Employment
Proposed Bill to end non-compete clauses for most Australian employees
16/10/2026 The consultation draft of the Competition and Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Banning Unfair Non-Competes) Bill 2026 has recently been published, providing insight into the government’s proposed bans on non-compete clauses. Non-compete clauses are common place in many employment agreements, however, the proposed Bill would place significant limitations on the use of these terms for …
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Federal Government passes bill to ease Fair Work Commission’s soaring workload
22/07/2026 The Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026 was passed on 29 June 2026, to attempt to ease the pressure on the FWC flowing from an increase in claims, and to expediate resolution for both employers and employees. The bill was introduced following the number of applications to the Fair …
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Annual Wage Review Decision – 4.75% increase to Award wages
02/06/2026 On 2 June 2026, the Fair Work Commission handed down its Annual Wage Review 2026 decision and raised Award wages by 4.75%. Employers must pay the higher rates of pay from the first full pay period that starts on or after 1 July 2026. The National Minimum Wage applies to employees not covered by Awards or …
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1 July 2026 Law Changes
26/05/2026 Nationwide law changes 1 July 2026 This month’s budget announcements are likely to impact a number of legal services we provide, from legal structure advice through to wills and estates. These changes are still to be passed through Parliament, and we will write more about this in the future. A new national minimum wage …
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Workers are being left behind in the AI adoption race, advocates warn
26/05/2026 Unions are continuing to sound the alarm on the impact widespread adoption of AI could have on workers’ rights, warning the lack of legal guardrails risks the erosion of job security and further entrenchment of socioeconomic inequality. A union backed report released by the John Curtin Research Centre (JCRC) has highlighted the importance of …
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First penalties issued under new sexual harassment provisions in the Fair Work Act
21/04/2026 A recent case in the Federal Circuit and Family Court has provided the first decision under the new penalty provisions for sexual harassment under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (Fair Work Act). Amendments to the Fair Work Act that commenced on 6 March 2023 introduced a civil penalty for sexual harassment in the …
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When is a dismissal not a dismissal?
13/04/2026 A recent case in the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has highlighted when a worker is not eligible to claim a dismissal remedy in the FWC. In the case of Ms Izabela Dembowska v Abergeldie Personnel Pty Ltd [2026] FWC 801, the Applicant had signed an employment contract but had not yet commenced employment when …
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Changes to Superannuation onboarding for new employees
25/03/2026 On 23 March 2026, the Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025 was passed by both houses (The Bill). Once enacted, the Bill will amend the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth). The Bill aims to: Employers will therefore be required to check with ATO to determine the employee’s …
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AI and Employee Rights: what the recent agreement between Microsoft and Unions can tell us
06/02/2026 As workplaces continue to grapple with the emergence and implications of AI, Microsoft has announced a landmark Framework Agreement with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), to ensure workers have a voice in how AI and other emerging technologies are implemented in Australian workplaces. The continuing improvements in AI capabilities has caused increased …
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SCHADS Award Gender Undervaluation Review – 2026 Update
12/01/2026 The review into gender undervaluation in the SCHADS Award is ongoing after a series of conferences at the end of 2025, conducted by Deputy President O’Neill, were not able to resolve outstanding issues or reach a consensus between interested parties on the classification structure for the revised SCHADS Award. Due to the low likelihood …
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