1900

Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1900 established the Registrar of Friendly Societies who was the Registrar of Industrial Unions.  The Industrial Registrar services the Arbitration and Conciliation Commission and was part of the Crown Law Department

1900

Edgar Theodore Owen appointed as Registrar

1905

Registrar appointed Federal Deputy Registrar under Federal Act

1909

Samuel Bennett appointed as Registrar

1922

Union registrations passed from Registrar of Friendly Societies to Clerk of the Court of Arbitration

1922

Francis Edward Walsh appointed as Registrar

1924

Registry functions under Trade Unions Act 1902 passed from Registrar of Friendly Societies to Registrar of Industrial Unions

1939

Reginald Arthur Wood appointed as Registrar

1948

Section 166 of the Industrial Arbitration Act 1912 – 1948 created office of Assistant Registrar

1949

Joseph Hamilton Bogue appointed as Registrar

1960

Serventus Cyril Bruce appointed as Registrar

1963

Amendment separated arbitral and judicial functions by creating Industrial Appeal Court and Industrial Commission with Chief Commissioner and three other Commissioners

1963

Raymond Bowyer appointed as Registrar

1964

Industrial Arbitration Act 1963 transferred the Industrial Registrar from the Crown Law Department to the Department of Labour and Industry

1965

Industrial Commission moved from Supreme Court buildings to new premises in Murray Street

1971

Roy (Rex) Ellis appointed as Registrar

1977

Federal Commission opened Perth office; State Registrar ceased to be Federal Deputy Registrar

1981

Keith Scapin appointed as Registrar

1983

Confirmation from Registrar that Commission could operate efficiently with existing staffing level of 28 if administratively autonomous

1983

Registrar becomes de facto autonomous except for accounting functions, although continued to be part of the Department of Industrial Affairs

1984

Preparation of budget estimates taken over by Registrar

1985

Commission’s establishment moved under the Department of Employment and Training but still remained on de factor autonomous footing

1985

Registrar took over Registry functions for Promotion Appeals, Railways Classification Board, Public Service Arbitrator and Government School Teachers Tribunal

1986

Registrar took over accounting system from Department of Occupational Health, and the Registrar became the Accountable Officer

1987

John G Carrigg appointed as Registrar

1989

Department of the Registrar established with Registrar as Chief Executive Officer

1995

Commission related from Supply House in Hay Street to 111 St Georges Terrace

1997

John Spurling appointed as Registrar

1999

Began providing Registry services for the Australian Industrial Registry

2002

Began registration process for Employer-Employee Agreements

2003

Deputy Registrars given specific authority to mediate in unfair dismissal claims

2004

Occupational and Safety Health Tribunal established within the Commission

2006

Federal industrial relations legislation enacted to significantly encroach on State jurisdiction

2007

Australian Industrial Registry re-established in Perth and WA Registrar ceases providing Registry services for the Federal Commission

2008

Road Freight Tribunal established within the Commission

2008

Employment Dispute Resolution Act 2008

2011

The Department hosted the Blaxell Inquiry, St Andrews Hostel Inquiry

2011

Retirement of Registrar, John Spurling.  Susan Bastian appointed as Acting Registrar

2013

Refurbishment of the Commission’s hearing and conference facilities, providing a state of the art fully integrated digital court environment

2014

Susan Bastian appointed as Registrar

2014

The Department hosted proceedings for the Royal Commission into Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse

2014

The Department hosted proceedings for the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption

2014

Pro bono scheme introduced by the Chief Commissioner and the Registrar

2018-20

The Department hosted proceedings for the City of Perth Inquiry

2021

The Department hosted proceedings for the Perth Casino Royal Commission