VPRS 5468 Case Files, Single Number System

Full description

This series comprises files of cases heard by the Industrial Appeals Court from 1943 to 1981 and the Industrial Relations Commission from 1981 to 1982. The Industrial Appeals Court was reconstituted under the Factories and Shops Act 1941 (No.4874) in 1942 (it had previously been constituted as the Court of Industrial Appeals from 1903).

The Industrial Appeals Court was established primarily to hear appeals against decisions of the Wages Boards and decisions of the Melbourne Industrial Court but it also considered:

* matters referred to it by the Minister
* matters affecting more than one Wages Board
* cases regarding the interpretation of determinations of Wages Boards
* proceedings transferred from any other court where the proceeding concerned the relationship between
* an employer and employee
* applications for exemption from long service leave provisions.

From 1972 the Court could also hear appeals against decisions of Magistrates Courts in proceedings taken for the recovery of arrears of wages or holiday pay.

The functions of the Industrial Appeals Court were assumed by the Industrial Relations Commission from 1 November 1981. The Industrial Relations Commission also assumed responsibility for appointing, abolishing and varying the membership and powers of Conciliation and Arbitration Boards (which superseded the Wages Boards). The Commission also was empowered to hear cases for the recognition of employer and employee associations (unions).