The Albanese Labor Government has announced plans to create a new Fair Work Court to provide simpler, fairer and faster justice for working Australians.

The new federal Fair Work Court will provide a specialist forum for resolving workplace relations disputes that works seamlessly with the Fair Work Commission.

Specialist judges with workplace relations expertise would sit on the Court, with the aim of supporting faster, simpler and more accessible dispute resolution.

A fair workplace relations system relies on workers and employers being able to resolve disputes quickly and fairly. However, the current court system for workers and employers can be costly, complex to navigate, and slow to respond to the needs of modern workplaces.

“Australians who have been underpaid hundreds, even thousands, of dollars shouldn’t have to wait years for justice, or be told their case will cost more than their claim,” said Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

Unions welcome announcement

Australian Unions (ACTU) welcomed the announcement of a new Fair Work Court, noting the lengthy time and costs currently facing Australians seeking to enforce their workplace rights.

Under the current system, ACTU claims, well-resourced employers can drag out cases and deter workers from pursuing claims.

“Justice delayed is justice denied,” said ACTU Secretary, Sally McManus.

“If your boss owes you money, you should not have to wait one or even two years to get it back. Too many employers can drag out court cases and grind workers into the dust while making them wait to get a fair hearing.

“The Fair Work Court will make it simpler, easier and faster to get justice so Australians can enforce their workplace rights,” she said.

Consultation process

The Government will consult on the design of the proposed court this year.

Consultation will help shape how the Court works, including how it will work with the existing Fair Work Commission, and how it will improve access to justice and better support workers and employers navigating disputes.

“We want to get this right, which is why consultation will be central to shaping the design of the proposed court,” said Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Amanda Rishworth.

Workers, employers, and legal experts will be able to provide feedback before the Government considers the court’s final design and next steps.

More details will about the consultation process are expected to be released soon. A new Fair Work Court is decades in the making, after the Howard Government abolished the last industrial relations court in 1997.