News update: December 2025

Following consideration of responses received during consultation, the government has introduced and passed what is now the Labour Hire Licensing (Scope of Act) Amendment Act 2025 in State Parliament. It was assented to on 4 December 2025, to become operational at a date to be set.

The proposed reforms will ensure all labour hire firms and workers are covered by the same laws and regulations, rather than the five sectors it was limited to previously.

Consultation summary

The consultation resulted in 17 YourSAy surveys and 29 written submissions (26 of which from stakeholder groups). Two thirds of written submissions were fully or partially supportive of broadening laws to ensure all labour hire firms and workers are covered by the same laws and regulations.

Feedback resulted in updates to the then draft Bill that included transitional provisions, giving newly added sectors six months from commencement to comply. Despite this, those newly required to be licensed will be able to undertake the necessary training and apply from the time the new laws commence should applicants choose to do so.

The Bill was also updated to ensure that individuals will not be labour hire workers if they work part-time or for part of the year and their annual remuneration would equal or exceed the amount of the high income threshold should they work full time hours for a full year.

Parliament amendments

Further changes in the Legislative Council require the public sector to report its reliance on labour hire in annual reporting. Changes also require that labour hire workers in the public service adhere to ethical practices included in the Public Sector Code of Conduct and receive adequate inductions relevant to their wellbeing in the workplace.

Read more updates as commencement of provisions becomes known on the Consumer and Business Services website at https://www.cbs.sa.gov.au/campaigns/labour-hire-licensing-reforms.