Council & Business
9 January, 2026
Council staff agreement close
A landmark agreement for Ararat Rural City and Central Goldfields Shire Council workers is waiting on a final formality at the Fair Work Commission.
Over a year of bargaining may soon secure an agreement the Australian Services Union (ASU) is describing as a historic moment for local government.
It’s understood that a submission has been made to the Fair Work Commission, which is yet to be assessed, but will certify the multi-employer bargaining agreement satisfies legal requirements.
However, according to an ASU spokesperson, this is largely a formality because those involved have already reached a mutual agreement and the councils have already paid backpay to staff.
It means the multi-employer bargaining agreement is on the cusp of being one of the first major agreements secured under the Federal Government’s new Secure Jobs, Better Pay laws.
Victorian and Tasmanian ASU branch secretary Tash Wark previously told The Maryborough District Advertiser the agreement will not only benefit local workers, but those across the sector.
“This agreement proves that the new multi-employer bargaining laws work,” Ms Wark said.
“They allow workers in regional areas to band together for a fair deal that their councils tried to deny them.”
The ASU said last year that the three-year agreement locks in:
Ararat Rural City Council: Workers will receive a four percent or $55 per week pay increase (whichever is greater) in the first year, followed by 3.5 percent or $50 per week (whichever is greater) for the next two years.
Central Goldfields Shire Council: Workers will receive a three percent or $50 per week pay increase (whichever is greater) each year for the three years.
The ASU also said the agreement delivers “significant improvements to conditions”, including better redundancy provisions, new entitlements for early childhood educators, and dedicated emergency services leave for CFA and SES volunteers.
Ms Wark previously said the multi-employer bargaining agreement could include other shires in future.
“Those concepts of whether there’s common interest or not, which is one of those legal principles under multi-employer bargaining, have been tested repeatedly at the Fair Work Commission … and then by the Federal Court and we won those arguments every time,” she said.
“We think there’s good grounds to make the argument ... at the next regional council.”