The Federal Government proclaimed the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices) Act on Friday 17 March 2006 and released the Work Choices regulations on Sunday 19 March 2006. Both the regulations and the legislation will become fully operative on Monday 27 March 2006.

It is important to note that to have any certified agreement or Australian workplace agreement processed under the old provision, they must be lodged before close of business this Friday 24 March 2006. Any certified agreements or Australian workplace agreements lodged after this date will have to be certified by the Office of the Employment Advocate under the new provisions (including edicts such as not containing any prohibited content) regardless of whether a s.170NA application is still on foot.