12/03/2024
Time to read
2 minutes

Changes have been made to the Fair Work Act as part of the Australian Government’s new Closing Loopholes laws.Ìý

Some changes start from 15 December 2023, and others start later.Ìý

The changes include:

Starting now (December 15th, 2023):

  • Equal pay for labour hire workers:ÌýLabour hire workers are entitled to be paid the same as employees directly engaged by a particular business.
  • New discrimination protections:ÌýEmployees experiencing family and domestic violence haveÌýnew discrimination protections.
  • Small business redundancy rules:ÌýIf your company downsizes and becomes a small business during bankruptcy or liquidation, new rules apply to redundancy payments.
  • Workplace delegate rights:ÌýWorkers who represent their colleagues (delegates) get new rights, including paid training time.
  • Right of entry:ÌýRemoves the requirement for officials assisting a state or territory work health and safety representative to hold an entry permit under the Fair Work Act.

Coming soon (not before January 1st, 2025):

  • Criminalizing wage theft and superannuation non-payment:ÌýIntentionally not paying wages or super will be a crime. A ‘Voluntary Small Business Wage Compliance Code’ will be available to small business employers.

More information:

  • Some rules started earlier (September 4th, 2023) for specific situations.
  • Visit theÌý
  • Ìýfrom the Fair Work Ombudsman.
  • Visit theÌý

More information about the changes to the Australian Workplace Laws is available from theÌý.

Ìý