The Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business was an Australian government department that existed between October 1998 and November 2001.
Scope
Information about the department's functions and government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements, in the Department's annual reports and on the Department's website.
At its creation, the Department was responsible for the following:[2]
Employment policy, including employment services
Job Network
Labour market programs, including the Work for the Dole scheme
Workplace relations policy development, advocacy and implementation
Promotion of flexible workplace relations policies and practices
Small business policy and implementation, including business entry point management
Co-ordination of labour market research
Australian government employment pay and conditions
Occupational health and safety, rehabilitation and compensation
Notification and assessment of industrial chemicals
Affirmative action
Work and family issues
Structure
The Department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business.[1]
