Western Australian workers covered by modern awards will have their penalty and overtime rates protected under federal law, including on the state's two new proposed public holidays.
The Albanese Labor Government's Fair Work Amendment (Protecting Penalty and Overtime Rates) Act 2025, now protects the penalty and overtime rates of around 2.6 million modern award-reliant employees.
Penalty and overtime rates are essential for workers in industries like retail and hospitality, where irregular hours are common.
The federal law, passed earlier this year, preserves penalty and overtime rates as fundamental entitlements within the modern awards safety net - so workers don't lose money they rely on.
As the Western Australian Government moves to adjust the state's public holiday schedule through the new Public and Bank Holidays Amendment Bill 2025, the new national penalty rates law will ensure fair compensation is provided to those who work the two extra public holidays when most people get to enjoy the day off.
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth said not everyone gets the day off work to enjoy a public holiday.
"Our Penalty and Overtime Rates legislation recognises that those people who are working to keep their communities running on public holidays are fairly compensated for their work."
"Australian workers deserve fair pay. We've legislated to make sure they're protected and fairly compensated for working outside the standard 9 to 5.
"By protecting penalty and overtime rates, along with tax cuts for every working Australian we're helping workers earn more and keep more of what they earn," Minister Rishworth said.
Assistant Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Patrick Gorman said every Western Australian who works on Show Day or Easter Saturday deserves their penalty rates."
"Perth loves our long weekends, and customers want to know the retail, hospitality and essential workers who keep our state ticking are paid fairly. By protecting penalty rates for every Australian, we are making sure our local values get national results," Patrick Gorman said.
