SA Labor commits to major IR reforms – major win for local government members
13 March 2026
Today we’re celebrating a major win for local government workers across South Australia.
After sustained campaigning by ASU members, Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced that if Labor is re-elected on March 21, his government will legislate major industrial relations reforms for local government workers.
These reforms go directly to the issues ASU members have been raising across councils for years: job security, labour hire being used to undercut wages, work creeping into personal time, and the need for stronger union representation in workplaces.
These commitments from Labor are thanks to persistent campaigning by ASU members. This is what collective action delivers.
Secure Jobs - A Big Step Forward
Labor has committed to introduce legislation that will limit the use of rolling fixed-term contracts.Under the proposed legislation, workers earning under $150,000 a year cannot be kept on fixed-term contracts for more than two years.We know of one Metro council who has 40% of its staff on fixed-term contracts. This is unjustifiable and unfair to workers.
Same Job, Same Pay
Labor has also committed to introducing Same Job, Same Pay laws in the state industrial relations system.
ASU members have told us loud and clear about the increasing use of labour hire in councils, often with workers doing exactly the same jobs as council employees but for significantly lower pay and worse conditions.
One metro council now has 9% of staff employed through Labour Hire - these workers earn $18 less per hour than staff employed directly by the council.
Same Job, Same Pay laws will ensure that staff who work alongside each other doing the same work will receive the same minimum pay and conditions, regardless of how you’re employed.
That’s a simple principle of fairness and secured by ASU members.
The Right to Disconnect
Another important reform is the legal Right to Disconnect from work for local government workers.
This will protect workers from adverse action if they refuse unreasonable work contact outside of working hours.
The ASU has been a leading voice pushing for this right, because members have told us that work is increasingly spilling into evenings, weekends and family time.
Everyone deserves the ability to switch off from work.
Stronger Delegates rights
The reforms will also enshrine the rights of ASU workplace delegates in legislation.
Elected ASU delegates will have clearer rights to:
- represent members
- communicate with workers about workplace issues
- access training and support to do their role
Delegates are the heart of our union in workplaces.
Strengthening delegate rights means strengthening workers’ voices, and strengthening our ability to protect and improve conditions at work.
This Win Belongs to Members
Let's be clear. These commitments didn’t happen by accident.
They happened because ASU members organised and campaigned.
You shared your experiences of insecure work. You spoke up about labour hire undercutting wages.
You publicly supported the campaign for secure jobs and fair treatment.
Today’s announcement shows that when members stand together and organise, we can win real change across entire sectors.