Now that the federal government's package of
landmark workplace reforms has passed into law and received Royal
Assent, significant changes to workplaces are firmly on the
horizon, if not already here. Although the reforms have been
described by the federal government as having somewhat limited
application (targeted towards addressing specific
'loopholes'), the impacts will be far reaching for most, if
not all, Australian businesses.
Following extended public discussion, the federal government
introduced the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing
Loopholes) Bill (the Bill) to Parliament on 4 September
2023.
Subsequently, on 7 December 2023, Parliament divided the Bill
and passed a substantial portion of the reforms into law under the
Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act
2023. This included labour hire reforms, union delegate rights
and wage theft. The remaining amendments – contained in the
Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes
