ANALYSIS OF INVESTIGATIONS
During the reporting period, FWBC commenced 18 new investigations and inherited 68 ongoing investigations from the previous agency.
Table 2.8 sets out a state-by-state breakdown of the number of investigations conducted.
Subject of investigation
Figure 2.1 shows the subject of FWBC investigations to 30 June 2012. Unions accounted for 30 per cent of investigations and subcontractors 28 per cent.
This was followed by employer investigations at 20 per cent and employees at 10 per cent. Head contractors were the subject in eight per cent of investigations.
This means that the vast majority of FWBC investigations occur in relation to employer behaviour.
Types of contraventions investigated
During the reporting period, FWBC investigated 271 contraventions of Commonwealth workplace laws.
Table 2.9 shows that 36 per cent of contraventions involved wages and entitlements. Twenty per cent involved unlawful industrial action and 15 per cent involved sham contracting.
Note: ‘Other’ includes other FW Act breaches, criminal activity and breaches of laws relating to taxation, trade practices and state industrial relations and occupational health and safety.
TABLE 2.8 STATE BREAKDOWN OF INVESTIGATIONS
State |
2011-12 |
NSW |
23 |
VIC |
21 |
QLD |
19 |
WA |
20 |
SA |
1 |
TAS |
1 |
ACT |
7 |
NT |
4 |
Total |
96 |
TABLE 2.9 TYPES OF CONTRAVENTIONS INVESTIGATED
Contravention |
2011-12 |
Right of entry |
17 |
Unlawful industrial action |
53 |
Coercion |
32 |
Sham contracting |
40 |
Freedom of association |
2 |
Strike pay |
9 |
Wages and entitlements |
97 |
Other |
21 |
Total |
271 |
FIGURE 2.1 SUBJECT OF INVESTIGATION

TABLE 2.10 WAGES AND ENTITLEMENTS – ENQUIRIES AND OUTCOMES
State |
Number of enquiries |
Outcomes |
||||||
Information provided |
Referred to Federal Agency |
Referred to State Agency |
Referred to other Agency |
Upgraded to investigation |
Initiated targeted audit |
Other |
||
NSW |
5 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
VIC |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
QLD |
5 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
WA |
7 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
SA |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
TAS |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
ACT |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
NT |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Total |
27 |
15 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|