This Part has the core provisions for this Chapter, which deals with terms and conditions of employment of national system employees. The main terms and conditions come from the National Employment Standards, modern awards, enterprise agreements and workplace determinations.

The National Employment Standards (Part 2‑2) are minimum terms and conditions that apply to all national system employees.

A modern award (see Part 2‑3), an enterprise agreement (see Part 2‑4) or a workplace determination (see Part 2‑5) provides terms and conditions for those national system employees to whom the award, agreement or determination applies. Only one of those instruments can apply to an employee at a particular time.

Division 2 has the provisions to enforce the National Employment Standards, modern awards and enterprise agreements. It also sets out when a modern award or enterprise agreement applies to a person and the significance of that for this Act.

                   Note:             In most cases, this Act applies to a workplace determination as if it were an enterprise agreement in operation (see section 279). For the rules about workplace determinations, see Part 2‑5.

Division 3 deals with the interaction between the National Employment Standards, modern awards and enterprise agreements.