Brodi Smith 
The model Work Health and Safety Regulations introduced new requirements for audiometric testing which commenced on from 1 January 2024. The relevant provisions are mirrored in all jurisdictions, except for Western Australia and Queensland, which have not adopted the relevant testing requirements as included in the Model Work Health and Safety Regulations.
Employers need to be aware that from 7 December 2023, all zombie agreements, other than those for which the Fair Work Commission has granted an extension, have been replaced by relevant modern awards made by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Fair Work Act).
As of 1 January 2024 the National Employment Standards (NES) include a right to superannuation for national system employees. The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Act 2023 has amended the Fair Work Act 2009 by, among other things, requiring national system employers to make contributions to a superannuation fund for the benefit of …
Read more
In recent weeks the Australian Government introduced legislation (the Digital ID Bill) to establish a regulatory regime for the accreditation of digital identification providers. Overall, the Digital ID Bill aims to give Australians secure and effective ways in which to verify their identify for use in online transactions with government and business.
On 7 December 2023, the Australian Government introduced legislation to abolish the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) and establish a new review body called the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). These bodies represent the federal system for reviewing decisions made under Commonwealth laws in areas including social security payments, migration, taxation and the NDIS.
On 1 January 2024 the Urban Forest Act 2023 (ACT) (the Act) replaces the Tree Protection Act 2005 (ACT), bringing in a number of legislative changes to support sustainable urban forests in the ACT. An urban forest refers to trees located on land in existing built-up and future urban areas.
The Sharing Economy Reporing Regime (SERR) is a new requirement for platform businesses who provide services or hire personal assets through a website or an app. These businesses are known as electronic distribution platform (EDP) operators. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) states that, under SERR, an EDP is a service that
On 22 November 2023, the Australian Government released its 2023-2030 Australian Cyber Security Strategy (the Strategy). The Strategy aims to realise the Australian Government’s vision of becoming a world leader in cyber security by 2030. The Strategy seeks to protect Australians by improving cyber security, managing cyber risks, and better supporting Australians and organisations to manage …
Read more
In March 2023 the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Closing the Gender Pay Gap) 2023 Act (‘WGEA’) was passed. These amendments are intended to reduce gender inequality in the workplace, and increase the mandatory reporting obligations for reporting organisations (being those with more than 100 employees) from the 2024 reporting period.
Employment law changes commence: new laws on fixed term contracts and enforcement powers for the positive duty New Rules for Fixed Term Contracts From 6 December 2023 employers should ensure their contract templates and staffing arrangements are appropriate for the new limitations on fixed term contracting introduced by the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, …
Read more