Albanese announces new Employment and Workplace Relations Minister

A number of changes to the cabinet of re-elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have been announced, with former NDIS minister Amanda Rishworth being named the new Employment and Workplace Relations Minister.

Former employment and workplace relations minister Murray Watt has been moved onto the environment portfolio by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Amanda Rishworth taking his place as the new minister.

Rishworth – who formerly resided over the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) portfolio – has been thrust into her new role amid contentious relations between employer groups and unions over key workplace policies implemented in Albanese’s first term.

Workplace policies were a hotly contested aspect of the 2025 federal election campaigns, with Labor reiterating that they would be moving through their second term with more of the same in relation to their Closing Loopholes legislation, which has ushered in vast changes for Australian employers and employees.

The Right to Disconnect, Same Job, Same Pay, and casual employment changes were the headline inclusions as part of the Closing Loopholes legislation, with Labor now setting its sights on banning non-compete clauses, securing penalty rates, and a draft blueprint vying to improve the construction industry.

The move to ban non-compete clauses for workers who earn less than the high-income threshold ($175,000) is set to be a marquee implementation by the Albanese government, with Rishworth now at the forefront.

According to the Labor government, the changes will apply to more than 3 million Australian workers, including childcare workers, construction workers, and hairdressers.

The now former minister for employment and workplace relations, Murray Watt, announced during the campaign that the Albanese government would also move to legislate penalty rates upon re-election amid conflict between unions and employer groups on the potential removal of these rates.

“In recent months, big business lobby groups in the retail, clerical and banking sectors have made applications to the Fair Work Commission to cut penalty rates of lower-paid workers from awards. If successful, these applications by employer groups would reduce the overall income of workers by thousands of dollars each year,” said Watt.

Albanese labelled Watt’s new environment role as a “really central portfolio”, according to Nine News, claiming that it is the only one I have ever asked for in this building, and I regard it as very much a senior role in a Labor government”.

“Murray is an outstanding performer as a minister ... (he will) do it very well,” said Albanese.

Anne Aly was also announced as the Minister for Small Business. This could prove to be a crucial role for Labor as calls grow for more SMB-tailored legislation to come into the fold amid turbulent business conditions.

As previously reported by HR Leader, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) chief executive Andrew McKellar called for a reduction in “red tape” that hinders small business.

“The role of the private sector is essential, and we stand willing to work constructively with the government to improve productivity and competitiveness,” said McKellar.

“Among the issues which will need to be immediately addressed for business are global trade, productivity, a reduction in the over-regulation of especially small business and the cost and reliability of energy.”

Speaking on Aly’s appointment, CPA Australia chief executive Chris Freeland AM said: “The best outcomes always flow from open and thorough consultation, the development of meaningful fit-for-purpose solutions and a desire to roll back unnecessary regulations that constrain business productivity and jobs growth.”

More to come.