jurisdiction conferred by section 38 in respect of any dispute or matter is to be exercised by the Commission constituted by a Commissioner.
(2) In allocating a dispute or matter for the purposes of subsection (1), the Chief Commissioner must have regard to the desirability of the Commissioner concerned having relevant knowledge of this Act and in the field of road freight transport.
40. Persons who may refer disputes and matters to the Tribunal
(1) A dispute or matter may be referred to the Tribunal —
(a) in the case of a dispute arising under or in relation to an owner‑driver contract, by —
(i) a person who is a party to the owner‑driver contract; or
(ii) a transport association in which a party to the owner‑driver contract is eligible to be enrolled as a member; or
(iii) an inspector; or
(iv) the Minister;
and
(b) in the case of a dispute arising under or in relation to this Act or the code of conduct, or involving an allegation that a person has contravened this Act or the code of conduct, by —
(i) an owner‑driver or hirer with a sufficient interest in the dispute; or
(ii) a transport association; or
(iii) except in a case involving an allegation that a person has contravened Part 6 — an inspector; or
(iv) the Minister;
and
(c) in the case of a matter arising in relation to the conduct of joint negotiations for an owner‑driver contract by —
(i) an owner‑driver or hirer with a sufficient interest in the matter; or
(ii) a transport association; or
(iii) the Minister.
(2) Despite subsection (1), a dispute or matter under or in relation to an owner‑driver contract cannot be referred to the Tribunal under subsection (1)(a) or (c) more than 12 months after the contract expires.
[Section 40 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 22.]
41. Intervention in proceeding
The Minister may, on behalf of the State and by leave of the Tribunal, intervene in a proceeding of the Tribunal in which the State has an interest.
41A. When referral not required
(1) This section applies if a payment dispute (the first payment dispute) arising under, or in relation to, an owner‑driver contract is referred to the Tribunal under this Part.
(2) When determining the first payment dispute, the Tribunal may determine a subsequent payment dispute if the subsequent payment dispute —
(a) arises under the same owner‑driver contract; and
(b) is substantially similar to the first payment dispute.
(3) Subsection (2) applies whether or not the subsequent payment dispute is referred to the Tribunal under this Part.
[Section 41A inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 23.]
42. Representation
Any party to proceedings before the Tribunal, and any other person or body permitted by or under this Act to intervene or be heard in proceedings before the Tribunal, may appear —
(a) in person; or
(b) with the leave of the Tribunal, or in accordance with the regulations, by a legal practitioner or agent.
43. Applied provisions: practice, procedure and appeals
(1) Except as otherwise provided, the following provisions (the applied provisions) of the IR Act that apply to and in relation to the exercise of the jurisdiction of the Commission constituted by a Commissioner apply to the exercise of the jurisdiction conferred by section 38(1) —
(a) section 22B;
(b) section 26(1)(a) and (b), (2) and (3);
(c) section 27;
(d) section 28;
(e) section 29B;
(f) section 32A;
(g) section 33;
(h) section 34(1), (3) and (4);
(i) section 36;
(j) section 49;
(k) section 90;
(l) section 91;
(m) section 92.
(2) The applied provisions have effect —
(a) with such modifications as may be prescribed under the IR Act section 113; and
(b) with such other modifications as the Tribunal determines may be necessary or appropriate.
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1), the IR Act section 90(1) applies as if paragraph (a) were deleted and the following paragraph were inserted instead —
“
(a) on the ground that the decision is in excess of jurisdiction;
”.
[Section 43 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 24.]
44. Conciliation
(1) This section applies where a dispute or matter has been referred to the Tribunal under this Part.
(2) If the Tribunal considers that the issues involved may be resolved by conciliation —
(a) the Tribunal may endeavour to assist the parties to reach an agreement on those issues; and
(b) for that purpose the Tribunal may —
(i) arrange conferences of the parties or their representatives presided over by the Tribunal; and
(ii) arrange for the parties or their representatives to confer among themselves at a conference at which the Tribunal is not present; and
(iii) otherwise encourage the parties to exchange or divulge attitudes or information that in the opinion of the Tribunal would assist in the resolution of the issues.
(3) The Tribunal may give any direction or make any order or declaration that the Tribunal thinks expedient for the purposes of this section.
(4) If the Tribunal gives or makes a direction, order or declaration under subsection (3) the Tribunal must —
(a) if it is given or made orally, reduce the direction, order or declaration to writing as soon as is practicable; and
(b) make the text of the direction, order or declaration available to the parties as soon as is practicable after it is given or made.
(5) If the Tribunal —
(a) takes action under subsection (2)(a); and
(b) is satisfied that the parties have reached agreement on all of the issues involved,
the Tribunal may, with the consent of the parties, make a determination by order for the purposes of section 38 in terms of that agreement.
45. Compulsory attendance at conciliation
(1) Subject to this section, the Tribunal may summon any person to attend, at a time and place specified in the summons, at conciliation proceedings under section 44.
(2) A summons under this section —
(a) may be given in the manner prescribed by the regulations; and
(b) when so given, is to be taken, in any proceedings relating to the summons, to have been served on the person to whom it is directed unless that person, in those proceedings, satisfies the Tribunal or the Full Bench, as the case may be, that he or she did not receive the summons.
(3) Any person so summoned must, except for good cause, proof of which is on that person, attend the conciliation proceedings at the time and place specified in the summons and continue to attend at that place as directed by the Tribunal.
46. Enforcement for the purposes of sections 44 and 45
(1) If a person contravenes section 45(3), or a direction, order or declaration given or made under section 44(3) or section 45, the Tribunal —
(a) on its own initiative; or
(b) on the application of —
(i) a person who is a party to the proceeding in relation to which the contravention arises; or
(ii) a transport association in which a party to the proceeding in relation to which the contravention arises is eligible to be enrolled as a member; or
(iii) the Minister,
may enforce that provision, direction, order or declaration as specified in subsection (4).
(2) An application for the enforcement of section 45(3), or a direction, order or declaration given or made under section 44(3) or section 45, must not be made otherwise than to the Tribunal.
(3) The jurisdiction conferred by this section is to be exercised by the Commission constituted by a Commissioner.
(4) For the purposes of subsection (1) the Tribunal has all of the powers and duties of the Full Bench under the IR Act section 84A(4) to (8), and those provisions apply accordingly.
(5) For the purposes of this section, the IR Act sections 82A and 103 apply as if references in those sections to section 84A were references to this section.
47. Determination of dispute where no resolution by conciliation
(1) The Tribunal may hear and determine a dispute for the purposes of section 38(1)(a) and enquire into and deal with a matter for the purposes of section 38(1)(b) if the dispute or matter is not —
(a) resolved by conciliation under section 44; or
(b) disposed of by the Tribunal making a summary determination under section 38A; or
(c) disposed of by the Tribunal making a default determination under section 38B.
[(2) deleted]
(3) In making a determination mentioned in subsection (1), the Tribunal must endeavour to ensure that the dispute or matter is resolved —
(a) taking into account any agreement reached by the parties on any particular issue; and
(b) subject to paragraph (a), on terms that could reasonably have been agreed between the parties in the first instance or by conciliation.
[(4), (5) deleted]
[Section 47 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 25.]
47A. Remedies that may be given
(1) In making a determination under section 38A(1), 38B(2) or 47(1), the Tribunal may do one or more of the following —
(a) order the payment of a sum of money —
(i) found by the Tribunal to be owing by one party to another party; or
(ii) by way of damages (including exemplary damages and damages in the nature of interest); or
(iii) by way of restitution;
(b) order the refund of any money paid under an owner‑driver contract;
(c) make an order in the nature of an order for specific performance of an owner‑driver contract;
(d) declare that a debt is, or is not, owing;
(e) order a party to do, or to refrain from doing, something;
(f) make any other order the Tribunal considers fair.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), if the Tribunal determines that a hirer or owner‑driver has engaged in conduct that is unconscionable having regard to an unfair term of the owner‑driver contract, the Tribunal may do one or more of the following —
(a) declare a term of the contract void;
(b) insert a new term into the contract;
(c) vary a term of the contract.
[Section 47A inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 26.]
48. Order to prevent entering into of owner‑driver contracts
(1) The Tribunal, when making an order under section 47A or at a later time, may make any further order the Tribunal considers appropriate for the purpose of prohibiting (either absolutely or otherwise than in accordance with specified conditions) a relevant person from —
(a) entering into any specified kind of owner‑driver contract; or
(b) doing any act (whether by advertising or otherwise) that may reasonably be construed as being intended to induce other persons to enter into any such contract.
(2) An order under this section must identify the person or persons bound by the order and takes effect in respect of each of those persons on service of a copy of the order on the person.
(3) In this section —
relevant person means —
(a) a party to the proceedings; or
(b) any other person who is, in any way considered relevant by the Tribunal, associated with a party to the proceedings.
[Section 48 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 27.]
49. Other jurisdictions
(1) Where —
(a) a dispute has been referred to the Tribunal; and
(b) at the time the dispute was referred no issue arising under the referral was the subject of civil proceedings before a court,
a court has no jurisdiction to hear or determine such an issue in civil proceedings unless subsection (2) applies.
(2) This subsection applies if the dispute, or the part of the dispute to which the issue referred to in subsection (1) relates, is withdrawn or is dismissed for want of jurisdiction.
(3) Where —
(a) a dispute has been referred to the Tribunal; and
(b) at the time the dispute was referred an issue arising under the referral was the subject of civil proceedings before a court,
the Tribunal, on becoming aware of those proceedings, ceases to have jurisdiction to hear or determine the issue unless subsection (4) applies.
(4) This subsection applies if —
(a) the proceedings referred to in subsection (3) are, or the part of the proceedings relating to the issue referred to in that subsection is, transferred to the Tribunal by the court concerned; or
(b) those proceedings are, or that part of those proceedings is, withdrawn or dismissed by the court or by another court on appeal in those proceedings, for want of jurisdiction or without deciding the issue on its merits; or
(c) as a result of judicial review, a court quashes or declares invalid those proceedings or that part of those proceedings or any order, judgment or decision made in those proceedings in relation to the issue, on the ground that the court concerned had no jurisdiction to hear and determine the issue.
50. Enforcement of monetary order
(1) In this section —
monetary order means an order of the Tribunal requiring the payment or refund of money (including an order as to costs).
(2) A person to whom a payment or refund is to be made under a monetary order may enforce the order by filing in a court of competent jurisdiction —
(a) a copy of the order that the Registrar has certified to be a true copy; and
(b) the person’s affidavit as to the amount not paid under the order and, if the order is to take effect upon any default, as to the making of that default.
(3) No charge is to be made for filing a copy of an order or an affidavit under this section.
(4) On filing, the order is taken to be an order of the court, and may be enforced accordingly.
51. Enforcement of order other than conciliation or monetary order
(1) This section applies to an order of the Tribunal to the extent that the decision is not —
(a) an order referred to in section 44(3); or
(b) a monetary order (as defined in section 50(1)).
(2) A person who fails to comply with an order to which this section applies is to be taken to commit a contempt of the Industrial Appeal Court and is punishable by that court under the IR Act section 92.
Part 10 — Miscellaneous
52. Trade Practices Act 1 and Competition Code
(1) For the purposes of the Trade Practices Act 1974 1 of the Commonwealth and the Competition Code the following things are authorised by this Act —
(a) the making of a code of conduct; and
(b) anything done by a person in order to comply with this Act or a code of conduct; and
(c) anything done by an owner‑driver or group of owner‑drivers preparatory to entering into, or in anticipation of, joint negotiations with a single business, including the appointment of a negotiating agent to conduct those joint negotiations; and
(d) anything done by a negotiating agent, as authorised by this Act and in accordance with the agent’s terms of appointment, in conducting joint negotiations with a single business; and
(e) any dealings by an owner‑driver or group of owner‑drivers with their negotiating agent for the purposes of conducting joint negotiations with a single business.
(2) For the purposes of this section —
(a) a single business is a business, project or undertaking that is carried on by one hirer; and
(b) if 2 or more hirers carry on a business, project or undertaking as a joint venture or common enterprise, the hirers are taken to be one hirer; and
(c) if 2 or more corporations that are related to each other for the purposes of the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth each carry on a single business —
(i) the corporations are to be treated as one hirer; and
(ii) the single businesses are to be treated as one single business.
53. Confidentiality
A person who performs a function under this Act must not, directly or indirectly, disclose or make use of any information obtained in the course of performing their function except —
(a) in the performance of functions under this Act; or
(b) as required or allowed by any other law; or
(c) for the purpose of any legal proceedings arising out of the administration of this Act; or
(d) with the written consent of the Minister or the person to whom the information relates; or
(e) in other circumstances prescribed by the regulations.
Penalty: a fine of $12 000 and imprisonment for 12 months.
[Section 53 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 28.]
54. Laying documents before Parliament
(1) If —
(a) at the commencement of the period referred to in section 21(2) or Schedule 2 clause 20(2) in respect of a document a House of Parliament is not sitting; and
(b) the Minister is of the opinion that that House will not sit during that period,
the Minister must transmit a copy of the document to the Clerk of that House.
(2) A copy of a document transmitted to the Clerk of a House is to be taken to have been laid before that House.
(3) The laying of a copy of a document that is taken to have occurred under subsection (2) must be recorded in the Minutes, or Votes and Proceedings, of the House on the first sitting day of the House after the Clerk received the copy.
55. Protection from liability
(1) An action in tort does not lie against a person for anything that the person has done, in good faith, in the performance or purported performance of a function under this Act.
(2) The State is also relieved of any liability that it might otherwise have had for another person having done anything as described in subsection (1).
(3) The protection given by this section applies even though the thing done as described in subsection (1) may have been capable of being done whether or not this Act had been enacted.
(4) In this section, a reference to the doing of anything includes a reference to the omission to do anything.
56. Protection for compliance with this Act
(1) No civil or criminal liability attaches to a person for compliance, or purported compliance, in good faith, with a requirement of this Act.
(2) In particular, if a person produced a document or other material as required under this Act, no civil liability attaches to the person for producing the document or material, whether the liability would arise under a contract or otherwise.
57. Regulations
(1) The Governor may make regulations prescribing all matters that are required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed, or are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.
(2) Without limiting the application of the Interpretation Act 1984 section 43, regulations made under this Act may adopt wholly or partly any standards, rules, code or other provisions published by some other body and may adopt them —
(a) with or without amendment or modification; and
(b) as in force at the time of adoption or as amended from time to time.
[58. Omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).]
59. Review of Act
(1) The Minister must carry out a review of the operation and effectiveness of this Act as soon as is practicable after the expiry of 5 years from the commencement of this section and, in the course of that review, the Minister must consider and have regard to —
(a) the effectiveness of the operations of the Council and the Tribunal; and
(b) the need for the continuation of the functions of the Council and the Tribunal; and
(c) any other matters that appear to the Minister to be relevant to the operation and effectiveness of this Act.
(2) The Minister must prepare a report based on the review and, as soon as is practicable after the report is prepared, and in any event not more than 12 months after the expiry of the 5 year period referred to in subsection (1), must cause it to be laid before each House of Parliament.
Part 11 — Transitional provisions
[Heading inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 29.]
60. Notice of termination before commencement day
(1) In this section —
commencement day means the day on which the Owner‑Drivers (Contracts and Disputes) Amendment Act 2022 sections 5 and 31 come into operation.
(2) Section 10A and Schedule 1 Division 4 do not apply in relation to a notice of termination of an owner‑driver contract given before commencement day.
[Section 60 inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 29.]
Schedule 1 — Implied provisions
[s. 13, 14, 15, 15A and 16]
[Heading amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 30.]
Division 1 — Responding to claims for payment
Responding to a payment claim
Within 14 days after a party receives a payment claim, the party must do one of the following —
(a) pay the part of the amount of the claim that is not disputed;
(b) pay the whole of the amount of the claim.
Division 2 — Interest on overdue amounts
Interest payable on overdue amounts
(1) Interest is payable on so much of an amount that —
(a) is payable under this contract by a party to another party on or before a certain date; and
(b) is unpaid after that date.
(2) The interest must be paid for the period beginning on the day after the date on which the amount is due and ending on and including the date on which the amount payable is paid.
(3) The rate of interest at any time is equal to that prescribed for that time under the Civil Judgments Enforcement Act 2004 section 8(1)(a).
Division 3 — Making claims for payment
Content of claim for payment
A payment claim must —
(a) state the name of the claimant; and
(b) state the date of the claim; and
(c) in the case of a claim by the owner‑driver — itemise and describe the obligations under this contract that the owner‑driver has performed and to which the claim relates in sufficient detail for the hirer to assess the claim; and
(d) in the case of a claim by the hirer — describe the basis for the claim in sufficient detail for the owner‑driver to assess the claim; and
(e) be given to the party against which the claim is made.
Division 4 — Termination of contract
[Heading inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 31.]
Notice of termination
(1) A party may terminate this contract by giving the other party written notice of termination.
(2) A written notice of termination must state —
(a) the day on which the notice is given; and
(b) the day on which the termination of this contract is to take effect.
(3) A notice of termination given under subclause (1) has no effect if the notice period is less than the minimum notice period.
(4) Subclause (3) does not apply if this contract is terminated due to —
(a) a material breach of the contract; or
(b) the serious and wilful misconduct of the owner‑driver; or
(c) exceptional circumstances beyond the control of the terminating party that were not reasonably foreseeable at the time of entering into this contract.
[Clause 4 inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 31.]
Payment in lieu of notice
Despite clause 4(3), the hirer may terminate this contract by paying the owner‑driver —
(a) if the termination is to take effect immediately — the total amount that would be payable under this contract in respect of the minimum notice period, less 25%; or
(b) if a notice period is given but it is less than the minimum notice period —
(i) the amount payable for work performed by the owner‑driver during the notice period; and
(ii) the amount that would be payable under this contract in respect of the balance of the minimum notice period, less 25%.
[Clause 5 inserted: No. 36 of 2022 s. 31.]
Schedule 2 — Constitution and proceedings of Council
[s. 23]
Division 1 — General provisions
Term of office
(1) A Council member holds office for the term, not exceeding 3 years, that is specified in the instrument of their appointment, but may from time to time be re‑appointed.
(2) Despite subclause (1), if the term of office of a member of the Council expires by effluxion of time without a person having been appointed to fill the vacancy, the member continues in office until the earlier of the following —
(a) the vacancy is filled (whether by the re‑appointment of the member or the appointment of a new member);
(b) the member resigns under clause 3(1)(a);
(c) the member is removed from office under clause 3(2);
(d) the member dies.
[Clause 1 amended: No. 36 of 2022 s. 32.]
Chairman and deputy chairman
(1) The Minister is to appoint one Council member to be the chairman.
(2) The Council is to elect one Council member to be the deputy chairman.
(3) If the chairman is unable to act by reason of sickness, absence or other cause, or during any vacancy in that office, the deputy chairman is to perform the functions of the chairman.
Resignation, removal, etc.
(1) The office of a Council member becomes vacant if he or she —
(a) resigns the office by written notice addressed to the Minister; or
(b) is an insolvent under administration as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 of the Commonwealth; or
(c) is removed from office by the Minister under subclause (2).
(2) The Minister may remove a Council member from office if the Minister is satisfied that the member —
(a) has neglected his or her duty; or
(b) has misbehaved; or
(c) is incompetent; or
(d) is suffering from mental or physical incapacity impairing the performance of his or her functions; or
(e) has been absent, without leave and reasonable excuse, from 3 consecutive meetings of the Council of which the member has had notice.
Leave of absence
The Council may grant leave of absence to a Council member on the terms and conditions that it thinks fit.
Council member unable to act
(1) If a Council member, other than the chairman, is unable to act by reason of sickness, absence or other cause, the Minister may appoint another person to act temporarily in his or her place and, while acting in accordance with the appointment, that other person is taken to be a Council member.
(2) If the Council member who is deputy chairman is performing the functions of the chairman, the Minister may, under subclause (1), appoint another person to act in his or her place as a Council member.
(3) The appointment of a person under subclause (1) may be terminated at any time by the Minister.
Savings
No act or omission of a person acting in place of another person under clause 5 is to be questioned on the ground that the occasion for his or her appointment or acting had not arisen or had ceased.
Calling of meetings
(1) Subject to subclause (2), meetings are to be held at the times and places that the Council determines.
(2) A special meeting of the Council may at any time be convened by the chairman.
(3) The first meeting of the Council is to be convened by the chairman.
Presiding officer
(1) The chairman is to preside at all meetings of the Council at which he or she is present.
(2) If both the chairman and the deputy chairman are absent from a meeting, the Council members present are to appoint one of their number to preside.
Quorum
A quorum for a meeting of the Council is at least one half of the number of Council members.
Voting
(1) At any meeting of the Council each Council member present has a deliberative vote.
(2) If the votes cast on a question are equally divided, the person presiding has a casting vote on the question.
Minutes
The Council is to cause accurate minutes to be kept of the proceedings at its meetings.
Resolution without meeting
(1) A resolution of the Council in writing signed by each Council member, or assented to by each Council member by letter, telegram, telex, facsimile transmission, email or other similar means, has the same effect as if it had been passed at a meeting.
(2) The Council must cause a record to be kept of each resolution under subclause (1).
Holding meetings remotely
The presence of a Council member at a meeting of the Council need not be by attendance in person but may be by that member and each other Council member at the meeting being simultaneously in contact by telephone or other means of instantaneous communication.
Committees
(1) The Council may appoint committees to assist it in the performance of its functions, and may discharge or alter any committee so appointed.
(2) A committee may include persons who are not members of the Council.
(3) Subject to the directions of the Council, a committee may determine its own procedures.
Council to determine own procedures
Subject to this Act, the Council is to determine its own procedures.
Division 2 — Disclosure of interests etc.
Disclosure of interests
(1) A Council member who has a material personal interest in a matter being considered or about to be considered by the Council must, as soon as possible after the relevant facts have come to the member’s knowledge, disclose the nature of the interest at a meeting of the Council.
Penalty: A fine of $10 000.
(2) A disclosure under subclause (1) is to be recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
Voting by interested members
(1) A Council member who has a material personal interest in a matter that is being considered by the Council —
(a) must not vote whether at a meeting or otherwise —
(i) on the matter; or
(ii) on a proposed resolution under clause 18 in respect of the matter, whether relating to that member or a different Council member;
and
(b) must not be present while —
(i) the matter; or
(ii) a proposed resolution of the kind referred to in paragraph (a)(ii),
is being considered at a meeting.
Clause 17 may be declared inapplicable
Clause 17 does not apply if the Council has at any time passed a resolution that —
(a) specifies the Council member, the interest and the matter; and
(b) states that the Council members voting for the resolution are satisfied that the interest should not disqualify the Council member from considering or voting on the matter.
Quorum where clause 17 applies
(1) Despite clause 9, if a Council member is disqualified under clause 17 in relation to a matter, a quorum is present during the consideration of the matter if at least 3 Council members are present who are entitled to vote on any motion that may be moved at the meeting in relation to the matter.
(2) The Minister may deal with a matter insofar as the Council cannot deal with it because of subclause (1).
Minister may declare clauses 17 and 19 inapplicable
(1) The Minister may by writing declare that clause 17 or 19 does not apply, or both of them do not apply, in relation to a specified matter either generally or in voting on particular resolutions.
(2) The Minister must cause a copy of a declaration under subclause (1) to be laid before each House of Parliament, or dealt with under section 54, within 14 days after the declaration is made.
[Schedule 3 omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).]
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Notes
This is a compilation of the Owner-Drivers (Contracts and Disputes) Act 2007 and includes amendments made by other written laws. For provisions that have come into operation, and for information about any reprints, see the compilation table.
Compilation table
Short title
Number and year
Assent
Commencement
Owner-Drivers (Contracts and Disputes) Act 2007
7 of 2007
6 Jun 2007
s. 1 and 2: 6 Jun 2007; Act other than s. 1, 2, 35 and 36: 1 Aug 2008 (see s. 2 and Gazette 18 Jul 2008 p. 3329); s. 35 and 36: 1 Jun 2023 (see s. 2 and SL 2023/27 cl. 2)
Public Sector Reform Act 2010 s. 89
39 of 2010
1 Oct 2010
1 Dec 2010 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 5 Nov 2010 p. 5563)
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2011 s. 13 and 27
47 of 2011
25 Oct 2011
26 Oct 2011 (see s. 2(b))
Road Traffic Legislation Amendment Act 2012 Pt. 4 Div. 37
8 of 2012
21 May 2012
27 Apr 2015 (see s. 2(d) and Gazette 17 Apr 2015 p. 1371)
Statutes (Repeals and Minor Amendments) Act 2014 s. 30
17 of 2014
2 Jul 2014
6 Sep 2014 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 5 Sep 2014 p. 3213)
Reprint 1: The Owner-Drivers (Contracts and Disputes) Act 2007 as at 4 Aug 2017 (includes amendments listed above)
Owner-Drivers (Contracts and Disputes) Amendment Act 2022
36 of 2022
28 Oct 2022
s. 1 and 2: 28 Oct 2022 (see s. 2(a)); s. 12: 29 Oct 2022 (see s. 2(b)); s. 17 and 18: 1 Jun 2023 (see s. 2(c) and SL 2023/27 cl. 2); Act other than s. 1, 2, 12, 17 and 18: 1 June 2023 (see s. 2(d) and SL 2023/28 cl. 2)
Workers Compensation and Injury Management Act 2023 s. 709
21 of 2023
24 Oct 2023
1 Jul 2024 (see s. 2(d) and SL 2024/34 cl. 2)
Industrial Relations Legislation Amendment Act 2024 s. 158
43 of 2024
13 Nov 2024
31 Jan 2025 (see s. 2(c))
Other notes
1 Now known as the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cwlth). The short title was changed by the Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Act (No. 2) (2010) (Cwlth) Sch. 5 cl. 2.
Defined terms
[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]
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