SJ Bookkeeping Pty Ltd

02/06/2026

The Fair Work Commission has announced this year’s Annual Wage Review decision.

The National Minimum Wage will increase to $1,004.90 per week or $26.44 per hour.

Minimum award wages will increase by 4.75%, provided that:
-the lowest rate in any award that applies to ongoing employment must be at least $1,004.90 per week or $26.44 per hour
- any entry-level rate that applies to the first 6 months (or less) of employment must be at least $978.10 per week or $25.74 per hour.

These increases apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026.

We’re working to update our pay tools and website info with the new rates. You can find more info about the minimum wage increase and subscribe to our email updates to be notified when the new rates are available here: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/workplace-laws/annual-wage-review/annual-wage-review-2026

20/05/2026

It’s true!

The Building and Construction Award doesn’t have junior pay rates. This means all employees (except apprentices) are paid ‘adult’ rates.

19/05/2026

18/05/2026

From 1 April to 30 June 2026, the fuel tax credit rate for petrol and diesel is 20.6 cents per litre.

This change is due to the 60.9% temporary reduction in fuel excise.

👉 If you claim fuel tax credits, this update may affect your next BAS.

Not sure what rate applies to you?

✅ The easiest way to get your claim right is to use our fuel tax credit calculator. It’s been updated with the new rates for this period.

Check below for more info!

17/05/2026

Compassionate leave is a separate entitlement. It doesn’t come out of your sick and carer’s leave balance.

All employees (including casuals) can take 2 days of compassionate leave (also known as bereavement leave) each time they meet the criteria.

You can take this leave if 👇
- a member of your immediate family or household dies, or contracts or develops a life-threatening illness or injury
- a baby in your immediate family or household is stillborn
- you have a miscarriage, or
- your current spouse or de facto partner has a miscarriage.

Full-time and part-time employees get paid leave 💵
Casual employees get unpaid leave ❌

13/05/2026

Your final pay MUST include:
- wages owed for the hours you’ve worked (including any penalty rates or allowances)
- unused annual leave (including leave loading if it would’ve been paid when you took leave).

If applicable, it also needs to include:
- payment in lieu of notice
- redundancy pay
- long service leave.

11/05/2026

To know what’s a ‘yay’ or a ‘nay’ when claiming a deduction, make sure you:

· know what deductions are related to your own job
· claim work-related expenses, not personal ones
· don’t copy your friend’s deductions, as they may not relate to you
· aren’t just rolling over last year’s deductions.

08/12/2025

Trying to work out how many days of annual leave you need to use over the holidays? We’ve got you covered. Here are the upcoming public holidays across Australia.

Reminder: if a public holiday falls on a day you normally work and you’re on annual leave, your annual leave balance shouldn’t be deducted. You should be paid your base rate for the ordinary hours you’d work on that day (excluding casuals).