Application by Compass Group (Australia) Pty Ltd Trading AS Compass Group
Citation: [2026] FWCA 1660
What happened
Compass Group (Australia) Pty Ltd, trading as Compass Group, sought approval for the 'Compass Group - ESS Offshore Oil & Gas and AWU (Offshore Facilities) Greenfields Agreement 2025'. The agreement was made with the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU). The Fair Work Commission considered whether the requirements of sections 186, 187, 188 and 190 of the Fair Work Act 2009 were met. It also assessed if approving the agreement was in the public interest.
What was decided
The Fair Work Commission approved the Greenfields Agreement between Compass Group and the AWU. The Deputy President found that all relevant requirements under the Fair Work Act, including sections 186, 187, 188 and 190, were met. The agreement will operate from July 8, 2026, with a nominal expiry date of July 2, 2029. Certain undertakings provided by the Respondent are now terms of the agreement. A workplace delegates’ rights term from the Hydrocarbons Industry (Upstream) Award 2020 is also included.
What it means for employers
Employers entering into greenfields agreements must ensure they meet all requirements outlined in the Fair Work Act, including demonstrating that the employee organisation represents a majority of employees and that approval is in the public interest. Providing written undertakings can be beneficial, but these become legally binding terms of the agreement.
What it means for employees
Employees covered by this agreement will benefit from the terms negotiated with the AWU. They should review the full agreement to understand their rights and obligations. The inclusion of workplace delegates’ rights reflects protections under the Hydrocarbons Industry (Upstream) Award 2020.
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This summary was drafted from the published decision and reviewed before publishing. It is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, speak to the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified lawyer. About these summaries & corrections →