Black Coal Mining Industry Workplace Relations Briefing

Earlier this month, the Australian Parliament passed legislation amending the coal mining industry long service leave scheme. The amendments provide a voluntary mechanism for employers to obtain some relief from historical levy debts.

The relief includes a timeframe of up to six years over which historical levy debts can be paid, the waiving of additional levy (which operates like penalty interest), and the remission of 20% of the levy debt once 80% of the debt has been paid.

There is a limited window of time to access the levy debt relief mechanism, and to establish compliant payroll and reporting processes relating to current eligible employees.

• The amendments relating to historical levy liabilities will commence on 1 September 2026. There is no access to debt relief for levy liabilities relating to service by eligible employees after this date, and new penalty interest rules will apply.
• Employers wishing to participate in the voluntary debt relief mechanism have until 2 November 2026 to submit a notice of intent to Coal LSL.

Following on from their well-received presentation at our Sector Briefing in June, Sharife Rahmani (Chief Regulatory Officer) and Olivia Knox (General Manager Regulatory Process) from Coal LSL will return to discuss the practical steps employers of eligible employees need to take in order to participate in the levy debt relief mechanism, and to comply with ongoing obligations under the scheme.

The guest presentation by Coal LSL will be followed by a workplace relations update from Australian Industry Group's Shaun Kelleher and Lara Radick, covering:

• Recent amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009
• Major cases in the Fair Work Commission
• Bargaining and labour market developments

This program has been funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations through the Productivity, Education and Training Fund grant program.