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ARTICLE · 30 JUNE 2026

FWC General Protections: Faster Conciliations, Earlier Decisions

Gilchrist Connell
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The FWC has introduced new processes to accelerate general protections claims, including early intervention and shorter conciliations, shifting the focus toward faster, settlement-driven outcomes.

AustraliaEmployment and HR
Joel Zyngier
Joel Zyngier
Maddison Harrington
Maddison Harrington
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The FWC has introduced new processes to accelerate general protections claims, including early intervention and shorter conciliations, shifting the focus toward faster, settlement-driven outcomes

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has introduced an Early Dispute Resolution (EDR) pilot for general protections claims and a new 60-minute conciliation model for dismissal disputes. For employers and EPL insurers, the changes point to a faster process and greater emphasis on early commercial resolution.

The reforms reflect growing pressure on the FWC, including rising volumes of AI-assisted applications and limited resources. Justice Adam Hatcher has said the FWC’s workload is expected to rise by more than 70 per cent over three years, largely due to generative AI use by self-represented litigants.

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