Australia: Employment and HR

The Australian Federal government has introduced the Competition and Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Banning Unfair Non-Competes) Bill 2026, which proposes to fundamentally reshape post-employment restraints by outlawing non-compete clauses for employees earning below $190,100 and banning co-worker non-solicitation clauses entirely. These sweeping reforms will significantly impact how businesses protect their investments in talent, client relationships, and confidential information, requiring employers to

The Fair Work Commission has introduced new guidance requiring parties to disclose their use of generative AI in proceedings, following a 70% surge in workload attributed to AI-generated applications. A recent case demonstrates the consequences of blind reliance on AI tools, with one applicant ordered to pay costs after continuing a jurisdictionally flawed claim despite repeated warnings from the Commission.

Psychosocial harm in the workplace often develops gradually as multiple pressures accumulate over time, making it difficult to recognise until a crisis emerges. Understanding how factors like workload, organisational change, poor communication, and inadequate support interact can help leaders identify patterns early and implement effective controls before serious incidents occur.