Abstract
The Employment Dispute Resolution Act 2008 (WA) creates a new dispute resolution jurisdiction for the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission. It expands the commission's ability to resolve disputes between parties in the Western Australian workplace, introducing mediation as a method of resolution. The legislation prescribes the use of mediation where the parties consent in relation to a specific dispute, and other forms of dispute resolution including mediation where they have made a referral agreement empowering the commission to resolve particular disputes, or where a federal agreement allows the commission to conduct a dispute resolution process. Notwithstanding these broad opportunities for employment dispute resolution in Western Australia, the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) may limit the commission's ability to offer their services to all local workplace participants.