Fair dinkum hiring
Work rules, state by state
The boring bits, made readable. Everything you need to hire fairly — from casual diggers to contractors and volunteers — with the official link for each.
A friendly guide, not legal advice. Figures last checked September 2026 and change often — confirm with the official link, Fair Work (13 13 94) or your accountant.
Everywhere in Australia
Fair Work Act & National Employment Standards
Minimum rules for every employee in Australia: max weekly hours, leave, notice, flexible work and public holidays.
Awards & minimum pay
Most outdoor event and hospitality roles fall under a modern award (e.g. Amusement, Events and Recreation, or Hospitality). Casuals get a 25% loading. Use the Pay Calculator.
Tax file number declaration
New employees fill this in through the payroll service — we never store TFNs on this site.
Super guarantee (12%) & Payday Super
Employers pay 12% super. From 1 July 2026, super must be paid with each pay run (within 7 days). Offer the super choice form.
Single Touch Payroll
Pay, tax and super are reported to the ATO every pay run — the linked payroll service handles this.
Information statements
Give every new employee the Fair Work Information Statement, and casuals the Casual Employment Information Statement.
Contractor or employee?
It depends on the whole working relationship, not the label. Contractors need an ABN; sham contracting carries big penalties. Contractors paid mainly for labour may still need super.
Volunteers
Unpaid, no award — but they still need safety inductions, insurance cover and a genuine choice to help.
Unpaid trials & payslips
Unpaid trials must be short and only to show skills. Payslips within one working day of payday. Keep records for 7 years.
State by state
Queensland QLD
- Payroll tax
- 4.75% over ~$1.3M yearly wages · Revenue office
- Workers' compensation
- WorkCover Queensland (compulsory, government insurer) · Details
- Working with kids / vulnerable people
- Blue Card · Apply
- Long service leave
- 8.67 weeks after 10 years (pro rata from 7)
- Safety law
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Qld) · Regulator
New South Wales NSW
- Payroll tax
- 5.45% over ~$1.2M yearly wages · Revenue office
- Workers' compensation
- icare (compulsory, government insurer) · Details
- Working with kids / vulnerable people
- Working With Children Check · Apply
- Long service leave
- 8.67 weeks after 10 years (pro rata from 5)
- Safety law
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (NSW) · Regulator
Victoria VIC
- Payroll tax
- 4.85% over ~$1M yearly wages (plus mental health levy for big payrolls) · Revenue office
- Workers' compensation
- WorkSafe Victoria (compulsory) · Details
- Working with kids / vulnerable people
- Working with Children Check · Apply
- Long service leave
- 1/60th of service per year, access after 7 years (portable LSL for some sectors)
- Safety law
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) · Regulator
Western Australia WA
- Payroll tax
- 5.5% over ~$1M yearly wages · Revenue office
- Workers' compensation
- Private insurer approved by WorkCover WA (compulsory) · Details
- Working with kids / vulnerable people
- Working with Children Check · Apply
- Long service leave
- 8.67 weeks after 10 years (pro rata from 7)
- Safety law
- Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WA) · Regulator
South Australia SA
- Payroll tax
- Up to 4.95% over ~$1.5M yearly wages · Revenue office
- Workers' compensation
- ReturnToWorkSA (compulsory) · Details
- Working with kids / vulnerable people
- Working with Children Check · Apply
- Long service leave
- 13 weeks after 10 years (pro rata from 7)
- Safety law
- Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA) · Regulator
Tasmania TAS
- Payroll tax
- Up to 4% over ~$1.25M yearly wages · Revenue office
- Workers' compensation
- Private licensed insurer (compulsory) · Details
- Working with kids / vulnerable people
- Registration to Work with Vulnerable People · Apply
- Long service leave
- 8.67 weeks after 10 years (pro rata from 7)
- Safety law
- Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (Tas) · Regulator
Australian Capital Territory ACT
- Payroll tax
- 6.85% over ~$2M yearly wages · Revenue office
- Workers' compensation
- Private approved insurer (compulsory) · Details
- Working with kids / vulnerable people
- Working with Vulnerable People registration · Apply
- Long service leave
- 6.07 weeks after 7 years (portable LSL for some sectors)
- Safety law
- Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (ACT) · Regulator
Northern Territory NT
- Payroll tax
- 5.5% over ~$2.5M yearly wages · Revenue office
- Workers' compensation
- Private approved insurer (compulsory) · Details
- Working with kids / vulnerable people
- Ochre Card · Apply
- Long service leave
- 13 weeks after 10 years (pro rata from 7)
- Safety law
- Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 (NT) · Regulator
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