Cotton Australia recently hosted a webinar with employment specialist Wayne Schwalbach to help growers prepare for the new Payday Super obligations coming into effect from 1 July 2026.

The webinar covered what the changes mean in practice for employers, including the requirement for superannuation payments to be made within seven days of paying employees, along with the penalties that may apply for late payments. Wayne also outlined how the rules apply to contractors and subcontractors, common payroll issues businesses should watch for, and the importance of checking payroll software settings ahead of the changes.

Growers also heard an update on the Fair Work Commission’s 2026 wage determinations and what potential award changes could mean for farm businesses and employees in the year ahead.

During the webinar growers asked questions covering issues such as including super on bonuses and time in lieu, contractor versus employee obligations, individual flexibility agreements, and how award increases apply to employees already paid above award rates.