Today marks one year since the second tranche of the Albanese Government’s world-leading Closing Loopholes legislation passed Federal Parliament.
While it’s still early days, the historic laws have already delivered workers better work-life balance, more job security and improved workplace conditions.
The second tranche of the laws introduced:
- A right to disconnect for eligible workers when they are not working or being paid, allowing Australians to unplug guilt-free, and cutting the expectation of unpaid overtime.
- New ‘regulated worker’ functions for the Fair Work Commission, including setting minimum standards for workers in the gig economy, and minimum standards for the road transport industry to deliver better protections against unfair dismissal at work.
- A fairer definition of casual employees allowing more casuals to access job security.
These reforms are at risk under Peter Dutton and the Coalition who have already confirmed that they will repeal the right to disconnect and the changes to the casual definition, while flagging further attacks to workers’ wages and conditions.
The right to disconnect commenced on 26 August 2024 for large and medium businesses. It will commence on 26 August 2025 for small businesses.
The first four applications under changes for gig economy and road transport workers have been submitted to the Fair Work Commission, with industry consultation underway.
From 26 February 2025, truckies and gig workers must be given a fair process before their contracts are terminated through the new Digital Labour Platform Deactivation Code and Road Transport Industry Termination Code.
The pathway for casual workers will be available to workers in large and medium businesses from 26 February, and for small businesses from 26 August 2025.
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt said the reforms were changing Australia’s lives.
“The Albanese Government’s Closing Loopholes reforms brought in world-leading protections for workers,” Minister Watt said.
“Labor is proud of the changes we have made to improve conditions and lift wages and everywhere I go I meet workers who are benefiting.
“But these protections are all at risk under Peter Dutton and the Coalition, who have confirmed as recently as the weekend that they will repeal our changes.
“We know that many Australians are doing it tough at the moment, but these changes are helping to deliver pay rises and more secure work right across the country.
“Peter Dutton wants everyday Australians to work longer and earn less and is hellbent on stripping workers’ rights to make it happen.
“Peter Dutton needs to come clean on what other workplace laws will be on the chopping block.”
Quotes attributable to workers benefitting from the second tranche of Closing Loopholes:
“We now have world leading transport and gig worker protections, these new rights will protect me from unfair deactivation and ensure decent pay and conditions for the first time. If Mr Dutton wants to repeal those laws it would impact thousands of workers and enable exploitation. This is a recipe for disaster, we have lost 19 gig workers on the road since 2017, some workers are earning as little as $4 per job and working 70+ hours a week to make ends meet.” – Nabin, Gig Worker, ACT
“We are expected to take work calls and respond to work related emails outside of paid time. We don’t get an out of hours allowance to do any of this work, our managers expect us to constantly be ‘on’ even when we are not rostered. The Right to Disconnect from work is life changing for workers in ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Care like me. It gives us time to spend with our loved ones so that when we come back to the next shift we are rested and ready to care for elderly Australians.” – Anna, Aged Care Worker, WA
“My coworkers have been getting rejected for car loans and mortgages because of their casual worker status.” – Georgia, Supermarket Worker, QLD
