Recent legislative changes in Australia, such as the introduction of criminal liability for underpayment of wages, send a clear message: businesses must prioritise compliance to avoid hefty penalties — and even jail time for directors and business owners.

But compliance isn’t just about avoiding risk. It’s about setting your business up for sustainable growth. Your agreements — from employment contracts to service agreements — need to reflect both legal obligations and commercial goals to ensure they support your long-term success.

Recent Legislative Changes: What You Need to Know

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Keeping your business compliant requires staying informed about key legislative updates. Here are some of the most important changes affecting Australian businesses:

Criminal Liability for Underpayment of Wages

New laws mean that business owners and directors can now face criminal charges for failing to pay employees correctly. This makes it essential to ensure your employment agreements and payroll systems are accurate and up to date. Underpayment of wages can lead to serious legal consequences, including fines and imprisonment.

Increased Focus on Privacy Compliance

With digital transformation, businesses are collecting more customer data than ever before. However, privacy breaches can result in significant penalties. Ensure your privacy policies and terms and conditions meet Australian Consumer Law requirements to protect your business from liability.

Modern Award Updates and Fair Work Obligations

Employment laws are constantly evolving, particularly around Modern Awards, termination policies, and employee entitlements. If your contracts don’t reflect these updates, you could be exposed to disputes and penalties under Fair Work Australia guidelines.

Are Your Agreements Helping or Hindering Your Growth?

Here are some key agreements that every growing business should review regularly:

1. Employment Agreements

Your employment contracts should reflect the latest Fair Work obligations, including:

• Correct pay rates

• Leave entitlements

• Termination procedures

Failing to update these agreements could put your business at risk of employment disputes and non-compliance penalties.

2. Service Agreements

A comprehensive service agreement ensures that your business relationships are clearly defined. It should outline:

• Deliverables

• Payment terms

• Dispute resolution processes

A well-crafted service agreement protects your business from misunderstandings and potential legal issues.

3. Commercial Lease Agreements

If your business leases premises, it’s important to ensure your lease agreements are favourable and free from hidden risks. These agreements should reflect:

• Lease terms and conditions

• Rent obligations

• Maintenance responsibilities

4. Privacy Policies and Terms & Conditions

With increasing scrutiny on data protection, your privacy policies must be robust and comply with Australian privacy laws. Outdated policies can expose your business to significant penalties.

How Connected Legal + Commercial Can Help

At Connected Legal + Commercial, we specialise in helping Australian businesses navigate complex legal landscapes and stay ahead of compliance requirements.

We provide:

• Employment agreement reviews and updates

• Commercial lease negotiations

• Privacy policy drafting and updates

• Dispute resolution strategies

• Service agreement drafting
  

Don’t wait for a compliance issue to arise. Book a consultation today and let us help you ensure your business agreements are setting you up for success in 2025.

Key Takeaways

✅ Ensure your employment agreements reflect the latest Fair Work obligations.

✅ Keep your service agreements clear and enforceable to avoid disputes.

✅ Update your privacy policies to comply with data protection laws.

✅ Review your commercial lease agreements to ensure favourable terms.

Get a Legal Health Check for Your Business

Reach out to our team for a legal health check on your business agreements. Let’s make 2025 your most legally sound and prosperous year yet.

Contact us today to schedule your consultation.

DISCLAIMER

The content given herein is provided for information purposes only. It is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice and should not be used as such. Formal legal advice should be sought in particular matters.

Connected Legal + Commercial does not accept any liability to any person for the information (or use of such information) which is provided herein or incorporated into it by reference.

The information is provided in good faith on the basis that all persons accessing the content undertake responsibility for assessing its relevance and accuracy and will seek appropriate formal legal advice accordingly.