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ARTICLE · 25 NOVEMBER 2023

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Compliance essentials: Understanding Australia's fixed-term employment contract changes

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Key limitations on fixed-term contracts, exceptions to limitations, and potential consequences of non-compliance.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Murray Thornhill
Murray Thornhill
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As of 6 December 2023, there are new rules that impact the use of fixed-term employment contracts. These are the final changes to come into force as part of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs Better Pay) Act 2022, which was passed on 2 December 2022

This article will address the three key limitations on fixed-term contracts, exceptions to these limitations, and the potential consequences of non-compliance.

New Limitations on Fixed-Term Contracts

There are 3 new limitations to fixed-term contracts: time limitations, renewal limitations, and consecutive contract limitations.

These changes only apply to contracts entered after 6 December 2023.

Time Limitations

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