Episode 19: Election exemptions - what are they and how do they work?
RO pod: Talking about governance of registered organisationsShow Notes
Elections are again underway, after they were suspended in 2020 due to safety concerns with COVID-19. Organisations interested in conducting their own elections (instead of using the Australian Electoral Commission, which is the default position under legislation) have approached the ROC for guidance and we have assisted them to navigate the process. In our latest episode of ROCpod we discuss the challenges and offer practical solutions to them, including how a registered organisation can obtain an exemption to conduct their own elections.
More from RO pod: Talking about governance of registered organisations
The Model Rules are designed to make drafting rules easier for registered organisations. They include plain-language guidance, annotations, and practical examples to help organisations modernise their rule books and strengthen governance.
An important part of the Fair Work Commission's regulatory approach is to listen to and learn from stakeholders in our registered organisations community. In this episode, we invited Tom Lynch, the Federal President of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), to share his perspective on what good governance looks like in his organisation.
Members, officers and employees of registered organisations can report a concern about their registered organisation to the Fair Work Commission. However, registered organisations are encouraged to develop and implement a formal whistleblower policy to assist them to investigate and address concerns reported directly to them.
Registered organisations can use our 2024 compliance snapshot to understand their own achievements and priorities and monitor their own performance against other organisations.
Whistleblowers have the right to disclose a concern without reprisal under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (the RO Act). However, not all disclosures are protected.