Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94
Media Release
11 Oct 2010
Fair Work Ombudsman to look at Queensland
traffic control industry
The Fair Work Ombudsman has written to more than 80 employers in
Queensland’s traffic control industry as part of a new campaign.
Key stakeholders, including employer groups and unions, have also been briefed
on the campaign.
Fair Work Ombudsman Executive Director Michael Campbell says the campaign
aims to increase awareness of workplace laws, including Modern Awards and the
National Employment Standards.
“This campaign is an ideal opportunity for employers in the traffic control industry
to ensure they understand their obligations under workplace laws and are
complying with them,” he said.
“The Fair Work Ombudsman is committed to providing free education, assistance
and advice to make it easier for employers to comply with workplace laws.”
Mr Campbell says as part of the campaign Fair Work inspectors will randomly
select 57 traffic control industry employers for audit over the next two months.
The focus will be on employers in Hervey Bay, Brisbane, the Gold Coast,
Cairns, Caboolture, Rockhampton, Gladstone and Sunshine Coast regions.
The audits will aim to ensure employers are paying workers in-line with minimum
wage and penalty rates, are not engaging in sham contracting and are complying
with their record-keeping and pay slip obligations.
Mr Campbell says the campaign follows a Queensland state department
investigation raising concerns about potential non-compliance issues.
“It is important we conduct this campaign to ensure the workers in this industry
are being paid their full entitlements,” he said.
“Enforcing compliance with legislated pay rates also benefits employers by
ensuring there is a level playing field in the industry and employers who pay
workers correctly are not place at a competitive disadvantage.”
Mr Campbell says operators targeted for audit will include employers of traffic
control workers at construction sites, road maintenance areas and big events.
“If inspectors find minor or inadvertent contraventions, the preferred approach is
to educate the employer and assist them to voluntarily rectify the issue,” he said.
“Obviously in cases where a contravention is blatant or employers are not willing
to promptly resolve an issue, we may escalate the audit to a full investigation.”
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Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94
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Mr Campbell says the Fair Work Ombudsman has a range of user-friendly
resources on its website to assist employers to comply with workplace laws and
operate their workplace at best practice.
keeping templates, a self-audit checklist, template letters and fact sheets on
dozens of topics including leave, industrial action, public holidays, enterprise
bargaining, gender pay equality and family-friendly workplaces.
As well as Online resources, the Fair Work Ombudsman has more than 200
highly-skilled advisers available to speak with employers and workers with
questions on its Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 from 8am - 6pm weekdays.
The Fair Work Ombudsman also has Best Practice Guides which have been
developed to assist employers make better use of the provisions of the Fair Work
Act and better understand other aspects of workplace laws.
Mr Campbell says the guides cover work and family, consultation and co-
operation, individual flexibility arrangements, employing young workers, gender
pay equity, small business, workplace privacy, managing underperformance,
effective dispute resolution and improving workplace productivity.
Media inquiries:
Ryan Pedler, Senior Media Adviser. (03) 9954 2561, 0411 430 902.
ryan.pedler@fwo.gov.au
NEWS 
