Application by Macdonnell Regional Council
Citation: [2026] FWCA 1678
What happened
Macdonnell Regional Council applied for approval of the MacDonnell Regional Council Enterprise Agreement 2026 under section 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009. The agreement is a single enterprise agreement covering employees of the council. The Applicant provided written undertakings to address potential financial detriment or substantial changes. The United Workers’ Union (UWU) and the Australian Services Union (ASU) indicated they wished the agreement to cover them.
What was decided
The Fair Work Commission approved the MacDonnell Regional Council Enterprise Agreement 2026. the Commissioner was satisfied that all relevant requirements of sections 186, 187, and 188 of the Act were met. The undertakings provided by the Applicant are now a term of the agreement. The National Employment Standards (NES) will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES. The workplace delegates’ rights term from the Local Government Industry Award 2020 also applies. The agreement covers the UWU and ASU, and it will operate from July 7, 2026, expiring on June 30, 2029.
What it means for employers
Employers seeking to implement enterprise agreements must provide written undertakings if there are concerns about financial detriment or substantial changes. They also need to ensure the agreement aligns with National Employment Standards and consider how it interacts with relevant industry awards.
What it means for employees
Employees covered by the MacDonnell Regional Council Enterprise Agreement 2026 will benefit from the terms outlined in the agreement, subject to any more beneficial entitlements under the NES. The UWU and ASU are covered by this agreement.
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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 →