VPRS 6348 General Correspondence Files

This series consists of the general correspondence files of the Department of Labour and Industry (VA 1027) created during the period 1964 to 1984 and added to by successor agencies. The Central Registry held most of the correspondence relating to the principal functions of the Department. These included the regulation of workplace health and safety in accordance with the provisions of the Labour and Industry Act, the Industrial Safety, Health and Welfare Act and legislation governing the use of boilers and pressure vessels, scaffolding and lifts and cranes. The Department was also responsible for industrial relations and the regulation of retail trading hours.In the early 1980s responsibility for many of the Departments major functions was dispersed and the relevant records from VPRS 6348 were transferred to the inheriting Departments.In 1983 responsibility for industrial relations was transferred to the Ministry of Industrial Affairs (VA 1059). Files considered inactive were transferred to the Public Record Office by the Industrial Relations Commission (VA 1009) and registered as VPRS 5464 Departmental Files: Conciliation and Arbitration Boards.In 1980 responsibility for Industrial and Apprenticeship training was transferred to the Ministry of Employment and Training (VA 704) and that department inherited the relevant files. Some policy files were top numbered into the correspondence system of the Ministry and other current files were retained by them. The remaining files were appraised and the permanent records were transferred to archival custody and registered as VPRS 6348/P. This consignment consists of correspondence files relating to the Industrial Safety, Health and Welfare Act and Regulations, correspondence files relating to the Victorian Industrial Safety Council and a 10% sample of remaining (non-policy) Technical Services, Inspection Services and Employment Training files.In 1995 the P1 consignment of this series was transferred to archival custody by the Department of Business and Employment (VA 3096).This consignment includes policy files and files relating to after hours trading, wages and conditions and exemptions and breaches of the Labour and Industry Act.The P2 consignment was transferred from the Department of Treasury and Finance (VA 3745) in 1996. These files primarily document the administration of the Workers Compensation and Motor Accidents Acts.The P3 consignment was transferred from the Department of Education II (VA 3098) in 1997. These files record the administration of apprenticeship and industrial training. The files were inherited by VA 704 Ministry of Employment and Training which continued to add to extant files until 1985. However the Ministry created a new recordkeeping system for files raised from 1982. See VPRS 11383 General Subject Correspondence Files, Annual Single Number System.The P5 consignment consists largely of files relating the Department's regulatory role under the Trade Practices Act 1974, Consumer Protection Act 1972 and other Acts, and includes records on its responses to complaints and research into proposed legislation.