Official form guide
Form F21: Application for dispute resolution
This form is used by employee organisations (like unions) covered by a greenfields agreement to declare whether they disagree with the employer’s statements in the agreement, if the agreement meets the 'better off overall' test for workers, and its public interest impact. Use it within 14 days after the greenfields agreement is made.
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Form Overview
Fair Work Commission Form F21 - Application for dispute resolution
This form is used by employee organisations (like unions) covered by a greenfields agreement to declare whether they disagree with the employer’s statements in the agreement, if the agreement meets the 'better off overall' test for workers, and its public interest impact. Use it within 14 days after the greenfields agreement is made.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Missing the 14-day deadline is the most common mistake—don’t wait until the last minute!
- 2Missing the 14-day filing deadline
- 3Failing to serve copies to all relevant parties (employers/other unions)
- 4Providing inaccurate contact information for your union or contact person
- 5Not completing required sections about disagreement with employer’s statements or public interest impact
Plain English
If you're part of a union representing workers for a new business (greenfields agreement), this form helps tell the Fair Work Commission your views on the agreement. You need to fill it out soon—within two weeks after the agreement starts—and send it to them via email, post, or in person.
Submission Date
- Filing date: Submit this form within 14 days after the greenfields agreement is made.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form if you're an officer or authorized employee of a relevant employee organisation covered by a greenfields agreement made under subsection 182(3) of the Fair Work Act.
- If your greenfields agreement was made under section 182(4), use Form F21C instead.
- Do not use this form for agreements that aren't classified as greenfields—use Form F18 in those cases.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Greenfields agreement under s182(3) of Fair Work Act, you're an officer/authorized employee of covered org
Meets the specific criteria for declaring on behalf of your organization
✓ Confirm Form F19 is lodged and you're eligible.
Greenfields agreement made under section 182(4) of Fair Work Act
The form version depends on how the greenfields agreement was created
✓ Verify the subsection number before proceeding.
Agreement not a greenfields agreement at all
This form applies only to greenfields agreements—other agreements use different forms
✓ Check if your agreement qualifies as greenfields.
Deadline or filing window
You must lodge this form within 14 days of the greenfields agreement being made.
Before you submit
- 1Ensure Form F19 is lodged with the Commission (prerequisite per p1)
- 2Confirm your role as an officer or authorized employee of a covered organisation
- 3Gather and list union branch details, contact person(s) info (name, position, email, phone) from p5
- 4If answering 'Yes' to question 5 about disagreements, prepare numbered paragraphs explaining why (p7)
- 5Include a signature and date at the end (p9)
How to file this form
- 1Lodge this form with the Fair Work Commission within 14 days after your greenfields agreement is made
- 2Submit by email to [email protected] or post/in person at the FWC office in your state/territory
- 3As soon as possible after lodging, serve a copy of all documents on each covered employer and other covered employee organisations (email, express/post, registered mail, or in person)
- 4Keep a copy for your own records
Known limitations
- 1Giving false/misleading info is a serious offence—punishable by up to 12 months imprisonment (p9)
- 2Commission staff cannot provide legal advice (p2)
- 3You must lodge this form within 14 days of the agreement being made (p2)
- 4Each covered employee organisation must lodge one Form F21 declaration (p2)
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Applicant
1 items
Full name (and representative, if any), postal address, email, and phone number of the person or organisation lodging the application.
Respondent
1 items
The exact legal name and ABN of the employer or other party the application is made against.
The Matter
2 items
Identify the kind of matter — for example, unfair dismissal, general protections, or an agreement application.
A clear description of what happened, relevant dates, and the outcome you are seeking.
Dates
1 items
Relevant dates such as the date of dismissal or the date the issue arose — these determine whether you are within time.
Supporting
1 items
Any documents that support your application, such as letters, contracts, or notices.
Declaration
1 items
Sign and date the form. Applications may also require a fee or an application for a fee waiver.
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Fillable formOpen in Editor->This form was approved with effect from 1 January 2025 and remains valid.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Form approved with effect from 1 January 2025
- Check you have the latest version before completing
- No prior versions are valid for current submissions
Quick Facts
Downloads & source
Sources
- SRCForm number confirmed as F21 from source
- SRCIssuing agency identified as Fair Work Commission (FAIR_WORK) in source
- SRCValidity date noted as 1 January 2025 from p2/p5
- SRCPrerequisite that Form F19 must be lodged before using this form, per p1
- SRCService methods include email, express post, registered post, or in person, confirmed on p3
Common confusion points
Confusing this form with F18 or F21C—ensure you're using the correct version based on how the greenfields agreement was made (s182(3) vs s182(4))
Forgetting to lodge within 14 days of the agreement being made, which could delay processing
Not providing complete contact information for your union branch and contact person(s)—the FWC will send correspondence using these details (p5)
Missing the signature and date at the end—this is a required element per p9
Source transparency
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