1 July 2024 (and beyond): New Minimum Wage and Superannuation Updates

As businesses plan their budgets for the new financial year, estimating payroll costs is essential. This year, we are fortunate to have received an early announcement from the Fair Work Commission regarding their decision on the annual Minimum Wage Review. This early insight will allow businesses to better forecast their wage costs for the next twelve months and make more informed decisions.

Announcement:

We share important updates recently announced by the Fair Work Commission that will directly impact your workforce. Starting from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2024, significant changes are coming:

  1. Weekly Rate: 
    The new national minimum wage will be $915.90 per week, providing a substantial $33.10 weekly increase.
  2. Hourly Rate: 
    Casual employees will now earn $30.125 per hour.

Why This Matters:

Cost of Living Relief: 
We understand the financial pressures faced by workers across the state. These adjustments aim to alleviate some of those challenges.

Wages Growth:
Despite recent fluctuations, this increase aligns with forecasted wages growth across the economy.

  1. Superannuation Boost:
    Remember that the superannuation guarantee contribution amount will rise to 11.5% from 1 July 2024 and continues to increase annually until it reaches 12% on 1 July 2025.
Income year SG rate
2023-24 11%
2024-25 11.5%
2025-26 and onwards 12%

 

  1. Payroll Tax Free Threshold Increase:

From 1 July 2024, the payroll tax free threshold will be lifted from $700,000 to $900,000 for annual returns, and from $58,333 to $75,000 for monthly returns.

Eligible employers now have greater flexibility in managing their payroll tax obligations. If your Australian wages fall below the new threshold, you’ll benefit from these adjustments.

As you manage your workforce, keep these changes in mind. If you have any questions or need further guidance, feel free to reach out to our friendly team at Blaze Staffing Solutions.

 

Related Blogs

Read news and insights into a variety of industries

Essential skills to gain more work with Blaze Staffing.

Working in food processing, packing and warehousing offers reliable work opportunities in the current market, but to make the most of them, it’s important to invest in your skills, workplace behaviour, and personal wellbeing and safety. This is the essential guide to ensuring you gain more shifts, stay safe, and build a reliable and trustworthy…

How to get your seasonal workforce up to speed without compromising quality.

As the summer peak approaches, many Australian food manufacturing businesses are preparing for increased production. Orders are rising, shifts are expanding, and the need for reliable staff is more urgent than ever. The challenge is not just finding enough people, but finding skilled and safe workers who can perform from day one without disrupting operations….

Aged Care 2025 Regulatory Changes at a Glance

Aged Care 2025 Regulatory Changes at a Glance The aged care sector in Australia continues to face significant regulatory change, with new compliance requirements reshaping how providers manage their workforce. In 2025, three of the most pressing issues for aged care providers are Fair Work Commission wage increases, the requirement for Registered Nurses (RNs) to…

Is chasing cheaper labour actually costing you more?

Is chasing cheaper labour actually costing you more? It is tempting, isn’t it? The budget is tight, orders are piling up, and there’s that agency promising they can get you staff at a rate that looks too good to be true. Spoiler alert: it usually is. What looks like a saving on paper often morphs…

Scaling up without slowing down: Workforce planning strategies for peak periods

In Australia’s food, pharmaceutical, and manufacturing industries, demand rarely follows a straight line. Whether it’s the lead-up to Christmas, an unexpected product launch, or fulfilling large-scale export orders, periods of peak production can stretch even the most robust internal teams. Yet without the right workforce planning strategies in place, these surges can become a liability—causing…

Make Sure Your Hiring Practices Aren’t Doing Your Brand Damage.

For businesses operating in fast-paced, high-compliance sectors like manufacturing, food production, and pharmaceuticals, recruitment is often seen as a matter of urgency. You need boots on the ground. You need people yesterday. But here’s the hard truth: if your hiring process is rushed, disjointed, or inconsistent, it’s not just costing you candidates-it’s damaging your brand….