As Queensland continues to position itself as a leading destination for business and investment in the Asia-Pacific region, regulatory and compliance standards are evolving to reflect global expectations. For both local enterprises and international operators, understanding the legal landscape is essential to managing risk and achieving sustainable growth.
At Ensure Legal, we provide legal guidance to businesses navigating Queensland’s commercial and regulatory frameworks. This 2025 briefing outlines critical legislative changes that may affect your operations, workforce obligations, export strategies, and compliance planning in the year ahead.
1. Wage Theft Criminalised Across Australia
From 1 January 2025, under national law, it is a criminal offence to deliberately underpay employees or withhold entitlements. This applies to all Australian states and territories, including Queensland.
- Legal Impact: Employers found guilty of wage theft may face criminal charges, monetary penalties, and imprisonment.
- Risk for Business Owners: Misclassification of workers, poor recordkeeping, or ‘off-the-books’ arrangements could lead to prosecution.
- Recommended Action: Conduct a full audit of payroll practices, employment contracts, and entitlements to ensure full compliance.
If your business uses contractors, casual staff, or award-based employees, we recommend a review by our employment law team.
2. New Workplace Health and Safety Obligations: Sexual Harassment Risk
In Queensland, the Work Health and Safety (Sexual Harassment) Amendment Regulation 2024 took effect in September 2024, introducing a duty to eliminate or reduce risks of sexual and gender-based harassment in the workplace.
By March 2025, all businesses must implement a written prevention plan outlining:
- Workplace risks and control measures
- Consultation processes with staff
- Incident response procedures
This reform aligns with international ESG and social governance expectations. Non-compliance can lead to regulatory action and reputational harm.
3. Anti-Discrimination Law Reform: Positive Duty Introduced
From 1 July 2025, Queensland’s revised Anti-Discrimination Act introduces a “positive duty” requiring businesses to proactively prevent discrimination, rather than respond only after issues arise.
- Scope: Applies to all businesses, not-for-profits, and government bodies operating in Queensland.
- Impact: Organisations must demonstrate that systems, training, and leadership policies are in place to reduce the risk of discrimination.
This brings Queensland in line with modern corporate expectations around workplace equity and inclusion.
4. Changes to National Awards and Pay Classifications
Australia’s Fair Work system, which governs minimum employment standards, will undergo a series of changes in 2025:
- New definitions and base rates for entry-level roles (from 1 January 2025)
- Updated conditions under the Horticulture and Pastoral Awards (from 1 April 2025)
If your workforce includes entry-level staff or seasonal/agricultural workers, these changes may directly impact your employment costs and classification obligations.
Ensure Legal offers fixed-fee advisory services to help employers implement Fair Work changes with minimal disruption.
5. Climate Reporting Obligations for Supply Chains
Australia is adopting mandatory climate-related financial disclosures for large companies from 1 January 2025. While most small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are not directly subject to these rules, many will be impacted as suppliers or contractors to larger entities.
- What this means: You may be asked to provide emissions data, ESG policies, or supply chain impact reports as part of commercial contracts.
- Action Plan: Prepare internal documentation and sustainability frameworks in advance.
Our firm advises SMEs on aligning ESG policies with supply chain due diligence requirements under Australian and international law.
6. UAE–Australia Free Trade Agreement: Strategic Export Opportunity
The Australia–United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (A-UAE CEPA) was signed in November 2024, marking Australia’s first bilateral trade agreement with a Middle Eastern country. It is expected to take effect by mid-2025.
- Export Potential: Food, wine, meat, seafood, and value-added agricultural producers will benefit from tariff reductions.
- Queensland Relevance: The UAE is already a major market for Australian agri-exports, worth $1.7 billion annually.
Ensure Legal assists exporters with documentation, compliance reviews, and strategic market entry plans.
7. Engineered Stone Ban and Other Industry Reforms
- Importation of engineered stone is banned in Australia from 1 January 2025, complementing a domestic ban that began in July 2024.
- New safety protocols apply to all ceiling space and electrical work, impacting trades including plumbing, pest control, and insulation.
Builders and construction businesses should confirm supplier compliance and update Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) accordingly.
8. Other Key Regulatory Updates for 2025
- Asset Write-Off: The popular $20,000 instant asset write-off will revert to $1,000 from 1 July 2025.
- Superannuation Increase: From 1 July 2025, the Superannuation Guarantee rises from 11.5% to 12%, and will now apply to parental leave payments.
- Cyber Security Standards: The Cyber Security Act 2024 imposes new minimum standards on data protection and business IT systems.
- Public Holidays: There are 13 public holidays in Queensland in 2025. Businesses must understand entitlements and penalty rate implications.
How We Assist Queensland Businesses
At Ensure Legal, our team of commercial, employment, and regulatory lawyers work with:
- Domestic enterprises scaling operations in Queensland
- International companies entering the Australian market
- Exporters and manufacturers looking to benefit from free trade agreements
- HR and compliance managers navigating Fair Work and WHS reforms
Whether you need policy reviews, compliance training, supply chain due diligence or legal representation, our professionals are equipped to assist.
