It is one year since the second tranche of Closing Loopholes legislation passed Federal Parliament.

While 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, cutting the expectation of unpaid overtime.
• New ‘regulated worker’ functions for the Fair Work Commission to deliver better protections against unfair dismissal at work.
• A fairer definition of casual employees allowing more casuals to access job security.

The right to disconnect and the pathway for casual workers commenced on 26 August 2024 for large and medium businesses. It will commence on 26 August 2025 for small businesses.

The right to disconnect from work is life changing for workers in home care, said Western Australian aged care worker Anna. “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.”

Before the right to disconnect came into effect, workers were expected to take work phone calls and respond to work-related emails outside of paid time, she said. 

“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,” said Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt.

The Coalition has signalled it will repeal the right to disconnect and the changes to the casual definition, while flagging further attacks to workers’ wages and conditions.