The Federal Government’s Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022 became law in December 2022. Its passage will see numerous changes to Australia’s workplace relations framework. There is no doubt the laws have consequences for disability providers. 

For example, the new laws:  

• prohibit pay secrecy clauses and clauses that prevent employees from discussing pay in employment contracts  
• aligns the Fair Work Act with other anti-discrimination legislation (for example, protections against discrimination for breastfeeding, gender identity and intersex attributes) 
• prohibits sexual harassment at work  
• limits fixed-term contracts (with some exceptions) 
• expands the grounds on which employees can request flexible work arrangements (for example, family and domestic violence or pregnancy) 
• changes previous enterprise agreements (known as zombie agreements) and arrangements for bargaining at the enterprise level  
• expands the operation and potential for multi-enterprise bargaining.  

NDS has voiced our concerns about the lack of consultation and potential unintended consequences of rushing reforms of this magnitude through parliament. These are major changes to workplace relations that needed time for proper consultation. However, despite concerns raised by NDS and several industry sectors, the bill is now law. 

In an online session on Tuesday 28 February, our external IR expert, Toby Halls will brief providers on what the changes mean for them.  

Event details 

Date: Tuesday 28 February 
Time: 2:00pm to 3:30pm AEDT 
Location: Online 

Cost 

• NDS Member or Organisational Associate: $30 
• Non-member: $50  

Register for your tickets to NDS’s online session discussing changes to the Fair Work legislation.