Penalty rates changes
On 1 July 2017, certain penalty rates in the Restaurant, Hospitality, Pharmacy, Fast Food and Retail awards changed. On 1 November 2018, more changes were made to penalty rates in the Retail Award.
The Retail Award changes apply from the first pay period starting on or after 1 November 2018. They affect:
- the Saturday rate for casuals
- the weekday evening penalty rate for casuals
- the Sunday shiftwork rate for all employees.
These changes are being phased in over the next 2 to 3 years.
What do these changes mean for you?
Use our interactive tool to find out. You'll need to select your award to view the changes. If you're not sure which award applies, use Find my award.
What do the penalty rates changes mean for you?
Restaurant full-time or part-time: There are changes to minimum penalty rates
Public holiday rates
Changes
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
225% |
After midnight rates
Changes
| Effective |
New time |
| 1 July 2017 |
12am - 6am |
Sign up for updates
You'll be notified when our Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) has the new pay rates (including any Annual Wage Review changes).
These changes apply to employers and employees covered by the Restaurant Industry Award 2010. If you aren't sure if you're covered by this award, use Find my award to check.
Restaurant casual: There are changes to minimum penalty rates
Public holiday rates
No changes
After midnight rates
Changes
| Effective |
New time |
| 1 July 2017 |
12am - 6am |
Sign up for updates
You'll be notified when our Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) has the new pay rates (including any Annual Wage Review changes).
These changes apply to employers and employees covered by the Restaurant Industry Award 2010. If you aren't sure if you're covered by this award, use Find my award to check.
Hospitality full-time or part-time: There are changes to minimum penalty rates
Sunday rates
Changes
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
170% |
| 1 July 2018 |
160% |
| 1 July 2019 |
150% |
Public holiday rates
Changes
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
225% |
Sign up for updates
You'll be notified when our Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) has the new pay rates (including any Annual Wage Review changes).
These changes apply to employers and employees covered by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2010. If you aren't sure if you're covered by this award, use Find my award to check.
Hospitality casual: There are changes to minimum penalty rates
Public holiday rates
Changes
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
250% |
Sign up for updates
You'll be notified when our Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) has the new pay rates (including any Annual Wage Review changes).
These changes apply to employers and employees covered by the Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2010. If you aren't sure if you're covered by this award, use Find my award to check.
Fast-food full-time or part-time: There are changes to minimum penalty rates
Sunday rates
Changes for Level 1 employees only
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
145% |
| 1 July 2018 |
135% |
| 1 July 2019 |
125% |
Public holiday rates
Changes
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
225% |
Evening rates
Changes
| Effective |
New time |
| 1 July 2017 |
10pm - 12am |
After midnight rates
Changes
| Effective |
New time |
| 1 July 2017 |
12am - 6am |
Sign up for updates
You'll be notified when our Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) has the new pay rates (including any Annual Wage Review changes).
These changes apply to employers and employees covered by the Fast Food Industry Award 2010. If you aren't sure if you're covered by this award, use Find my award to check.
Fast-food casual: There are changes to minimum penalty rates
Sunday rates
Changes for Level 1 employees only
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
170% |
| 1 July 2018 |
160% |
| 1 July 2019 |
150% |
Public holiday rates
Changes
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
250% |
Evening rates
Changes
| Effective |
New time |
| 1 July 2017 |
10pm - 12am |
After midnight rates
Changes
| Effective |
New time |
| 1 July 2017 |
12am - 6am |
Sign up for updates
You'll be notified when our Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) has the new pay rates (including any Annual Wage Review changes).
These changes apply to employers and employees covered by the Fast Food Industry Award 2010. If you aren't sure if you're covered by this award, use Find my award to check.
Retail full-time or part-time: There are changes to minimum penalty rates
Sunday rates
Changes for non-shiftworkers on Sundays
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
195% |
| 1 July 2018 |
180% |
| 1 July 2019 |
165% |
| 1 July 2020 |
150% |
Sunday shiftwork rates
Changes for shiftworkers on Sundays
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 Nov 2018 |
195% |
| 1 July 2019 |
190% |
| 1 July 2020 |
175% |
Public holiday rates
Changes
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
225% |
Sign up for updates
You'll be notified when our Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) has the new pay rates (including any Annual Wage Review changes).
These changes apply to employers and employees covered by the General Retail Industry Award 2010. If you aren't sure if you're covered by this award, use Find my award to check.
Retail casual: There are changes to minimum penalty rates
Evening rates
Changes for weekday evenings
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 Nov 2018 |
130% |
| 1 Oct 2019 |
135% |
| 1 Mar 2020 |
140% |
| 1 Oct 2020 |
145% |
| 1 Mar 2021 |
150% |
Saturday rates
Changes for ordinary hours
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 Nov 2018 |
140% |
| 1 Oct 2019 |
145% |
| 1 Mar 2020 |
150% |
Sunday rates
Changes for non-shiftworkers on Sundays
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
195% |
| 1 July 2018 |
185% |
| 1 July 2019 |
175% |
Sunday shiftwork rates
Changes for shiftworkers on Sundays
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 Nov 2018 |
220% |
| 1 July 2019 |
215% |
| 1 July 2020 |
200% |
Public holiday rates
Changes
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
250% |
Sign up for updates
You'll be notified when our Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) has the new pay rates (including any Annual Wage Review changes).
These changes apply to employers and employees covered by the General Retail Industry Award 2010. If you aren't sure if you're covered by this award, use Find my award to check.
Pharmacy full-time or part-time: There are changes to minimum penalty rates
Sunday rates
Changes for work between 7.00am and 9.00pm
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
195% |
| 1 July 2018 |
180% |
| 1 July 2019 |
165% |
| 1 July 2020 |
150% |
Public holiday rates
Changes
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
225% |
Sign up for updates
You'll be notified when our Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) has the new pay rates (including any Annual Wage Review changes).
These changes apply to employers and employees covered by the Pharmacy Industry Industry Award 2010. If you aren't sure if you're covered by this award, use Find my award to check.
Pharmacy casual: There are changes to minimum penalty rates
Sunday rates
Changes for work between 7.00am and 9.00pm
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
220% |
| 1 July 2018 |
205% |
| 1 July 2019 |
190% |
| 1 July 2020 |
175% |
Public holiday rates
Changes
| Effective |
New rate |
| 1 July 2017 |
250% |
Sign up for updates
You'll be notified when our Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) has the new pay rates (including any Annual Wage Review changes).
These changes apply to employers and employees covered by the Pharmacy Industry Award 2010. If you aren't sure if you're covered by this award, use Find my award to check.
Other: There are no changes to minimum penalty rates
Public holiday rates
No changes
The recent decision changing minimum penalty rates doesn’t apply to you.
The penalty rates decision only affects the following 5 awards:
- General Retail Industry Award 2010
- Fast Food Industry Award 2010
- Restaurant Industry Award 2010
- Pharmacy Industry Award 2010
- Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2010
If you aren’t covered by one of these awards, there aren’t any changes to minimum penalty rates. If you aren’t sure which award you’re covered by, use Find my award to find out.
Sign up for updates
You’ll be notified about the Annual Wage Review and any changes to minimum wages.
2017 penalty rates changes
The changes to penalty rates in 2017 affect permanent and casual employees working on Sundays, public holidays, evenings or after midnight in the Restaurant, Hospitality, Pharmacy, Fast Food and Retail awards.
Sunday penalty rates change yearly until:
- 1 July 2019 in the Hospitality and Fast Food awards
- 1 July 2020 in the Pharmacy and Retail awards.
To see how these changes affect you, use our interactive tool above. Select your award to view the changes. Not sure which award applies? Check Find my award.
Calculating your rates
Our pay tools have been updated to include the new penalty rates that started on 1 November 2018.
The quickest way to get the new rates is by using our Pay Calculator.
You can also get the new rates from our downloadable Pay guides.
Register for My account for personalised workplace law information and to ask for our help.
More information
For more information about the changes to penalty rates in your award, visit our Library and read:
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