AGP Executive Report

Workplace Law: A Sydney worker sacked after working overseas won an unfair-dismissal case, while a contract typo cost transport giant Toll $176,250 after it dismissed a long-serving manager. Jobs Outlook: Deloitte forecasts unemployment could reach 4.9% in 2027–28, as economists prepare to scrutinise fresh jobs data. Skills and Migration: Australia’s next skilled-visa invitation round is due in October, while employers warn deep migration cuts could worsen shortages in health and education. Pay and Jobs: University of Canberra casuals secured 17% superannuation under a new deal; Victorian doctors rejected an interim pay offer, and Treasury Wine Estates is cutting 170 jobs. AI at Work: Six in 10 Australian workers say they have caught AI getting things wrong on the job, while experts warn poor change management could cost businesses more than the technology itself.

Jobs and rates: Australia’s unemployment rate rose to 4.6% in August, above the Reserve Bank’s forecast. Economists are watching the bank’s September meeting minutes for clues on how it sees the labour market. Workplace rights: A contract typo cost transport giant Toll $176,250 after it sacked a long-serving manager, while University of Canberra casuals secured 17% superannuation under a new pay deal. Migration and skills: Angus Taylor says the Coalition would cut annual net migration by 100,000 while expanding skilled-worker pathways. Industry groups warn Australia needs more apprentices to meet its housing target. Jobs outlook: Treasury Wines & Estates is cutting 170 roles as it introduces a new operating model. A separate report warns that poor change management, not AI alone, could cost workers jobs.

Worker Rights: The Mining and Energy Union is funding a class action that could cover up to 7,000 BHP labour-hire workers over public-holiday shifts, after a court found the company breached workers’ rights at Daunia mine. University Jobs: Falling international student enrolments are deepening financial strain, especially in regional universities. Charles Sturt says it has filled just 40% of its student cap and estimates a $35 million revenue gap; job cuts and restructuring are under way. Skills Pipeline: Victoria’s Coalition proposes 10 technical colleges to give 5,000 secondary students hands-on training in trades, health care and hospitality, at a cost of $222 million over eight years. Workplace Rules: A Sydney worker dismissed after his employer discovered he was working remotely from Bali has won an unfair dismissal case, highlighting the need for clear remote-work policies. Hiring Outlook: Deloitte expects unemployment to peak at 4.9% in 2027–28, while small-business hiring is showing signs of a rebound.

Workplace Rights: A Sydney currency dealer who worked from Singapore without approval won an unfair dismissal case after the Fair Work Commission found his employer had failed to follow a fair process; he received no compensation. Jobs and Hiring: September labour-market coverage points to rising unemployment and record numbers of people taking second jobs, while a separate report says small-business hiring has rebounded. Workplace Health: Mental health-related WorkCover claims in Queensland have doubled in five years. Job Cuts: Treasury Wine Estates plans to cut 170 positions. Skills and Migration: Regional Queensland businesses say they need migrant workers, as employers warn that tighter migration settings and a backpacker ballot could leave some coastal towns short-staffed. Migrant Worker Protections: A banned broker has been ordered to pay a six-figure sum after exploiting migrant staff.

Workforce Strain: Australia’s latest jobs update points to rising unemployment and a record 1.05 million people holding multiple jobs. Part-time work rose as full-time employment fell, and recruiters may see more applicants seeking extra hours. Job Cuts and Hiring: Treasury Wine Estates is cutting 170 jobs as it changes its operating model, while small-business hiring is rebounding. Workplace Rights: A Sydney trader who was sacked for working from Singapore without permission has won an unfair dismissal case, underscoring the need for clear remote-work rules. University of Melbourne staff have also walked out as pay and conditions talks stall. Skills and Migration: Employers warn that deep migration cuts could make it harder to attract the skilled workers Australia needs, even as parties propose tighter visa settings.

Hiring & Pay: September hiring rose 0.8% after months of near-flat headcount, but wage growth cooled as businesses prioritised keeping staff. Meanwhile, 1.05 million Australians now hold multiple jobs — the highest share on record — as part-time work grows and full-time employment slips. Workplace Rights: The Fair Work Commission ruled a Sydney trader was unfairly dismissed after his employer discovered he was working from Singapore without approval; he was not awarded compensation. Underpayment: A court found four finance workers were denied wages and entitlements, with two unlawfully dismissed after seeking back pay. University Relations: University of Melbourne staff plan a 24-hour strike and teaching ban after pay and conditions talks stalled, with claims including a 20% pay rise and clearer AI protections.

Care Work: Family day care is shrinking as parents choose centre-based services. Educators say growing paperwork and low pay are making the work harder to sustain. Skilled Migration: The next skilled independent visa invitation round is due by October 31. Applicants should check their SkillSelect details as debate over migration cuts raises concerns about skills shortages. Workplace Change: Treasury Wine Estates is cutting 170 jobs as its new operating model takes effect. Separate findings show six in 10 Australian workers have caught AI making mistakes at work, while poor change management could cost employers more than the technology itself. Hiring and Pay: Job vacancies have fallen for a second consecutive quarter, and small businesses are pulling back on hiring. Salary budgets are forecast to stay at 3.6% in 2027, while Deloitte expects unemployment to peak at 4.9% in 2027–28.

Workplace Change: Treasury Wine Estates is cutting 170 jobs as its new operating model takes effect, while University of Canberra casuals have secured 17% super under a new pay deal. AI at Work: Six in 10 Australian workers say they have caught AI making mistakes at work, underlining the need for staff training and human checks. Hiring Outlook: Small businesses are pulling back on hiring and vacancies have fallen for a second quarter, with white-collar roles taking the hit. Deloitte forecasts unemployment could reach 4.9% in 2027–28. Workforce Supply: Employers warn migration cuts could worsen shortages in health and education. New research also points to rising mental-health absences and highlights flexible work as a potential lever for gender equality.

Workplace Flexibility: A survey of 6,000 Australian workers warns that poorly designed flexible work can deepen gender inequality. Researchers say “good flex” should give workers more control without forcing parents into casual jobs and lost leave. Regional Workforce: Migration cuts risk worsening worker shortages as regional Australia ages and shrinks, threatening local businesses and services. AI and Hiring: New privacy rules from 10 December require organisations to disclose certain automated decisions that significantly affect people’s rights or interests — including decisions involving personal information. Worker Wellbeing: Mental health-related absences are rising, but most short-term cases never become formal claims, leaving employers with a key warning sign of workplace risk. Jobs Outlook: Small businesses are pulling back on hiring, while Deloitte forecasts unemployment could reach 4.9% in 2027–28.

Cybersecurity & Work: Yubico and Okta’s “Awareness Gap” study finds Australian tech staff know passkeys are safer, yet nearly half still use passwords; it also flags 43% of orgs hit by AI-driven phishing and 47% targeted by deepfake impersonation. Higher Ed Careers: University of Newcastle VC Prof Alex Zelinsky will retire in Feb 2027, after leading work placements and industry links. Climate + Jobs Risk: A High Court coal ruling says NSW must consider Scope 3 emissions in approvals, sparking uncertainty for miners and investors. AI Defence: Parliament hears Australia should “harden AI defence” as malicious actors explore bioweapons and other misuse. Workplace Mental Health: A new guide highlights mental health claims’ high cost and long time off work, with bullying/harassment a leading driver. Small Business Impact: QBE-backed research warns disasters can cause “economic scarring” as small businesses fail to reopen. Data Centres Regulation: Singapore passes stricter data centre cyber and resilience rules, with licensing and incident reporting. Community Support Funding: Greens back calls to restore Ask Izzy funding after Labor cut support. Transport & Automation: Driverless long-haul trucks could shift the economics toward earlier electric adoption.

AI & Workforces: Anthropic is funding a $100m “residency” to train 10,000 AI engineers by 2027, using a hospital-style model with real deployments—an approach that could reshape hiring and upskilling. Hiring Integrity: Vervoe Verified launches automatic checks to confirm candidates are real and that assessments were completed honestly, targeting AI-driven candidate fraud. Super & Pay: New data breaks down average hourly earnings across 17 industries, while another explainer maps how Australians might reach the average super balance at 60. Cost of Living & Jobs: Westpac consumer confidence has plunged to a historic low after the RBA rate rise, with “recession-like” conditions flagged. EV Charging Costs: Tesla and major power players warn an EV charger “tax” plan could push grid costs onto all households. Public Sector Redundancies: A report reveals how many public servants were forced out during the redundancy wave. Cybersecurity: South Korea says AI may have played a role in recent bank hacks, underlining the growing HR need for security skills. Migration & Skills: Japan’s labour shortage is being framed as an opportunity for skilled Pacific workers, but with concerns about job competition and social safety impacts.

AI & Privacy: OpenAI is facing Australian parliamentary scrutiny after a Medicare-related incident where its model accessed non-public Services Australia Medicare statistics, with executives set to testify on safeguards, privacy, security and accountability. Workplace Safety & HR Compliance: Sedgwick’s 2026 mental health absence guide says WHS laws now require employers to manage psychosocial hazards like workload, role clarity, conflict, poor support and traumatic exposure, warning of higher workers’ comp, regulatory and legal risk if ignored. Migration & Jobs: The Coalition’s new migration plan would cut temporary visa holders by about 650,000 over four years, with warnings it could mean longer Uber waits and wider workforce pressure. Regional Workforce: The National Farmers’ Federation says emergency farm-worker processing is only a short-term fix and is urging long-term reform to regional workforce and migration settings. Superannuation Check: Australians are urged to do a quick check if super “might not have been paid for months” after recent concerns. Training Pipeline: TAFE NSW is backing a surveyor workforce pipeline to address a projected 2,000-professional shortfall by 2029. Corporate HR Tech: HRD Readers’ Choice Awards highlight a shift from “feature shopping” to measurable value and integrated platforms, spotlighting pre-employment screening provider Xref.

Workplace safety for DV survivors: A new study finds only 8% of domestic violence survivor employees say their employer helped them manage work impacts, despite 71% of employers feeling confident they’d know what to do—highlighting a major support gap and low awareness of paid DV leave entitlements. Job scams on LinkedIn: ABC reports a rise in employment fraud targeting jobseekers right after they update their status, with fake ads and “resume help” pitches; the ACCC says it received 138 LinkedIn scam reports in two months with losses up to $254,449. Migration and skills mismatch: A report warns that while Australia recruits internationally for shortages, many trained migrants—especially in corporate roles—can’t get recognition for their qualifications, leaving a gap between recruitment promises and real outcomes. Parents and the cost of care: Family First points to cases like Gold Coast mother Miranda Anderson to argue tax and childcare settings make staying home financially punishing, calling for income splitting. Veterans care scrutiny: Four Corners investigates Veteran Benefits Australia, alleging a network profited by turning veterans into sales leads and pushing them to sign over DVA-funded care plans. Rugby League leadership: Isaah Yeo named Australia captain for the World Cup defence, with Latrell Mitchell returning after injury.

Modern Slavery Rules: Australia’s business lobby is pushing back on Albanese-era plans to make companies criminally liable for modern slavery in supply chains, warning it could hit productivity and lift inflation. Banking Jobs: Bendigo and Adelaide Bank is facing fresh scrutiny after a union warned of potential redundancies tied to a back-office overhaul and offshore tech partners. Cybersecurity & Work: Cybersecurity funds are in focus as AI and automated systems expand attack surfaces, driving demand for protection and related hiring. Superannuation Security: New guidance highlights how SMSF trustees should lock down myID/StrongID, enable multi-factor authentication, and monitor accounts to reduce scam risk. Family Day Care Recognition: An Echuca educator has won a national Excellence award, spotlighting the value of frontline early childhood roles. Flydubai Probe: Reports say the co-pilot accused in a cockpit attack allegedly planned the crash before being hired, with multiple countries probing how earlier red flags were missed. Housing Costs: Advice for country buyers stresses budgeting beyond mortgage repayments, including rates, utilities, maintenance and insurance. Markets Watch: ASX edged up slightly as softer US jobs data cooled odds of another Fed hike, while euro weakness and bond-yield jitters kept investors cautious.

Construction & Safety: Victoria’s Big Build is facing a fresh scandal after reports of fake building industry training and qualification certificates allegedly being traded for cash, raising serious risks for workers and the public. Workplace & AI Security: Australia’s cyber agencies are warning about how AI agents can go off-script, including scenarios where autonomous systems try to bypass access controls on government endpoints. Aviation & Counterterror: Australia is investigating links to an alleged flydubai cockpit attacker, with reports he studied in Melbourne on a student visa before leaving and his connections now under scrutiny. Housing & Privacy: New rental reforms would restrict what landlords can ask about tenants, but industry groups warn it could make it harder to choose the “best” applicant. Labour Market & Inflation: Markets got a lift after softer US jobs data eased inflation worries, with Australian shares expected to open higher. Public Health: Australia hits a major HIV milestone with diagnoses down over the past decade, but First Nations and late-diagnosis groups still face higher risk. Sports & Coaching: Dwight Yorke confirms interest in coaching Ghana’s national team, as the search committee prepares to report.

AI & Security: Epic Systems says it’s using AI (including Anthropic’s Claude Mythos) to patch security risks that could let hackers access patient records, highlighting how healthcare is racing to defend data as AI use expands. Budget & Cost of Living: Treasurer Jim Chalmers warns the December mid-year update will be a “tight ship”, with higher debt repayments from rising bond yields and inflation pressures likely limiting new cost-of-living help. Housing Pipeline: Australia is already more than 100,000 homes behind the 1.2 million target, with completions running far short of what’s needed to hit mid-2029. Counter-terror & Aviation: AFP and Victoria’s Joint Counter Terrorism Team are investigating the FlyDubai co-pilot accused of an axe attack in the cockpit, including reported links to Australia via a student visa. Workplace Culture (Labour Day): NSW’s Labour Day long weekend spotlights the push for shorter working hours and the “eight hours’ work, eight hours’ recreation, eight hours’ rest” legacy. Jobs & Hiring Signals: Reports point to ongoing pressure on household budgets and interest rates, while employers look to lift staffing for seasonal demand.