Employment
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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Update on the Fair Work Commission’s Gender-based Undervaluation Review of the SCHADS Award
27/11/2025 BACKGROUND The 2023-24 Annual Wage Review identified 5 awards it recommended be prioritised in addressing gender-based undervaluation, including the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (SCHADS Award). Gender-based undervaluation refers to a situation where the minimum rates of pay in an award have been established based on the undervaluation of …
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The Cost of Mishandled Workplace Investigations
20/11/2025 The recent unfair dismissal case of Courtney Sewell v dnata Airport Services Pty Limited [2025] FWC 2823 found that an employee was forced to resign as a result of the way in which the outcome of an investigation into her complaint of sexual harassment was handled by her employer, dnata Airport Services Pty Limited …
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