ARTICLE · 02 JULY 2023

1 July 2023: What is changing in the workplace environment?

People + Culture Strategies

Explore more from People + Culture Strategies

Workplace changes commencing on 1 July 2023 include changes to minimum wages, superannuation and paid parental leave.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Kirryn West James

Tavishi Arora

1 July 2023 is a date for the diary. The first day of the new financial year brings a number of changes for organisations. Many of these changes stem from the Annual Wage Review Decision ("AWRD") of the Fair Work Commission ("FWC"). This year, there are some additional workplace changes which commence on 1 July 2023 including changes to superannuation and paid parental leave.

National minimum wage and modern award wages

In accordance with the AWRD, the national minimum wage will increase to $882.80 per week or $23.23 per hour (an increase of 8.6%). The minimum modern award rate will also increase by 5.75%.

These changes must be applied from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2023.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

Related Articles

A Timely Reminder: Court Continues The Trend Of Focusing On The Importance Of Statutory Timeframes

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

When Workplace Material Causes Psychiatric Injury: Secretary Department Of Communities And Justice v Soulos [2026] NSWCA 185

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Carroll & O'Dea

A Tale Of Two Gates: The Limits Of A Head Contractor’s Duty Of Care

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Fair Work Commission Strictly Enforces 21-day Filing Deadline

AustraliaEmployment and HR

National Safe Work Month – For Life – Why WHS Matters (Video)

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Cooper Grace Ward

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Employment and HR

Related Comparative Guides

Comparative Guide

Employee Incentives

Comparative Guide

Technology Outsourcing

See more popular content from

Employment and HR

New Minimum Wage Rates Gain Effect In Australia Today

The Australian Government has raised the National Minimum Wage and Minimum Award Wages effective July 1, 2026, with weekly rates increasing from $948.00 to $1,004.90 and hourly rates from $24.95 to $26.44. What compliance actions must employers take to avoid penalties for underpayment, and how do these changes affect different worker categories including trainees, apprentices, and entry-level employees?

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Lexplosion Solutions Private Limited

What is an employment separation certificate and when do I need to provide one?

When terminating an employee, employers must provide an employment separation certificate upon request.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

When Workplace Material Causes Psychiatric Injury: Secretary Department Of Communities And Justice v Soulos [2026] NSWCA 185

A recent NSW Court of Appeal decision highlights both the scope of an employer’s duty to guard against reasonably foreseeable psychiatric injury and the importance of the way issues are framed and concessions made during litigation.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Carroll & O'Dea

Fair Work Commission Releases New AI Guidance And Warns Against Blind Reliance On AI

The Fair Work Commission has introduced new guidance requiring parties to disclose their use of generative AI in proceedings, following a 70% surge in workload attributed to AI-generated applications. A recent case demonstrates the consequences of blind reliance on AI tools, with one applicant ordered to pay costs after continuing a jurisdictionally flawed claim despite repeated warnings from the Commission.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Holding Redlich

Reforms To Restraints: What The Competition And Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Banning Unfair Non-Competes) Bill 2026 Means For Employers

The Albanese Government has released draft legislation that would fundamentally reshape how Australian employers use restrictive covenants and competitive agreements. The proposed Competition and Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Banning Unfair Non-Competes) Bill 2026 seeks to prohibit or strictly regulate no-poach agreements, wage-fixing arrangements, non-compete clauses, and co-worker non-solicitation terms.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Who Signs The Termination Letter Matters – The Importance Of The Decision-maker

The Full Federal Court's decision in Totino v Metro Trains Melbourne clarifies how employers can successfully defend general protections claims when dismissing employees who have made workplace complaints or workers compensation claims. The case establishes critical principles about who must give evidence, the distinction between advisers and decision-makers, and why proper documentation of the decision-making process is essential for employers facing the reverse burden of proof.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Bartier Perry Solicitors

Proposed Ban On Non-Compete Clauses.

The Australian Government has released draft legislation proposing to ban non-compete clauses for workers earning below the Fair Work Act high-income threshold, currently $190,100 per year. The reforms are not yet law and are intended to commence in 2027, subject to legislation passing Parliament.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

HHG Legal Group

A Tale Of Two Gates: The Limits Of A Head Contractor’s Duty Of Care

In Stathakis v Richard Crookes Constructions Pty Ltd [2026] NSWSC 1113, the NSW Supreme Court entered a verdict and judgment for the defendant against the plaintiff’s unsuccessful negligence claim finding that the defendant, as the head contractor of the site on which the plaintiff sustained injury, did discharge the duty of care it owed.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

AI Wearables In The Workplace: What Employers Need To Know

This article examines the rise of AI wearables—particularly AI-enabled smart glasses—in the workplace, covering both employer-driven use cases (such as logistics, healthcare, and remote operations) and employee-driven use (including accessibility, personal devices brought to work and covert recording).

AustraliaEmployment and HR

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Employment Relations Podcast – Enterprise Bargaining In The Spotlight: Intractable Deadlock Or Genuine Agreement?

Recent Australian workplace reforms have fundamentally altered enterprise bargaining dynamics, introducing new mechanisms like intractable bargaining determinations and expanded Commission powers to amend agreements. How should employers navigate these changes to develop effective bargaining strategies while managing risks associated with mandatory terms, genuine agreement principles, and the better off overall test?

AustraliaEmployment and HR