Only 26 appeals were lodged with the Industrial Court of Queensland during 2024-25, according to the recently tabled annual report on the Court, the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission and Industrial Registry.
This was half the number filed in the previous period (52) and significantly below the 2022-23 figure of 48 appeals.
The largest drop in appeals were in the areas of a decision of the Commission (s 561 of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003), a decision of the Commission (s 557 of the Industrial Relations Act 2016) and appeals against Chief Inspector’s directives and review decisions (s 243 of the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999).
The report stated: “The Court’s workload continues to be influenced by legislative developments and expansion of the Commission’s jurisdiction and, despite a decrease in the number of filings, there has been a measurable increase in the complexity of matters flowing to the Court.
“This trend is expected to persist into the foreseeable future.
“In response to the increasing demands on the Court and Commission, a number of matters before the Commission are being determined by a Full Bench, with Justice Davis presiding as the Head of the Bench.
“This approach facilitates a more expedient appellate process, as decisions made by the Full Bench may be appealed directly to the Court of Appeal. This streamlined pathway reduces delays and promotes timely resolution of significant matters.”
During the reporting period, the Court delivered and published 23 written decisions.
Some of the notable decisions released during the reporting period include: Kelsey v Logan City Council & Ors (No. 5) [2024] ICQ 15; Stone v Belmore Bulk Materials Pty Ltd & Ors [2024] ICQ 23; Hitchcock v State of Queensland (Office of Industrial Relations); Stratford North Pty Ltd v Workers’ Compensation Regulator & Ors [2025] ICQ 4; Romanski v Stone [2025] ICQ 5; and Anglo Coal (Moranbah North Management) Pty Ltd v Stone [2025] ICQ 011.
More information regarding these decisions may be found at the Notable Decisions section.
The number of overall filings to the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission over the reporting period (excluding appeals made to the Court), totalled 3314.
The report states this figure has remained steady in comparison to previous years, but the complexity of matters continues to increase.
“This is particularly evident in proceedings relating to anti-discrimination, public sector appeals, wage recovery, workers’ compensation appeals, and work health and safety matters,” it stated.
During the reporting period, 1223 proceedings were listed and 332 decisions (of the Court, Commission and Industrial Registrar) were delivered.
The majority of decisions released were in relation to public sector appeals (119), followed by certified agreements (54) and workers compensation appeals (33).
The Court, Commission and Industrial Registry continued to deal with matters involving self-represented litigants with 1855 matters filed involving self-represented applicants, appellants, complainants or claimants.
“The involvement of unrepresented parties presents distinct procedural and practical challenges; however, the Court, Commission and Industrial Registrar remain committed to ensuring that proceedings are conducted fairly and remain accessible to all parties,” the report stated.
“It also maintains a focus on the efficient and timely resolution of matters involving self-represented individuals.
“This figure underscores the significant proportion of proceedings in which parties appear without legal representation, further highlighting the procedural and practical complexities … along with the importance of effective management of cases.
“It is noted that claims for the payment of long service leave in lieu of taking such leave (EC matters) are almost invariably initiated by claimants themselves without representation.”
The Commission received 102 conciliation agreement filings, made in accordance with s 164 of the AD Act, representing a 32 per cent decrease compared to the previous year.
The Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC) also referred 63 complaints to the Commission for conciliation and/or determination. This figure represents a decrease of about 45 per cent
compared to the 115 referrals received in the previous reporting period.
“The reduction in referral numbers may reflect a range of factors, including the early resolution of matters through QHRC processes, shifts in complaints trends, or broader changes in the industrial or human rights landscape.”
In relation to unfair dismissals or reinstatement applications, 133 reinstatement applications were lodged with the Commission. This number is consistent with the 136 applications received in the 2023 to 2024 reporting year and reflects a stable trend over recent years. While 167 applications were filed in 2022 to 2023.
“The continued moderation in the number of unfair dismissal applications may reflect a combination of factors, including ongoing enhancements in workplace practices, an increased emphasis on early dispute resolution, and broader changes in economic and labour market conditions,” the Commission said.
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