Public Sector Workplace Relations Policy 2026

The Australian Government Public Sector Workplace Relations Policy 2026 (Policy) outlines the Government’s workplace relations policy.

It is comprised of two parts:

• Part 1 of the Policy applies to APS agencies and APS employees (i.e employees engaged under the Public Service Act 1999) and is referred to as the APS Policy.
• Part 2 of the Policy applies to Non-APS agencies and Non-APS employees (i.e Commonwealth employees that are engaged under legislation other than the Public Service Act) and is referred to as the Non-APS Policy.

APS Policy 

The APS Policy:

• Provides the framework for a second round of service-wide bargaining to replace APS enterprise agreements
• Sets out the principles and objectives of APS service-wide bargaining, and
• Provides guidance on SES remuneration.

Information on APS bargaining can be found at APS Bargaining.

Non-APS Policy 

The Non-APS Policy:

• Provides the framework for workplace arrangements in non-APS agencies. Workplace arrangements include enterprise agreements and common law arrangements.
• Sets out the principles and objectives of non-APS bargaining
• Sets out requirements for common law arrangements, and
• Provides guidance on remuneration and terms and conditions of employment for senior leaders in the non-APS.

Information on non-APS bargaining, including interim arrangements for non-APS agencies with early nominal expiry dates, can be found at Non-APS Bargaining.