Review of the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act

About the review

On 2 October 2024, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator the Hon Murray Watt, announced the appointment of Emeritus Professor Mark Bray and Professor Alison Preston to conduct the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Review. The review will also consider Part 16A of Schedule 1 of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes Act) 2023.

The Secure Jobs, Better Pay Review is to report to Government in March 2025.

Terms of reference

The Secure Jobs, Better Pay Review is required to:

• consider whether the operation of the amendments are appropriate and effective
• identify any unintended consequences of the amendments
• consider whether further amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009, or any other legislation, are necessary to: improve the operation of the amendments or rectify any unintended consequences that are identified.

On 1 November 2024, Minister Watt issued revised terms of reference for the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Review.

More information is also available for the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Act and the Closing Loopholes Act.

Stakeholder participation

The Secure Jobs, Better Pay Review is an opportunity to consider the impact of these important reforms.

Written submissions have now closed. The Reviewers thank stakeholders for providing submissions to help inform the review.

Submissions can be found at Make submission - Secure Jobs, Better Pay Review - DEWR Consultation Hub.

The Reviewers will deliver a draft Report to the department on or before 31 January 2025, including preliminary findings and draft recommendations. Stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide submissions in response to the draft Report.

Leading the review

Emeritus Professor Mark Bray and Professor Alison Preston have been appointed to conduct the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Review.

Emeritus Professor Bray served as the Foundation Chair in Employment Studies at the University of Newcastle from 1997 until early 2021. As well as his primary affiliation, he is an honorary professor at both RMIT University and University of Sydney.

Mark has taught Australian and comparative industrial relations, and human resource management and research methods. Since 2005 Mark has been a co-author of Employment Relations: Theory and Practice.

Mark’s current research interests as Emeritus focus on cooperation at work, especially the role of industrial tribunals in promoting workplace cooperation and performance, and the impact of collaborative employment relations on mental health. Other interests include the structures and processes of labour regulation, including labour law, collective bargaining and awards.

Professor Preston is a Professor of Economics in the Business School at The University of Western Australia (UWA), a position she has held since 2013. Prior to that she was employed at Curtin University. She holds a PhD in labour economics and industrial relations. Alison’s research interests include wage determination and gendered aspects of labour markets, employment, and economic security. Alison teaches in the areas of micro-economics and public policy.

During Alison’s professional career she has held many senior leadership roles including as Deputy Dean of the UWA Faculty of Business, Director of the Curtin Graduate School of Business and Deputy Chair of Curtin University’s Academic Board. Alison has also served on numerous advisory bodies including the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA, WA Branch) and the WA Women’s Advisory Council and consulted for various organisations, including the Fair Work Commission and the Minerals Council of Australia.

More information

More information and updates on the Secure Jobs, Better Pay Review, including details of the consultation process will be made available on this page.

Queries about the review can be sent to SJBPReview@dewr.gov.au.

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