The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations, Skills and Training will hold a public hearing on Thursday, 26 March 2026 as part of its inquiry into the operation and adequacy of the National Employment Standards (NES). The inquiry was referred to the Committee on 27 November 2025, by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP.
The NES set out the minimum terms and conditions of employment for all national system employees, alongside modern awards. Together, they form the safety net that underpins Australia’s workplace relations system.
At the public hearing, the Committee will examine how effectively the NES protect employee entitlements, how well the standards are understood and complied with in practice, and the role of government agencies in administering and enforcing the framework.
Committee Chair, Dr Carina Garland MP, said the hearing would provide an important opportunity to hear directly from the federal government.
‘The Committee seeks to examine how the National Employment Standards (NES) are operating for Australian workers, employers, and the broader economy. In particular, it aims to understand the government’s perspective on whether the NES remain fit for purpose in 2026, and to identify any gaps or challenges affecting employees’ access to their minimum entitlements.’
The Committee will hear evidence from:
- The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
- The Fair Work Ombudsman.
Further information is available on the Committee’s website.
Public hearing details
Date: Thursday 26 March 2026
Time: 9:00am to 10:00am
Location: Committee Room 2R2, Parliament House Canberra and online
The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.
Media enquiries
Dr Carina Garland MP, Chair
James Dimas
0432409033
For background information
Committee Secretariat
02 6277 4037
[email protected]
For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.
