Listed below are contact numbers and website addresses which may assist you with queries about issues which do not fall into the ABCC’s direct area of responsibility, and also other useful contacts such as unions and employer organisations.
Apprenticeships
Employer organisations
Fair trading
Licensing businesses
Long Service Leave
Occupational health and safety
Trade unions
Trade skills assessments
Wages and conditions
Other useful contacts
For other business information go to http://www.business.gov.au
Apprenticeships
The Australian Government's Australian Apprenticeships website contains information about apprenticeships, including details on how apprenticeships work, and on incentives and subsidies available for employers.
If you have a specific question about apprenticeships, you should contact the appropriate body in your state. Contact details for Australian Apprenticeships Centres in your region can be found on the Australian Apprenticeships website or by calling the Australian Apprenticeships referral line on 13 38 73.
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Employer Organisations
ACCI - Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(03) 9668 9950
ACIF - Australian Construction Industry Forum
(02) 6295 6790
AI Group - Australian Industry Group
(02) 9466 5566
AMCA QLD - Air Conditioning and Mechanical Contractors' Association of Queensland
(07) 3112 0201
AMMA - Australian Mines and Metals Association
(03) 9614 4777
Commerce Queensland - Queensland's Chamber or Commerce and Industry
(07) 3842 224
CCF - Civil Contractors' Federation of Australia
(03) 9851 9900
ECA - Electrical and Communications Assocation. Represents the interests of electrical contracting companies as well as other businesses in Queensland's electrotechnology sector.
(07) 3251 2444
HIA - Housing Industry Association
(State branch contact details available on HIA website)
MBA - Master Builders' Association of Australia
(02) 6202 8888
ACT Master Builders Association of the ACT
NSW Master Builders Assocation of NSW
NT Territory Construction Association
QLD Master Builders
SA Master Builders Assocation of South Australia
TAS Master Builders' Association of Tasmania
VIC Master Builders Association of Victoria
WA Master Builders Association of Western Australia
NECA - National Electrical and Communications Association
(02) 9439 8523
(State branch contact details available on NECA website)
Independent Contractors of Australia Membership is open to all persons who are, or wish to be independent contractors, or those who seek information on independent contracting.
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Fair Trading
- The ABCC does not deal directly with disputes regarding fair trading (unless such a dispute involves an alleged breach of an award, the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 (link to Act) or the Workplace Relations Act 1996 (link to Act). If you have a question or a complaint about fair trading, you will need to contact the fair trading authority in your state:
Victoria
Consumer Affairs Victoria
1300 55 81 81
You can make an enquiry or lodge a consumer complaint with CAV online. Disputes are heard by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal .
New South Wales
NSW Office of Fair Trading
(02) 9895 0111
You can submit complaints online here
Queensland
Queensland Office of Fair Trading
1300 658 030
You can submit complaints online here
South Australia
Office of Consumer and Business Affairs
(08) 8204 9777
Western Australia
Department of Consumer and Employment Protection
1300 304 054
Tasmania
Office of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading
1300 654 499
Northern Territory
Department of Justice. Consumer and Business Affairs
1800 019 319
Australian Capital Territory
ACT Office of Fair Trading
(02) 6207 0400
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Licensing Businesses
We receive a large number of queries on licensing requirements for businesses. These requirements vary from state to state, and you can obtain information about the appropriate licenses for your business from the relevant authority in your state:
Victoria
Business License Information Service
13 22 15
New South Wales
The NSW Business License Information System is an online database which can provide you with information about licensing requirements in New South Wales.
Queensland
SmartLicense
1800 061 631
South Australia
Business License Information Service
1800 188 018.
Western Australia
Western Australian Business License Information Service
(08) 9220 0234 or 1800 199 125 (for regional callers)
Tasmania
Business License Information Service
1800 005 262.
Northern Territory
Business License Information Service
1800 188 018.
Australian Capital Territory
Business Licence Information Service
1800 244 650
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Long Service Leave
Long service leave is a leave entitlement granted to employees for ‘long service’ to an employer.
If you have any questions about your long service leave entitlements, you should contact the appropriate body in your state.
Victoria
Coinvest
1800 805 844
New South Wales
Building & Construction Industry Long Service Leave Payments Corporation
13 14 41
Queensland
QLEAVE
1800 803 491
South Australia
Construction Benefit Services
(08) 8271 1222
Tasmania
Tasbuild Limited
(03) 6233 7670
Australia Capital Territory
Building & Construction Industry Long Service Leave Board
1800 655 060
Northern Territory
NT Build
1300 795 855
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Occupational Health and Safety
The Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC)
Established in 2005, the Federal Safety Commissioner works with industry and government stakeholders towards achieving the highest possible occupational health and safety (OHS) standards on Australian building and construction projects.
The role of the Federal Safety Commissioner is to promote and improve OHS in the building and construction industry.
The key functions of the Federal Safety Commissioner include:
- promoting world class OHS outcomes on Australian building and construction projects;
- developing and administering the Australian Government Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme; and
- identifying and progressing initiatives to improve OHS performance.
Further information on the Federal Safety Commissioner and the Australian Government Building and Construction OHS Accreditation Scheme can be found at www.fsc.gov.au or through contacting the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner on 1800 652 500
Comcare
Comcare is a Commonwealth statutory authority which administers the Commonwealth's workers' compensation scheme. Comcare also provides advice to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations on issues relating to the administration of the Commonwealth's occupational health and safety and workers' compensation frameworks. Comcare’s website can be viewed at www.comcare.gov.au
State OH&S information
Each state has a body which deals with OH&S issues, including claims for WorkCover payments and complaints or questions about workplace safety. These various OH&S bodies can assist you with any OH&S questions you may have:
Victoria
Victorian WorkCover Authority
WorkCover Advisory Service: (03) 9641 1444 or 1800 136 089 (toll free)
You can call 13 23 60 to report serious workplace emergencies, 24 hours a day.
New South Wales
WorkCover Authority of New South Wales
13 10 50.
You can call the After Hours Emergency Contact Number on (02) 9214 9220 to report any emergencies which take place outside working hours.
Queensland
Queensland WorkCover Authority
1300 362 128 (or 1300 361 128 from outside Queensland)
General OH&S information can also be found on the Queensland government’s Workplace Health and Safety website.
South Australia
WorkCover Corporation South Australia
13 18 55
Western Australia
Western Australia WorkCover Authority
(08) 9388 5555 (or 1800 670 055 for regional callers)
General OH&S information can also be found on the Worksafe Western Australia website.
Tasmania
WorkCover Tasmania
1300 366 322
Northern Territory
Workhealth Authority Northern Territory
1800 019 115
Australian Capital Territory
WorkCover ACT
(02) 6205 0200
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Trade Unions
Worklink
This is a service operated by the ACTU to refer workers to the appropriate union for their profession - if you are unsure as to which union(s) operate in your industry, you can contact WorkLink for information and advice.
1300 362 223
ACTU - Australian Council of Trade Unions
(03) 9663 5266
AMWU - Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union
(02) 9897 9133
AWU - Australian Workers' Union
National office: (03) 8327 0888
Victoria: (03) 8327 0800
New South Wales: (02) 9897 3644
Queensland and Northern Territory: 1800 671 449
South Australia: (08) 8360 1900
Western Australia: (08) 9221 1686
Tasmania: (03) 6234 6744
Australian Capital Territory: (02) 6285 3068
CEPU - Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia
(02) 9663 3699
CFMEU - Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union
(02) 9267 3393
ETU - Electrical Trades Union
1 800 134 835
Trades Hall Councils
Victoria
Victorian Trades Hall Council
(03) 9662 3511
New South Wales
Labour Council of New South Wales
(02) 9264 1691
Queensland
Queensland Council of Unions
(07) 3846 2468
South Australia
SA Unions
(08) 8279 2222
Western Australia
Unions Western Australia
(08) 9328 7877
Tasmania
Unions Tasmania
(03) 6234 9553
Northern Territory
Northern Territory Trades and Labour Council
(08) 8941 0001
Australian Capital Territory
Unions ACT
(02) 6247 7844
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Trade Skills Assessments
Trades Recognition Australia (TRA) is part of the Commonwealth Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business. It provides national recognition in metal and electrical trades for permanent residents in Australia and skill assessment in most trades for people applying to migrate to Australia. If you have trade skills and experience but have never completed or obtained formal qualifications in Australia, you may be eligible to apply for a trade certificate. For more information contact the Australia Recognised Trade Certificate Advice line in your state or visit the website at www.workplace.gov.au/TRA
National Hotline
1300 360 992
National Advice line - Pre-Migration Trade Skills Assessments
(02) 6121 7456
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Wages and Conditions
Federal
The WorkChoices website provides comprehensive information on the new national workplace relations reforms. For further information contact the Workplace Infoline on 1300 363 264.
The Workplace Authority website (formerly the Office of the Employment Advocate) also has information on making and lodging agreements.
The Australian Fair Pay Commission website contains information about the Federal minimum wage.
States and Territories
Each state and territory has an industrial relations body which can provide you with information about your entitlements and obligations, or help you out if you feel that you have been treated unfairly by your employer.
Victoria
1300 363 264 - Workplace Infoline
You should note that during the 1990s, the Victorian Government referred certain workplace relations powers to the Australian Government, meaning that all Victorian workers are now covered by the federal workplace relations system.
You can also find more information on the Industrial Relations Victoria website.
New South Wales
Office of Industrial Relations
131 628
If you have a question about the award you are covered by, you can use the online Award Inquiry Service , or call 131 628.
Queensland
Wageline
1300 369 945
You can also make an e-mail inquiry here .
If you need an interpreter, call 131 450.
Western Australia
Wageline
1300 655 266
The Department of Productivity and Labour Relations can help with any general queries regarding federal and/or state workplace relations.
South Australia
Employment Relations Information Centre
1300 365 255
You can make an enquiry via e-mail by clicking here.
Tasmania
Workplace Standards Tasmania
1300 366 322
Northern Territory
Workplace Infoline
1300 363 264
Australian Capital Territory
Workplace Infoline
1300 363 264
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Australian Industrial Relations Commission
(03) 8661 7777
Australian Securities and Investment Commission
1300 300 630
Australian Taxation Office
13 28 61
Business Entry Point
This is the Australian Government's Business Entry Point website. It contains information on running a small business, including information about:
- starting a business;
- taxation;
- licensing and legislation; and
- significant transactions such as taxation compliance and licence applications.
Jobsearch
1800 805 260
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
1800 134 142
Workplace Authority
1300 363 264
The Workplace Authority is an independent agency. The Workplace Authority is the Australian Government agency responsible for the lodgement of agreements and for ensuring freedom of association in industries other than the building and construction industry.
Workplace Authority also provides assistance and advice to employees and employers, particularly employers in small business, on the
Workplace Relations Act 1996, especially in regard to AWAs and freedom of association.
Workplace Ombudsman1300 724 200
The Workplace Ombudsman is the independent Commonwealth agency that ensures the workplace rights and obligations of workers and employers are understood, protected and enforced.