This morning at 10.00 am AEST, the Fair Work Commission handed down its Annual Wage Review (AWR) decision for 2026.  The decision will see all modern award rates increase by 4.75 per cent, effective from 1 July 2026.

The decision can be read in full on the Fair Work Commission website.

The Fair Work Commission's decision applies across all modern awards, including:

• Building and Construction General On-site Award [MA000020]
• Security Services Industry Award [MA000016]
• Clerks - Private Sector Award [MA000002]
• Miscellaneous Award [MA000104]

Where workers are paid above the Award rate, or workers are covered by an enterprise agreement, rates must be reviewed to ensure workers remain better off.

As part of the decision, the Fair Work Commission has implemented an additional structural adjustment for the lowest award classifications, which will increase the National Minimum Wage to $26.44 per hour.

In announcing its decision, the Fair Work Commission also acknowledged the challenging environment in which this decision has been made, noting that national inflation remains outside of the Reserve Bank's target range of 2 to 3 per cent, as well as ongoing consequences from the conflict in the Middle East.

ACTIONS TO TAKE:

The Traffic Management Association of Australia (TMAA) has advised its members to make sure to review their payroll and pay functions to ensure all employee pay rates remain compliant.

This includes making sure the full Annual Wage Review increase is applied where workers are paid in accordance with an Award. Where members pay above the Award rate, or where workers are covered by an enterprise agreement, members should apply a "better off" test and make any adjustments as required.

Information about work conditions, including Awards and minimum wages and conditions, is available on the Fair Work Commission website.