The Full Bench of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission finalised the 2025-2026 Award Making Principles, making minor amendments to subprinciple 6.6. A public sector award is eligible for a paid rates adjustment only where the last increase in rates of pay 'for ordinary hours for most or all employees covered by the award' took effect more than 12 months earlier, clarifying that changes affecting only some employees or non-base-pay entitlements may not reset the 12-month clock. The Commission confirmed that applications for new expense reimbursement allowances under subprinciple 7.3 are not prevented by the no extra claims undertaking, and declined to impose a heightened 'special circumstances' threshold as a formal requirement for Arbitrated Cases relying solely on changes in the value of money, though it reiterated the expectation that such cases would need to distinguish the paid rates adjustment outcome.
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