This January 2025 edition of the Significant Workplace Relations Issues Report provides Ai Group members with an update on a range of major developments, including the following:

• Key recent legislative developments, including the independent statutory review of the amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) introduced by the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 as well as changes to ‘right of entry’ to assist HSRs, the registration of instruments establishing codes for unfair termination/deactivation claims of regulated workers, the commencement of the wage theft offence and safe harbour mechanisms and the passing of Privacy Act amendment and Wage Justice bills.
• Major cases in the Fair Work Commission including the Annual Wage Review 2024-25, continuing proceedings about gender-based undervaluation in five ‘priority’ modern awards, the development of model dispute, consultation and flexibility clauses for enterprise agreements, the junior rates case, applications for minimum standard orders and a road transport contractual chain order and regulated labour hire arrangement order matters.
• Trends in enterprise bargaining.
• Other major developments and cases including the making of the first supported bargaining agreement in early childhood education and care, as well as decisions relating to requests for flexible working arrangements and impairment in the context of prohibited drug use.
• Various developments in modern slavery (including the appointment of the first Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner and the tabling of the Government’s response to the review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth)) and the most recent developments regarding Respect@Work.