This is one of the most controversial and conceptually diverse areas of the law. Indeed, the law in this area is constantly changing, and even as students work through this unit they will feel the ground moving! Students will also come into contact with many areas of the law, including contract law, tort, public laws on arbitration, enterprise bargaining, unfair dismissal and discrimination and constitutional law.

The main aim of the unit is to deepen knowledge of how the law relates to individual and collective aspects of the employment relationship. Accordingly, students will be expected to develop a sound knowledge of the contractual and statutory regimes that govern terms and conditions of employment in Australia. Students are also encouraged to develop a critical appreciation of industrial law's economic and social contexts. In this way you will come to an understanding of the interplay between economic imperatives, political value systems and the content of Australian industrial law. The overall objective of this unit will be to demonstrate the significance of industrial and employment law in New South Wales and the Commonwealth and provide foundations of theory and positive law for your own research and learning.