WA's local governments now under state employment laws

Local government employers and employees in Western Australia are now under state employment laws.

Since January 1, around 137 local governments, eight regional local governments, and 23,000 employees are now covered by the state industrial relations system.

"Local government employers and employees now enjoy access to a strong, locally based independent umpire in the form of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission," said Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston.

This means that all industrial matters, including employment disputes, awards, or agreements, will be handled by the commission.

"Matters involving enforcement of industrial instruments will be dealt with by the Industrial Magistrate's Court," the commission said on its website.

Recently, the Western Australia government also mandated employers to identify, minimise, and stamp out psychosocial risks in the workplace.

Commonwealth law

Previously, most local governments in the state were covered by Commonwealth employment laws. The Mark McGowan government took steps in 2018 to have these employers and employees covered by state legislation.

The move follows an independent review that identified "significant legal doubt about whether local governments could validly operate under the Commonwealth laws."

"The McGowan government delivers on an important election commitment to ensure local governments are covered by State employment laws, not laws made in Canberra," said Johnston.

Across the country, Queensland, South Australia, and New South Wales have also begun regulating their local governments under state-based employment laws.