Crimes Act 1914

Part IIA - Protection of public and other services  

SECTION 30J   Industrial disturbances, lock-outs and strikes  

(1)    
If at any time the Governor-General is of opinion that there exists in Australia a serious industrial disturbance prejudicing or threatening trade or commerce with other countries or among the States, he or she may make a Proclamation to that effect, which Proclamation shall be and remain in operation for the purposes of this section until it is revoked.

(2)    

Any person who, during the operation of such Proclamation, takes part in or continues, or incites to, urges, aids or encourages the taking part in, or continuance of, a lock-out or strike:

(a) in relation to employment in or in connexion with the transport of goods or the conveyance of passengers in trade or commerce with other countries or among the States; or

(b) in relation to employment in, or in connexion with, the provision of any public service by the Commonwealth or by any Department or public authority under the Commonwealth;

commits an offence, and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for any period not exceeding one year.

(3)    
For the purposes of this section:

employee
includes any person whose usual occupation is as an employee.

employer
includes any person whose usual occupation is as an employer.

lock-out
includes the closing of a place or part of a place of employment, if the closing is unreasonable, and the total or partial refusal of employers, acting in combination, to give work, if the refusal is unreasonable, or the total or partial suspension of work by an employer, if the suspension is unreasonable, with a view to compel his or her employees, or to aid another employer in compelling his or her employees, to accept any term or condition of employment.

strike
includes the total or partial cessation of work by employees, acting in combination, if the cessation is unreasonable, as a means of enforcing compliance with demands made by them or by other employees on employers, and the total or partial refusal of employees, acting in combination, to accept work, if the refusal is unreasonable, and also includes job control.