AGP Executive Report

Payday Super Countdown: The ATO says more than half of employers still aren’t set to pay super each payday, urging businesses to prepare now for 1 July and warning enforcement will target deliberate non-compliance. CGT Relief for Small Business: Labor has unveiled CGT carve-outs and lifted the SME threshold to $10m after backlash, with COSBOA saying the old settings no longer match how growing family businesses operate. Migration Debate: Net overseas migration fell to the lowest level since 2022 (about 301,000), but politics is still heated as the Coalition argues it’s still too high. Workplace Action at Ichthys LNG: INPEX has settled the offshore strike, with cargo loading restarting after protected industrial action ended and unions move to ballot on a new enterprise deal. AI at Work: A new report finds small businesses using AI are far more likely to report revenue gains, while Australia’s adoption keeps climbing. Skills & Jobs: Australia’s unemployment and workforce pressures remain in focus, including coverage on tradies and older workers. Global Hiring Signals: Lufthansa Technik plans a major Philippines maintenance hub, expected to create about 1,200 skilled jobs.

Startup Tax Reset: Labor has rolled out new capital gains tax carve-outs for small businesses after a backlash, lifting the 50% CGT discount turnover threshold to $10m (from $2m) and promising a new “innovative business” concession for startups plus changes to discretionary trusts. Workplace Compliance: RSPCA Queensland will reimburse $4.3m to 1,000+ underpaid staff after Fair Work Ombudsman action found long-running payroll errors, including overtime and penalty rates. AI Infrastructure Anxiety: South Australians are pushing for more consultation over proposed AI data centres in Tailem Bend and Port Augusta, with locals saying they only learned about plans via media. Media & Politics: The federal press gallery has strongly objected to One Nation threats to ban journalists, after Pauline Hanson’s National Press Club remarks and a protest banner incident. Hiring & Skills: A new report flags construction’s digital adoption gap in Australia, with skills and budget limits holding back further tech rollouts. Market & Jobs: Singapore car marketplace Carro enters Australia by buying CarPlace, aiming to expand vehicle checks, dealer networks and wholesale operations. Education Outcomes: UNSW tops Australia in QS 2027 rankings for the first time, with ANU and Macquarie also climbing.

Defence & Jobs: Defence Minister Richard Marles says the US Marine Corps is expanding its “crisis-ready” presence in Australia, including a new weapons and logistics stockpile plan tied to Melbourne and Bandiana in Victoria—an update that will likely ripple through defence supply chains and regional work. Industrial Relations: Unions and Inpex have reached a deal to end strikes at the Ichthys LNG sites, with protected industrial action set to stop and cargo loading restarting after weeks of disruption—good news for workers and for LNG export stability. Workplace & Skills: A new WA law passed to exempt certain miscellaneous and small prospecting licences on Crown land from local government rates, aiming to reduce cost uncertainty for councils and keep regional mining jobs viable. Cybersecurity: A Sydney-focused report warns more businesses are becoming easy targets for cyber attacks as cloud and remote work expand the attack surface—another reminder for HR and employers to tighten training and incident readiness. Leadership & Growth: Pacer Group appoints Steven Livingston as VP Strategy & Growth, signalling continued investment in workforce solutions and MSP partnerships. Health & Work: A study links chronic financial stress to measurable brain harm in middle-aged people, adding weight to the case for stronger job security and support systems.

Industrial Relations: Childcare workers have secured a two-year extension of a 15% pay rise, dodging a planned July 15 strike and easing pressure on parents’ out-of-pocket costs. Workforce & Safety: Inpex and unions have reached a deal after weeks of strikes at the Ichthys LNG site, with industrial action set to stop and pay rises plus improved job security/career progression on the table. Jobs & Restructuring: Hancock Iron Ore says it will cut jobs at its Pilbara operations after life-of-mine planning, with media reports putting the figure in the hundreds. Fair Work / HR Law: A Fair Work decision examined whether event officials were casuals or had an “umbrella” employment relationship, turning on the practical reality of ongoing obligations. Policy & Community: Pauline Hanson used the National Press Club to argue for “monocultural” Australia, pushing immigration and housing as key pressures. Skills & Education: Swinburne will launch Australia’s first associate degree in applied AI, aiming to build job-ready skills with industry partners. Workplace Crime: A Sydney childcare worker has pleaded guilty to offences involving child abuse material, with court details on how investigators tracked him down. Transport & Events: Seattle transit officials are reviewing World Cup match congestion after post-game light rail bottlenecks and surge pricing complaints.

Workplace Pay Equity: The ATO’s outsource call centres are accused of paying workers up to 40% less than public service peers doing the same phone-line work, with Fair Work Commission “same job, same pay” hearings now in focus. Central Banking & Jobs: The RBA held the cash rate at 4.35% but warned another hike could come if inflation stays too high, leaving mortgage holders and employers watching closely. Childcare Pay Relief: A $3.6b childcare wage subsidy deal is being extended for two years, helping avert pay cuts for around 60,000 early educators while fee caps and family costs remain under pressure. Recruitment & Skills Demand: A new report says Perth employers are prioritising skills over employment history, signalling a shift in hiring practices. AI at Work: A study finds employees spend about 6.4 hours a week “botsitting” AI tools—guiding, checking and fixing—highlighting that automation still needs human oversight. Safety & Accountability: A Kenyan student, Sheila Chebii, died after a 15-storey fall while working at a Sydney hotel; her family is seeking answers as police investigations continue. Education Sector (Jobs): Spatial roles are advertised across NSW and Queensland, including GIS and data analyst positions tied to bushfire, transport and land-use planning.

Cost-of-living Relief: Anthony Albanese is weighing extending the $2.5bn fuel excise cut after voter backlash, while economists warn more stimulus could complicate inflation control. Workplace Rights (WFH): Victoria’s new work-from-home laws will extend to regular casual and part-time workers, with a right to WFH two days a week where reasonable, kicking in from September. Regulation & Independence: The ASMS says a minister’s move to replace Medical Council leadership sets a dangerous precedent for political interference in independent regulators. Tax & Small Business: Shadow treasurer Tim Wilson and Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth clash on TV over a two-day Senate inquiry into Labor’s capital gains tax reforms, with critics calling it rushed. Ethics in Government Contracting: Federal government warns consultancies on standards as a review begins into KPMG, including a moratorium on new contracts. Data for Decisions: ANZLIC says geospatial capability is shifting from “building” to using it in government decision-making, including housing and infrastructure planning. Health System Pressure: SA emergency department presentations are up over 50% in a decade, with unions warning proposed responses could be unsafe. Recruitment/Workplace Culture: A “weed whacker” goat job ad goes viral after claims of intimidation and harassment, spotlighting workplace conflict and hiring practices.

Workplace Benefits: Demand is rising for employer-covered health perks in Australia, with NT employees leading (75%) and 18–34s reporting they’ve delayed routine care for up to two years amid cost-of-living pressure. Child Safety & HR: The UK is moving to ban social media access for under-16s from early 2027, with age checks and limits on stranger contact on some platforms—another reminder for Australian employers and HR teams to update safeguarding, training, and digital wellbeing policies. Industrial Relations: Australian unions plan to extend Inpex LNG strikes beyond June 23 after the Fair Work Commission rejected Inpex’s bid to halt action at the Ichthys project, keeping pressure on pay, progression and job security. Big Four Governance: KPMG Australia has been blocked from new Australian government audit contracts until September following governance and ethics concerns tied to alleged mishandling of client information. AI in Work: New reporting highlights growing workplace friction as AI use expands—more “busywork” and burnout risks are emerging alongside recruitment and compliance concerns. Construction Safety: NT construction workers face a suicide risk close to double other employed men, with calls for stronger anti-bullying and earlier mental health support on worksites.

Workplace & pay: Victorian teachers begin voting on a new pay and conditions deal after months of strikes, with sub-branch ballots for about 65,000 AEU members and a likely outcome expected Friday—while campaign groups say the fight isn’t over. Workplace compliance: The Fair Work Ombudsman and Border Force carried out snap inspections of around 40 Brisbane-area businesses, focusing on migrant workers on 482 visas and checking time and wage records. Super & financial stress: ASIC-linked scrutiny has renewed pressure after reports that some families face long delays (over six months) in accessing death benefit payouts, potentially forcing grieving households to seek mortgage repayment pauses. Education policy: Victoria will require device-free time in secondary schools from term 1, 2027, building on primary screen-time limits. Business & tax: Business groups are criticising Labor’s capital gains tax and negative gearing changes as “slapdash,” arguing a two-day Senate inquiry isn’t enough. Jobs & industry: Liberty Bell Bay’s Tasmanian smelter has been given another reprieve as administrators keep engaging a preferred buyer consortium, extending job security for now. Economy & rates: RBA rate-hike fears are back in focus as analysts warn further rises could lift unemployment risk. Markets: Asia shares jumped and oil slid after reports of a US-Iran deal to open the Strait of Hormuz, easing inflation worries. Safety: Drones are being used at Coogee Beach after a shark attack, with temporary CASA approval for aerial surveillance.

AI at work: A new survey finds AI can save office workers about 11 hours a week, but many still spend 6+ hours “botsitting” to check, fix and rerun tasks—so productivity gains aren’t always turning into business growth. Youth job pressure: Youth unemployment is climbing to the highest level in more than 30 years, adding to the strain on early-career Australians. Housing delivery under fire: Labor’s $47bn Homes for Australia plan has built just 1,432 homes in almost two years, drawing criticism that progress is too slow despite ministerial claims the pipeline will ramp up. Workplace wellbeing: Reporting highlights women’s burnout as a growing cost to Australian workplaces, pointing to retention and productivity risks. Cyber and hiring scams: Five Eyes warns China is using employment sites to recruit spies, including targeting people with access to sensitive information—another reminder to tighten hiring and verification. Global skills access: Australia’s entry into Horizon Europe Pillar II from 2027 is set to give researchers and businesses more ability to lead international projects.

NDIS Reform Push: Health Minister Mark Butler says state criticism of looming NDIS changes is “posturing,” defending the timeline and warning delays could cost billions as participants face transfers off the scheme. Workplace Burnout: A new report highlights how women’s burnout is costing Australian workplaces, with one professional describing stress, IVF losses and workplace toxicity leading to boundaries and job loss. Child Support Overhaul: Budget plans include more child support collected directly from wages, an online tool to choose collection methods, and tougher action on repeat tax non-lodgers. Cybercrime Crackdown: Australia-linked reporting flags transnational cybercrime growth in Cambodia, where scam operations recruit workers and victims are left stranded amid raids. Jobs Shock: Barbecue retailer Barbeques Galore is set to close with hundreds of jobs lost, adding to a week of corporate downsizing. Politics & HR: Liberal frontbencher Jonno Duniam announces he’ll quit politics before year-end, citing family strain and leadership turmoil. Education-to-Work: A Victorian early childhood educators burnout story points to “paid peanuts” conditions and strain in the sector.

AI & Work: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says he’s “delighted to be wrong” about a white-collar jobs wipeout, arguing AI is changing roles rather than triggering a jobs apocalypse—after trying AI to draft emails and Slack felt “dehumanizing.” Gig Work & Unions: Illinois has passed a law letting rideshare drivers unionise, adding to a growing US trend that could reshape pay and conditions for platform workers. Rugby Pathways: Rugby Australia named France-contracted youngsters Treyvon Pritchard, Kingbenjamin Swerling-Finaipepe and Lehopoame Leota in a 30-man U20 squad for Georgia, signalling a shift to counter French poaching. Workplace Justice: A Melbourne project manager cleared of alleged fentanyl, cocaine and peptide import charges after testing reportedly came back negative. Travel Safety: Australia issued updated South Africa travel warnings, flagging armed robberies, hijackings, scams and unrest risks. Sport (HR angle): NRL referee Ashley Klein publicly acknowledged a past $400k gambling problem, stressing it never affected his officiating.

Workplace Relations: Inpex has asked Australia’s Fair Work Commission to stop protected industrial action at the Ichthys LNG project, warning further stoppages could disrupt pay talks and LNG exports. Tax & Cost of Living: Proposed changes to CGT, negative gearing and work deductions point to a major shift in Australia’s tax landscape, with new rules flagged from 1 July 2027/2028. Pay & Fairness: Canberra and Goulburn junior doctors can now access $25.3m in unpaid overtime back pay after a long-running legal fight. Gig Work & Rights: The ILO is moving to expand protections for platform workers, while New Zealand’s government faces criticism for voting against the move. Fraud & Compliance: An NZTA road-toll text scam case saw a woman jailed for using stolen card details to buy luxury goods and phones. Community & Inclusion: A Sydney Opera House pilot program is helping skilled refugees re-enter work, with one graduate landing a full-time role after years of struggle. Safety at Work: A tribunal has rejected a bus driver’s compensation appeal over a car-park fall, turning on where the workplace ends.

Youth mental health access: Allcove-style barrier-free youth centres are expanding, with Youth Advisory Groups helping shape services for 12–25-year-olds, aiming to intervene earlier than crisis-only models. Healthcare workforce planning: A push is growing to shift care from hospitals to primary and community settings, using multidisciplinary urgent care models to cut waits and improve system sustainability. Gig work protections: Uber has appealed a Fair Work Commission order to reinstate a driver and pay back lost wages, as the government moves to tighten how platforms handle sexual harassment deactivations. Workplace culture and AI use: A new study finds workers are losing hours “botsitting” to make AI usable, even when AI boosts productivity—highlighting training and process gaps. Housing affordability anxiety: New data is being used to calm fears of “negative equity” for first-home buyers, as price weakness concentrates in parts of Sydney and Melbourne. Skills and communication: Employers and educators keep stressing communication as a core employability skill, from writing and speaking to listening. Water infrastructure jobs: Victoria’s Western Port recycled water scheme (AUD 113.2m) begins construction, targeting more reliable farm water supply from 2028.

Workplace AI and jobs: The PSA warns governments shouldn’t use AI as an excuse to sack public servants, as a new report flags risks of automated welfare decisions shifting power away from humans. Police culture: A NSW Police review says bullying, harassment and discrimination are widespread, with many staff afraid to report. Public sector accountability: NT senate estimates questioned prison lockdowns and admitted there’s no proof current rehabilitation programs reduce reoffending. Parliament transparency: Australia moves to publicly identify lobbyists and corporate pass holders via a new online register and tighter access rules. Local jobs and growth: Construction has started on Queensland’s $68m Aura Hotel, expected to create about 150 jobs. Community and environment: ACT backs targeted grazing on conservation land to cut invasive plants and fire risk. Sports and careers: Adelaide Festival adds former Mitsubishi CEO Shaun Westcott and First Nations author Daniel Browning to its board after prior controversy.

Workplace Culture Benchmark: Pureprofile has become Australia’s first Certified PeopleFirst™ organisation, earning Gold certification for a culture model built on employee Belief, Belonging and Future Confidence—a shift away from perks-only scoring. AI Governance Pressure: A new report warns Australian firms are falling behind on AI compliance, with “Shadow AI” and rising privacy expectations (Privacy Act changes from Dec 10) creating security and data-risk headaches. Cyber & Hiring Scams: The FBI says it seized 13 fake consulting websites tied to Chinese intelligence that allegedly targeted unemployed people with security clearances via job ads—another reminder for recruitment integrity. Industrial Relations: Unions at WA’s Port Hedland say members have backed strike action at BHP’s Pilbara operations after months of stalled talks, raising the stakes for workplace bargaining. Defence Workforce Fallout (UK): UK Defence Secretary John Healey resigned over defence funding gaps, adding uncertainty for AUKUS-aligned capability planning. Energy/Deal Update: Amaero’s shareholder schemes are set to take effect, with ASX trading suspended ahead of the next corporate step.

Workplace Culture: A wide-ranging review says bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination in NSW Police are at “unacceptable” levels, with 30% reporting bullying and almost 1 in 10 reporting sexual harassment in the past five years. Media Jobs: Southern Cross Media will axe 250–300 roles as it resets costs after a Seven West tie-up and weaker TV advertising, with savings targeted at up to $150m a year. Early-Career Hiring: Australia’s digital ad and ad-tech sector is hiring fewer juniors, with entry-level roles at just 1% of vacancies and a record-low vacancy rate of 2.4%. Housing & Consumer Rights: South Australia’s consumer watchdog warns real estate agents could mislead buyers about serious defects, after cases involving major building issues. AI Trust: Australia’s public is among the most distrustful of AI, and the government is weighing Pope Leo’s AI concerns as it tries to balance opportunity with values. Regional Opportunity: Peter Jackson argues a Northern Territory AFL team could create Indigenous pathways and broader social and economic benefits, but funding would need to be innovative. Caravan Compliance: A Queensland woman faces potential council fines for living in a caravan due to the housing crisis, sparking calls for rule changes.