Heading to the polls: Workplace relations policies in the 2025 Federal Election
Australians will be heading to the polls on Saturday, 3 May 2025. As campaigning gains momentum, we are seeing more details from the major parties on workplace and industrial relations reforms should they take power. At this stage, neither Labor nor the Coalition have proposed significant industrial relations reform agendas, which is not entirely surprising […]
ReadmoreWorkplace law changes in 2024
The past year saw numerous workplace law and rule changes and we recap some of the key updates in this article. The changes largely come from the staggered introduction of changes in the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes Act No.2) Act 2024 (Cth) (see our article here) plus Fair Work Commission activity. What employers […]
ReadmoreConsumer Express | October 2024 Edition
In our tenth edition of Consumer Express we consider the hot topics facing our consumer clients, including the right to disconnect and what it really means, the first tranche of the new privacy reforms and how to prepare for what’s coming, helpful tips on structuring trade promotions, as well as AI washing. Our regulators have […]
ReadmoreDoing business in Australia
The Gadens Doing business in Australia guide provides foreign investors with an overview of the Australian business, economic and regulatory environment, as well as practical advice on how to go about setting up and doing business in Australia. Australia is an ideal investment location for foreign companies looking to grow internationally, benefitting from well-developed infrastructure, […]
ReadmoreDelaying the inevitable? Some sectors get a short reprieve from fixed term employment contract restrictions
Following the passing of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 (Cth) in December 2022, new restrictions on the use of ‘fixed term’ employment contracts will start from 6 December 2023. You can read more about those changes in our recent article. Significant changes will impact many employers in the way […]
ReadmoreFMCG Express | September 2023 Edition
In this edition of FMCG Express we consider the practicalities of implementing UCT regime required changes, recent ACCC enforcement activity and consider what risks ‘greenwashing’ can pose for our clients. We also touch on employer obligations regarding psychosocial safety and hazards, the Retail Award and other legislative changes. Partner Breanna Davies and the Gadens team […]
ReadmoreSeptember 2023 changes to the Professional Employees Award 2020
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) announced changes to the Professional Employees Award 2020 (PE Award) in relation to coverage of employees, overtime, penalty rates and associated record keeping obligations in March 2023. Whilst changes to coverage provisions took effect earlier this year, remaining changes are due to commence on 16 September 2023. Overview From 16 September 2023: some […]
ReadmoreFMCG Express | March 2023 Edition
The latest edition of FMCG Express goes straight to the heart of legal issues affecting corporate Australia in 2023; reforms to unfair contracts legislation; changes to the Fair Work Act; privacy law amendments; and cyber and data security. Partner Breanna Davies and the Gadens team of contributors are at the forefront of the analysis of […]
ReadmoreReasonable notice claim costs employer
The recent case of Daigle v SCT Operations Pty Limited [2022] NSWDC 364 (Daigle) has highlighted the importance of ensuring that employees have an agreed, lawful period of notice of termination in their employment contract. In Daigle, a geotechnical engineer who had been employed for over 16 years was made redundant. Daigle’s contract did not […]
ReadmoreJobs and Skills Summit 2022 – What employers need to know
As promised in its election campaign, the Albanese Government held its Jobs and Skills Summit at Parliament House in Canberra on 1–2 September 2022. The aim of the Summit was to bring stakeholders together to work on challenges and opportunities facing the Australian labour market and economy. A set of outcomes have been announced following […]
ReadmoreModern slavery reporting obligations: what do businesses need to know?
With 30 June 2022 fast approaching, businesses required to report under the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) (Modern Slavery Act) should take steps to assess and review their second-year progress, and complete their modern slavery statement. Additionally, given environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) is increasingly front of mind for stakeholders, corporate commitment to ethical […]
ReadmoreCOVID-19 | Fair Work Commission finds lack of consultation means Mt Arthur Mine vaccine mandate unreasonable
A recent decision of the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission has found that a failure by BHP to adequately consult with its workforce before requiring workers to have received a COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of entry to the Mt Arthur open cut coal mine (Mt Arthur Mine) was unreasonable. The case, (Construction, […]
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