…fuel costs.
Following expedited hearings, the Commission issued the order, which took effect on 21 April 2026.
What does the order require?
The order mandates that both primary and secondary parties in the road transport contractual chain…
…units within the timelines outlined above.
These have now been published on the Icon Water website here. The Guidelines and Standards may be updated over time, so it is important to refer to the Icon Water website for the…
…certifier availability.
Order All Required Materials Before Suppliers Close
Most suppliers reduce operations or close entirely over Christmas. Avoid downtime by pre-ordering:
Long-lead items: windows, doors, roof trusses, custom cladding, joinery, appliances. Stage-critical items: roofing materials, sarking,…
Regulated Labour Hire Arrangement Orders were introduced to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) by the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023 (Cth) on 15 December 2023. This empowers the Fair Work Commission to regulate pay rates
…
…Design and Construction Standards and Guidelines for Class B units published on the Icon Water website here. The Guidelines and Standards may be updated over time, so it is important to refer to the Icon Water website for the most…
…that WHS systems must prioritise higher‑order controls—such as elimination and engineering—wherever reasonably practicable.
Members should take this opportunity to check that risk controls implemented on site reflect the hierarchy of control in practice, and that SWMS and site supervision…
…
The CEO of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils was dismissed just hours before completing the minimum employment period that would have allowed him to make an unfair dismissal claim. His dismissal followed a sexual harassment investigation, but the
…
…(Westpac case). In that matter, Ms Chandler made a request to continue working remotely in order to meet her caring responsibilities. Westpac refused the request.
The FWC ultimately found in favour of Ms Chandler and ordered that Westpac allow…
…non-structural element of a building—2 years after the completion day of the work.
Despite these statutory warranty periods, the Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 (COLA) gives the Construction Occupations Registrar the authority to issue rectification orders against an entity
…
…by labour hire employees relating to claims for wages based on the ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ principle. Applications for orders for same pay of labour hire workers can now be lodged and made with the FWC, however these orders will…
…Failure to display a correct Notice of Building Work is not a minor oversight – it is a breach that can result in enforcement action.
Key Takeaways for Builders
Keep your sites clean and orderly…
…in the planning and policy phase, and the Government is seeking feedback from industry participants until 21 April 2026.
Trades proposed to be licensed:
Brick/Block Laying Carpentry Water proofing Concreting Roof Plumber Fire Protection Practitioner
Current Licensing requirements
…
…day to care for her child. That request was refused.
Later that year, after taking two days of annual leave, she was informed that her role would be made redundant and her employment was terminated.
Court…
…4 hours. If the industrial action takes the form of a partial work ban, the employer must give the employee written notice of the proportional reduction of wages it intends to implement.
An employer who pays an employee’s wages
…
…eligible to apply for a Property Developer Licence if the Registrar is satisfied that the applicant is a suitable person who has the operational and financial capacity to undertake residential development activities.
In order to determine if a person…
Prioritising fall risks when planning your construction activities is a smart way to reduce the chances of falling from heights. Planning ahead is crucial for preventing falls while working at elevated levels. For practical safety tips, WorkSafe ACT offers
…
…effectively is a leading cause of slab movement, cracking, water ingress and long-term structural issues.
Under the National Construction Code (NCC) and AS 2870 – Residential Slabs and Footings, builders have a responsibility to ensure that the foundation system…
…
BlueScope’s Technical Bulletin TB-34 – Steel Building Frames provides guidance for builders using frames manufactured from TRUECORE® steel.
Key defect prevention measures
Separate framing from slab moisture BlueScope recommends an impermeable membrane beneath perimeter bottom plates fixed to
…
…cover, which gave way. The worker fell several meters to the level below, suffering a broken femur, a damaged patella, and lacerations.
Following Comcare’s investigation, it was alleged that John Holland failed to maintain a safe work environment…
…– Hindmarsh Construction Control Michael Wang – Prof Homes Chris Salway – New Worx Construction Sunny (Navleen) Malhotra – Sunny Homes ACT Nick Barry – Fore Group
Professional of the Year finalists:
Sarah Watts – JWLand Construction…
…DESCRIPTION
A HSR has specific duties under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011. In order for a HSR to have the powers prescribed in the legislation, they must undertake the 5-day HSR training and update this training with
…
…equipment: Is the load packed and secured inside the container? Is the container properly fastened to the vehicle before leaving your yard? If not, that’s a breach. Urgent deliveries: Leaving orders until the last minute and demanding immediate delivery pressures…
As members are aware, the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023 (Cth) introduced certain rights and protections for workplace delegates, which was subsequently included as a standard term in all modern Awards from 1 July 2024.
…
From payroll to on-site practice, 2025 has been a year of constant movement for the building and construction sector. Few areas have escaped change, with a variety of developments substantially impacting on the way our industry operates.
To
…
…powers for the NSW Industrial Relations Commission to issue stop orders for bullying and sexual harassment—civil penalties now apply.
If you operate in NSW, expect tighter scrutiny on-site and a more aggressive union presence. Check your WHS procedures and
…
…workplace delegates Amendments to compulsory conciliation conferences in protected action ballot order matters The removal of certain right of entry requirements
Other significant changes that have been proposed but not yet passed are:
Criminalising intentional wage underpayments The introduction…
It’s a new year and, coming back from the Christmas break, there are new challenges that members will be facing.
In order to ensure a successful and productive year, it is as important as ever to ensure that
…
…Haidenbauer and Mezzaco Trading Pty Ltd, is accused of underpaying two migrant workers between August 2022 and April 2023. One of the workers was on a working holiday visa; the other was an 18-year-old international student.
After investigating,…
…Act 2001 (Cth).
Under the Corporations Act, the commencement of liquidation does not extinguish liability for prior misconduct. Directors may still face:
Insolvent trading claims Breach of directors’ duties proceedings Civil penalties Compensation orders Disqualification
Similarly, the COLA…
…Pro tip: if a commitment to pay was made, or an agreement for instalments, be sure to follow the discussion up with an email outlining the agreement reached during the discussion.
(b) Letter of Demand If a friendly chat…
…in court orders for compensation and penalties made against your company.
If you are bargaining for a union pattern enterprise agreement, it is crucial that not only you comply with the bargaining requirements in making an enterprise agreement, but…
…audit-ready means that if an inspector walks onto your site today, you can immediately produce:
Current SWMS for all high-risk construction work being undertaken (as defined under Regulation 291 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (ACT)). Certificates of…
…the ten-year qualifying period. The Court also found that, when Mr Gade was transferred to Brisbane (even briefly) his contract of employment was altered to reflect that location. Accordingly, work performed during his notice period in Brisbane was sufficient to…
…to permanent employment, either full-time or part-time, if they believe they no longer meet the statutory definition of a casual employee under section 15A of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (‘FWA’).
Under the FWA, the general rule is…
…outside of working hours, and this would be if the refusal was unreasonable.
The FWA does not define what would be considered as unreasonable refusal, however s333M(3) of the FWA contains a list of factors that must be taken…
…04:00 pm 1 IRON KNOB ST FYSHWICK ACT 2609 23 $235.00 Enrol Yourself Enrol Others Prepare to work safely in the construction industry 30 June 2026 08:00 am – 04:00 pm 1 IRON KNOB ST FYSHWICK ACT 2609 25 $235.00…
…Fair Work Commission considered whether the report was protected by legal professional privilege. The Commission found that including detailed reasoning in the letter went beyond what was necessary and effectively waived any confidentiality protections. Although legal advisers were involved, the…
…was initially approved as a short-term measure, but in January 2025, the approval was reversed.
Ms. Chandler submitted a formal s.65 request under the Act on 17 January 2025. On 18 March 2025, she was informed the request was…
…can result in:
non-compliant building work under the Building Act 2004 (ACT) delays to Certification of Occupancy and Use (COU) rectification orders or enforcement action from Access Canberra exposure to defects and warranty claims insurance and Fidelity Fund complications, particularly…
…reached, either party may apply to the Fair Work Commission, which can make orders or otherwise address the dispute. Both employers and employees can appoint a representative or an industrial association for support during the dispute.
Next Steps for…
…contracting arrangement, knowing this is not the case knowingly provides false or misleading information to persuade an employee to become a contractor performing the same work dismisses or threatens to dismiss an employee in order to re-engage them as a…
…not captured by the contractual right to order variations; work has been performed on the basis that a contract will be entered into, but where no contract exists yet; the scope of work in the contract does not include an…
The Work Health and Safety (WHS) Accreditation Scheme (the Scheme) is a federal program that was designed to raises awareness and improve safety standards in the building and construction industry. A head contractor may be required to apply to
…
…contractors may be regarded as an employee from 26 August 2024. In order to prevent an employment relationship, the FWA now allows individuals who earn above the High Income Contractor Threshold to ‘opt out’ of the relationship where it is…
…terms in their service contractors that they believe are unfair. The FWC will have the power to make orders to set aside or vary the contract if unfair terms are found by the FWC.
If you have any questions…
…available to supervise the construction works.
The company wants to continue with building works in your absence, what can you do:
If you become aware that the building company intends to continue with the works in your absence,…
…and guidance for creating or renewing your enterprise agreement, along with assistance in lodging it with the FWC.
With new laws relating to underpayment of wages and entitlements and labour hire orders coming into effect it has never been
…