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Overview

At the Court, parties may be represented by a registered organisation (often referred to as a union or an employer association), an industrial agent, or a legal practitioner. These representatives can be categorised as 'industrial practitioners'. Industrial agents are regulated by the Registrar of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission and this page provides information about the scheme of registration and regulation. 

From 1 September 2026, you will be able to find a list of current registered industrial agents on this web page.

New registration scheme commencing 1 September 2026 

A new registration scheme for industrial agents will commence on 1 September 2026 under the Industrial Relations (Industrial Agents) Regulations 2026. The scheme strengthens and modernises the regulation of industrial agents in Western Australia by introducing eligibility requirements based on experience, knowledge and skill, clarifying registration categories and requirements, strengthening professional standards, and enhancing transparency and accountability through updated registration, insurance, conduct and public register amendments.

The new scheme is intended to:

  • promote confidence in industrial advocacy services
  • provide greater transparency regarding persons authorised to act as industrial agents
  • establish clear minimum eligibility requirements for registration
  • strengthen professional and ethical standards for industrial agents
  • improve protections for clients through insurance and conduct requirements 
  • support the effective operation of the Western Australian industrial relations system

At a glance

Industrial agents are persons authorised to provide industrial advocacy services and represent parties in proceedings before the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission, Industrial Magistrates Court and Industrial Appeal Court.

  • Registration is required before a person can act as an industrial agent.
  • There are two categories of registration:
    • Principal industrial agent
    • Subsidiary industrial agent
  • The registration period is 2 years.
  • Notices of an application to register are published and may be objected to during a 7-day objection period.
  • Industrial agents must comply with a statutory code of conduct. 
  • The Registrar maintains a public register of industrial agents.

Transitional arrangements

Industrial agents and certain authorised employees who were operating under the previous arrangements immediately before commencement of the new scheme are taken to be registered for a transitional period. The transitional period commences on 1 September 2026 and ends on 30 November 2026. Should they wish to continue holding their registration, to avoid disruption to their ongoing registration, existing industrial agents will need to apply to the Registrar at least 30 days prior to 30 November 2026.

Public register of industrial agents

The Registrar maintains a register of industrial agents and publishes it on the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission and Industrial Magistrates Court websites. The register will be available from 1 September 2026.

The register includes information such as:

  • registration category
  • business contact details
  • registration start and expiration date
  • confirmation of insurance
  • disciplinary action (if any)

Guidance on the application and registration process

Registration Details

Applicants who are successful in obtaining registration will hold the registration for two years. 

A registered industrial agent may apply for further registration before their current registration ends. If an application for further registration is lodged within the prescribed period (30 days before expiry), the current registration may continue until the application is determined. 

There are two registration categories:

Principal Industrial Agent

A principal industrial agent may be an individual or body corporate. A person who carries on a business providing industrial advocacy services must apply for registration as a principal industrial agent. 

The registration fee is $1,500.

Subsidiary Industrial Agent

A subsidiary industrial agent must be an employee or officer of a principal industrial agent. 

The registration fee is $800. No separate registration fee applies if an application for registration as a subsidiary industrial agent is lodged together with an application for registration as a principal industrial agent. 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must satisfy eligibility requirements prescribed by the regulations.

For individuals, they must be able to demonstrate:

  • experience in industrial relations
  • high-level written and oral communication skills
  • experience in conciliations and hearings in industrial tribunals and courts
  • experience interpreting and applying relevant industrial instruments
  • knowledge of industrial relations legislation

Applicants must also provide supporting documents, including two written references, a recent National Police Certificate and a statutory declaration. Additional requirements apply depending on the category of registration sought. 

Referees

Applicants have to provide two references from individuals actively involved in industrial relations. The referees should produce the reference in a form of a letter addressed to the Registrar and must be dated within 3 months of the application being made. Applicants should avoid providing references that would cause a conflict of interest (for example, it is not appropriate to supply a reference from a current client or from a Commission member or staff member of the Department of the Registrar). If you are unsure whether your proposed referee is appropriate, please contact the Registry for guidance. 

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Registered industrial agents must maintain professional indemnity insurance meeting the prescribed requirements. The minimum coverage is $2 million per claim.

A principal industrial agent's insurance must also cover any subsidiary industrial agents registered under that principal industrial agent. 

Ongoing registration is subject to the industrial agent continuing to hold the requisite professional indemnity insurance.

Industrial agents must provide proof of their ongoing professional indemnity insurance to the Registrar annually, and within 7 days of any change to the professional indemnity insurance policy held by the industrial agent. 

Forms

IA 1 - Application to Register a Principal Industrial Agent

IA 2 - Application to Register a Subsidiary Industrial Agent

The Registry will review your application form to ensure it has the necessary attachments and send you a filed copy.

Within 3 days of the application being filed, the Registrar will publish a notice of the application on this website. The notice will be published for 7 days. 

A person may lodge a written objection to an application for registration during the 7 day publication period. 

Once the publication and notice period is over, the application is then referred for review by the Registrar or Deputy Registrar on behalf of the Registrar. 

The Registrar may require that you provide further information as part of the application review process.

The Registrar will inform you whether your application has been successful. 

Upon notification of a successful application, you must pay the registration fee. 

Applications and objections

Details of applications for registration are published on this website and the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission website. A person may lodge a written objection within 7 days after publication of the application details. 

Regulation 10 prescribes the matters relevant to an objection. You may contact the Registry if you would like further information about making or receiving an objection an application. 

The Registrar must consider any objection before determining the application. A copy of the objection will be provided to the applicant who can provide a response on a statutory declaration.

Appeal against refusal to register as industrial agent

The Registrar may refuse to register an individual as an industrial agent. If you do not agree with the Registrar's decision, you can appeal to the Full Bench of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission. 

You should lodge a Form 8 - Notice of Appeal Against a Decision made by the Commission or the Industrial Magistrates Court.

The appeal process will follow that of any other appeal against a decision of the Commission. You should refer to this page about appeals to the Full Bench for more information about how the appeal process works and what is required.

Code of Conduct

All registered industrial agents must comply with the statutory code of conduct. The code addresses:

  • business integrity and diligence
  • conflicts of interest
  • confidentiality
  • dealings with clients and other parties
  • conduct in proceedings
  • advertising
  • fees payable by clients
  • management of trust moneys

The Code of Conduct can be found at Schedule 1 of the Industrial Relations (Industrial Agents) Regulations 2026.

Notification of changes to industrial agent details

Registered industrial agents must inform the Registrar of any changes to their registered information within 14 days of the change occurring. This can be done by emailing the registry.

Trust accounts

Industrial agents must have its trust account audited each financial year by a chartered accountant. By 31 October in each year, the industrial agent must lodge with the Registrar a certificate from the auditor which certifies that:

  • the trust account has been properly kept in the previous financial year; and
  • all money received or paid into that account has been properly and lawfully dealt with; and
  • persons entitled to the trust money have been paid.

If an industrial agent does not hold a trust account, they must file a statutory declaration with the Registrar by 31 October in each year confirming that they do not currently hold a trust account and have not held a trust account in the previous financial year.

The documents can be lodged with the Registrar via email to the Registry. 

Complaints and disciplinary action

The registration scheme includes processes for the investigation of complaints made against agents and disciplinary action where required. 

The Registrar may inquire into matters relevant to an industrial agent's registration and investigate concerns regarding compliance with legislative requirements and the code of conduct. Matters may be referred for consideration by the Full Bench of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission where disciplinary action may be warranted. 

The Full Bench may take disciplinary action in accordance with section 97P of the Industrial Relations Act 1979 (WA), including suspension or cancellation of registration. Details of disciplinary action are recorded on the register of industrial agents. 

Raise a concern about the conduct of an industrial agent

If you have a concern about the conduct of an industrial agent that you would like to report, you can contact the Registry via email to registry@wairc.wa.gov.au in the first instance and a staff member will arrange to speak with you about your concerns. 

Ending your registration

If an industrial agent wishes to end its registration, they must lodge a Form IA 3 - Notification of End of Registration.

This form must be lodged in circumstances where a subsidiary industrial ceases to be an officer or employee of a principal industrial agent during its period of registration. The form must be lodged within 14 days of the subsidiary industrial agent ceasing to be an officer or employee of the principal industrial agent.