Australian Labour Law Association
The Australian Labour Law Association (ALLA) was incorporated in Victoria on 27 February 2001 and now has active State Chapters in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, ACT, Victoria and Tasmania. ALLA's main objectives are to promote the study of labour law and social security both in Australia and internationally, and to provide a forum for discussion and debate for lawyers and others working in these fields.
-
Membership
Membership of ALLA is open to all who are interested in the aims of the Association, either professionally or because of scholarly activities.
View -
National Committee
The affairs of the Association are managed by the National Committee of Management.
View -
Annual General Meetings
Read ALLA's past Annual General Meeting minutes.
View -
History
View information on the founding members and the launch of ALLA.
View
ALLA National Webinar - The Changing Landscape on Sexual Harassment: The New FWA Provisions
5:30pm Wednesday, 7 June 2023, online via Zoom
Implementing recommendations of the AHRC Respect@Work report, successive amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) have prohibited workplace sexual harassment and empowered the FWC to deal with disputes about sexual harassment by issuing ‘stop orders’, conciliation, mediation, making recommendations and expressing opinions, and where agreed, by arbitration. The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) has also been amended to expand the prohibitions on sexual harassment and impose a positive prevention duty.
Chaired by Professor Beth Gaze, our panel of expert speakers featuring Gabrielle Marchetti, JobWatch; Kamal Farouque, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers; and Associate Professor Belinda Smith, University of Sydney, will reflect on the new FWA provisions and their implications for complainants when deciding under which jurisdiction to bring a claim.
This event is open to the public and free of charge, put places are limited. Register here, or see full flyer for futher details.


ECR Online Seminar - Research Impact in Labour Law and Discrimination Law
The Australian Labour Law Association, ECR Network is pleased to host Research impact in labour law and discrimination law presented by Associate Professor Paul Harpur, The University of Queensland.
This ECR seminar is open to all ALLA members.
Register here, or see full flyer for futher details.
ALLA National Webinar - Adverse Action Update
The case law emerging from the Federal Court of Australia on the circumstances in which an employee is able to make a complaint or inquiry for the purposes of section 341(1)(c)(ii) of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and on the task of assessing the reasons for taking adverse action among multiple decision-makers and contributors continues to provoke debate. The NSW Chapter of ALLA was pleased to present our expert panel featuring Emma Goodwin, Thomson Geer; Larissa Andelman, NSW Bar; and David Chin SC, NSW Bar, exploring these controversies and the latest case law. Access the event flyer for further details.
This video is available to ALLA members - contact law-alla@unimelb.edu.au
ALLA National Webinar - Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act Essentials: What it means for workplace law
ALLA was pleased to present our panel of expert speakers, featuring Nick Ellery, WA Bar; Professor Marilyn Pittard, Monash University (Panel Chair); and Professor Andrew Stewart, University of Adelaide, reflecting on key aspects of the recently enacted Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act that extensively amends the Fair Work Act. The panel focused particularly on the implications of the changes for enterprise bargaining and agreements, the BOOT, flexible work, fixed term contracts and pay secrecy. Access the event flyer for further details.
This video is available to ALLA members - contact law-alla@unimelb.edu.au
ALLA National Webinar - Hard Labour: Wage theft in the age of inequality
ALLA was pleased to present Ben Schneiders discussing his new book, Hard Labour: Wage theft in the age of inequality with Anthony Forsyth.
This video is available to ALLA members - contact law-alla@unimelb.edu.au


ALLA National Webinar - The Primacy of Deterrence: Civil Penalties Under the Fair Work Act After ABCC v Pattinson
ALLA was pleased to present 'The Primacy of Deterrence: Civil Penalties Under the Fair Work Act After ABCC v Pattinson' chaired by David Chin SC and presented by Julia Watson and Philip Boncardo.
This video is available to ALLA members - contact law-alla@unimelb.edu.au
ALLA National Webinar - Putting Human Rights to Work: The Role of Rights in the Foundations of Labour Law
ALLA was pleased to present 'Putting Human Rights to Work: The Role of Rights in the Foundations of Labour Law' presented by Dr Philippa Collins, University of Bristol.
This video is available to ALLA members - contact law-alla@unimelb.edu.au


National Webinar co-hosted by ALLA and QUT's Centre for Decent Work and Industry
Polls Apart? What the Federal Election Could Mean for Workers and Employers
ALLA and the QUT Centre for Decent Work and Industry were pleased to present 'Polls Apart? What the Federal Election Could Mean for Workers and Employers' presented by Professor Andrew Stewart.
This seminar was recorded and is available to view here.

National Webinar - The Functions, Powers and Compliance Activities of Wage Inspectorate Victoria: A Conversation with Rob Hortle
The Australian Labour Law Association was pleased to present 'The Functions, Powers and Compliance Activities of Wage Inspectorate Victoria: A Conversation with Rob Hortle' on 4 May 2022, presented by Robert Hortle, Commissioner of Wage Inspectorate Victoria and chaired by Associate Professor Tess Hardy.
This video is available to ALLA members - contact law-alla@unimelb.edu.au
National Webinar - Labour Law Implications of recent High Court Decisions: Jamsek and Personnel Contracting
The Australian Labour Law Association was pleased to present 'Labour law implications of recent High Court Decisions: Jamsek and Personnel Contracting' on 10 March 2022, presented by Mark Irving QC, Rachel Francois, and chaired by Professor Joellen Riley-Munton.
Fact summaries and other relevant materials provided by the speakers are available here.
This video is available to ALLA members - contact law-alla@unimelb.edu.au


ALLA Annual General Meeting 2021
ALLA's 21st Annual General Meeting was held at 5:00pm AEDT Thursday 18 November 2021 via Zoom video conference. Membership of the 2022 National Committee can be view here.

ALLA National Webinar - The Changing Landscape on Sexual Harassment: The New FWA Provisions
5:30pm Wednesday, 7 June 2023, online via Zoom
Implementing recommendations of the AHRC Respect@Work report, successive amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) have prohibited workplace sexual harassment and empowered the FWC to deal with disputes about sexual harassment by issuing ‘stop orders’, conciliation, mediation, making recommendations and expressing opinions, and where agreed, by arbitration. The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) has also been amended to expand the prohibitions on sexual harassment and impose a positive prevention duty.
Chaired by Professor Beth Gaze, our panel of expert speakers featuring Gabrielle Marchetti, JobWatch; Kamal Farouque, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers; and Associate Professor Belinda Smith, University of Sydney, will reflect on the new FWA provisions and their implications for complainants when deciding under which jurisdiction to bring a claim.
This event is open to the public and free of charge, put places are limited. Register here, or see full flyer for futher details.
ALLA National Webinar - Adverse Action Update
The case law emerging from the Federal Court of Australia on the circumstances in which an employee is able to make a complaint or inquiry for the purposes of section 341(1)(c)(ii) of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and on the task of assessing the reasons for taking adverse action among multiple decision-makers and contributors continues to provoke debate. The NSW Chapter of ALLA was pleased to present our expert panel featuring Emma Goodwin, Thomson Geer; Larissa Andelman, NSW Bar; and David Chin SC, NSW Bar, exploring these controversies and the latest case law. Access the event flyer for further details.
This video is available to ALLA members - contact law-alla@unimelb.edu.au
ALLA National Webinar - Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act Essentials: What it means for workplace law
ALLA was pleased to present our panel of expert speakers, featuring Nick Ellery, WA Bar; Professor Marilyn Pittard, Monash University (Panel Chair); and Professor Andrew Stewart, University of Adelaide, reflecting on key aspects of the recently enacted Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act that extensively amends the Fair Work Act. The panel focused particularly on the implications of the changes for enterprise bargaining and agreements, the BOOT, flexible work, fixed term contracts and pay secrecy. Access the event flyer for further details.
This video is available to ALLA members - contact law-alla@unimelb.edu.au
To find out more about your State or Territory Chapter click on the links below.
-
State & Territory Chapters
State and Territory Chapters of ALLA have been formed around Australia.
-
National Conference
ALLA's National Conference is held every two years, gathering academics and practitioners from around Australia.
-
External Events
Information on Labour Law events external to ALLA.
-
Continuing Professional Development
ALLA Conference Prizes
-
Phillipa Weeks Prize
The Phillipa Weeks Prize recognises the contribution of Professor Phillipa Weeks to Australian labour law scholarship and her unwavering support of young and upcoming scholars.
View -
Dominica Whelan Prize
View
The Dominica Whelan Prize is named in honour of the late Dominica Whelan, who served for many years as a member of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, Fair Work Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia. -
ALLA Research Degree Scholarship
The ALLA Research Degree Scholarship is awarded to provide financial assistance for reseach degree students to take part in and present a paper at the ALLA biennial national conference.
View
Read ALLA's annual newletter and access online version of the Comparative Labour Law and Policy Journal.
Please direct general enquiries to the ALLA Administrator.
ALLA Administrator:
Renee Burns
Centre for Employment and Labour Relations Law
Melbourne Law School
University of Melbourne
Vic 3010
Phone: +61 418 844 704
Email: law-alla@unimelb.edu.au
ALLA Secretary:
Associate Professor Dominique Allen
Department of Business Law and Taxation
Monash University
Vic 3145
Phone: +61 3 9903 2385
Email: dominique.allen@monash.edu
ALLA aims to provide an ongoing forum for debates, seminars and discussion groups, to enable the exchange of ideas about labour law arising both within Australia and internationally.
Membership of ALLA is open to all who are interested in the aims of the Association, either professionally or because of scholarly activities.
Membership Fees 2023
ALLA offers Professional, Student and Retired membership, and a reduced rate for 24 month memberships.
Our membership periods align with the financial quarters, you can join ALLA at any time of the year by completing the online form. Payment should be completed at the time of application.
Professional Member
- $70 - 12 month membership
- $130 - 24 month membership
Student Member
- $35 - 12 month membership
- $65 - 24 month membership
Retired Member
- $50 - 12 month membership
- $90 - 24 month membership
Join now
Early Career Research Network
The ALLA early career network, coordinated by Dr Angelo Capuano was established to foster the research, teaching, engagement and career development of junior labour law scholars. If you are a current Masters or doctoral student, a research fellow or post-doctoral fellow, or an academic who was awarded their doctorate 5 years ago or less, or who has not completed a doctorate but has less than 10 years experience as an academic, I invite you to join the ECR Network and take part in its activities.
If you are an eligible ALLA member and would like to join the network please email law-alla@unimelb.edu.au.

ALLA ECR Network Seminar
Preparing more effective presentations
12:00pm Wednesday 24 May 2023, CQUniversity Melbourne Campus, 120 Spencer Street, Melbourne
Getting your message across is very important. Your best work is wasted if you don’t present it well. The Hon Peter Gray AM encourages you to focus on the core message. His system of seven steps will help you to prepare and structure your presentation so that it will be more effective. He will also unpack the standard method of presenting information in English. He will show you how to break the standard pattern, so that the important points of your presentation will have more impact.
This ECR seminar is open to all ALLA members register here, or see full flyer or futher details.
Past Events
The ECR Network had a busy 2021. Events were held online and featured presentations from Professor Joellen Riley Munton, Associate Professor Alysia Blackham and Associate Professor Joanna Howe.
Friday 28 May 2021 - Effective Abstract Drafting
Friday 30 July 2021 - Applying for Research Grants in Labour Law
Friday 27 August 2021 - Delivering a Powerful Conference Presentation
Friday 22 October 2021 - Practice Paper Presentations for the ALLA Conference
Friday 13 November 2020 - ALLA ECR 2020 Online Conference
The online ECR Conference was held featuring papers presented by ALLA ECR members Angelo Capuano; Jacqueline Meredith, Dr Gabrielle Golding, Emma Babbage, Melissa Kennedy and Renee Burns. Professor Anthony Forsyth acted as discussant on the day.
Friday 13 November 2020 - #ALLAECRSeminarSeries
ECR Coordinator Dr Gabrielle Golding hosted Emerita Professor Rosemary Owens AO presenting the seminar 'Developing a Career as a Labour Law Researcher'.
Friday 25 September 2020 - #ALLAECRSeminarSeries
ECR Coordinator Dr Gabrielle Golding hosted Associate Professor Dominique Allen presenting the seminar 'Effective Writing Strategies'.
28 August 2020 - #ALLAECRSeminarSeries
ECR Coordinator Dr Gabrielle Golding played host to Professor Andrew Stewart presenting the seminar 'Publishing in the Field of Labour Law'.
7 April 2020 - What do meanings of wellbeing mean for me right now?
Presented by Emma Babbage this seminar will extract some key meanings of wellbeing which she has been looking at in her PhD research, and what they could mean for you at this time. After opening the conversation, Emma will invite discussion from the attendees to share ideas and concerns about managing our wellbeing.
27 November 2019
A successful day-long workshop was held at the Melbourne Law School and featured presentations from Associate Professor Alysia Blackham, Professor Belinda Smith, Professor Carolyn Sutherland, and Dr Dominique Allen.