Insight
Loopholes closed? What employers should know about changes starting today
From today (26 August 2024), several changes will come into effect under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act) as part of the Closing Loopholes legislative reforms.
26 August 2024
Insight
Closing Loopholes reforms – A timeline
All of the Closing Loopholes reforms have now become law, or soon will be.
29 February 2024
Insight
Closing Loopholes 2.0 – Government’s IR reform package passes the Senate
The Federal Government has now secured passage of the remainder of the Closing Loopholes Bill, implementing the final tranche of the Government's IR law reform package.
09 February 2024
Insight
Closing Loopholes legislation receives Royal Assent
The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023 (Cth) was passed late last year and received Royal Assent on 14 December 2023.
18 January 2024
Insight
Parts of the Government’s IR reform package pass parliament
In a surprise move, the Federal Government has now reached agreement with key crossbench senators, David Pocock and Jacquie Lambie, to divide the Closing Loopholes Bill into two.
08 December 2023
Insight
Political compromise – changes to the Government’s IR reform package
The Federal Government has proposed almost 100 changes to Closing Loopholes Bill to seek to address concerns raised by some employer groups, unions and the Greens.
29 November 2023
Insight
Closing the Loopholes Bill – Key takeaways
The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 (Cth) was introduced into parliament on 4 September 2023. Despite the desire of the Federal government for the Bill to be debated and ultimately passed this year, the opposition and crossbenches were able to successfully put off that process until at least February 2024. While we expect to see significant media coverage and lobbying between now and then, with the potential modification of some of the more controversial proposed changes in the Bill, here are our 10 Key Takeaways that employers need to be aware:
04 October 2023
Insight
Closing Loopholes Bill – Our summary of the proposed new laws
The Federal Government has now released the third tranche of proposed workplace relations reform, in the form of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 (Cth).
05 September 2023
Insight
Navigating Australia’s new enterprise bargaining framework - Tips for employers
The changes made by the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Reforms significantly impact the enterprise bargaining process and where the power may sit between parties as part of that process. Most of those changes took effect on 6 June 2023.
03 July 2023
Insight
Criminalisation of “wage theft” – What proposed new laws could mean for directors?
The Labor Government is pushing ahead with its promise to criminalise “wage theft”, but what does this mean for directors?
As part of its Secure Australian Jobs Plan, the Federal Government is proposing to legislate amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (“FW Act”) to help curb the widespread problem of so-called “wage theft”. The proposed reforms will have significant implications for directors, including the exposure to criminal liability.
28 June 2023
Insight
Consultation open on next tranche of workplace reforms
The Federal Government has commenced consultation on its third round of reforms to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (FW Act), which are set to be introduced in the second half of 2023.
21 April 2023
Insight
Australia’s changing industrial landscape: What do employers need to do and when?
On 2 December 2022, the Federal Government passed the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth). These reforms represent fundamental changes to Australia’s workplace relations laws and will have a significant impact on all Australian employers and employees.
16 December 2022
Insight
Changes to the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill
Following strong criticism from employer groups and extensive negotiations with cross bench members in the Federal parliament, late yesterday the Federal Government released 34 pages of amendments to its first major tranche of proposed workplace relations reforms, the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 (Cth).
10 November 2022
Insight
Secure Jobs, Better Pay Bill – The devil is always in the detail
The Federal Government has today released its first major tranche of proposed workplace relations reform, in the form of the 243 page Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Bill 2022 (Cth).
27 October 2022
Insight
Secure Jobs, Better Pay - Look out for new Federal Government Reforms
The Federal Government has confirmed it will release its Secure Jobs Better Pay Bill this Thursday, 27 October 2022 (Secure Jobs Bill), being its first major step in workplace reform since coming into office.
26 October 2022
Insight
Workplace relations reforms ahead
Significant changes to Australia’s workplace relations system have been announced by the Employment Minister Tony Burke as part of the Jobs and Skills Summit.
02 September 2022
Insight
Introducing paid family and domestic violence leave to the Fair Work Act
The Bill is one of the first items of legislative change introduced by the Government in the industrial relations sphere, reflecting one of several election promises made under the “Secure Australian Jobs Plan”.
03 August 2022
Insight
IR snapshot - likely reforms under the new Labor government
The election of a Federal Labor government is likely to see significant changes to Australia’s employment and industrial relations laws
16 June 2022