18. Allowances

[Varied by PR724570, PR729290, PR729479, PR740716, PR740884, PR762145, PR762308, PR773920, PR774088, PR786573, PR786739, PR799316, PR799473]

NOTE: Regulations 3.33(3) and 3.46(1)(g) of Fair Work Regulations 2009 set out the requirements for pay records and the content of payslips including the requirement to separately identify any allowance paid.

18.1 Employers must pay to an employee the allowances the employee is entitled to under clause 18.

NOTE: See Schedule C—Summary of Monetary Allowances for a summary of monetary allowances and method of adjustment.

18.2 Wage-related allowances

(a) All-purpose allowances

Allowances paid for all purposes are included in the rate of pay of an employee who is entitled to the allowance, when calculating any penalties or loadings or payment while they are on annual leave. The following allowances are paid for all purposes under this award:

(i) leading hand allowance (clause 18.2(b)); and

(ii) first aid allowance (clause 18.2(c)).

(b) Leading hands

[18.2(b)(i) varied by PR729290, PR740716, PR740716, PR762145, PR773920, PR786573, PR799316 ppc 01Jul26]

(i) A leading hand in charge of 2 or more people must be paid as follows:

In charge of | $ per week

2–6 employees | 30.41

7–10 employees | 35.43

11–20 employees | 50.50

More than 20 employees | 63.46

(ii) The allowance contained in clause 18.2(b)(i) will apply to part-time employees on a pro rata basis.

(c) First aid allowance

[18.2(c) varied by PR729290, PR740716, PR762145, PR773920, PR786573, PR799316 ppc 01Jul26]

An employee appointed by their employer to perform first aid duty as required in addition to their usual duties, and holding a current recognised first aid qualification, such as one from St John Ambulance or similar body, must be paid an allowance of $3.70 per day.

18.3 Expense-related allowances

(a) Tool and equipment allowance

(i) If the employer requires employees to supply their own tools and equipment, employees must be reimbursed for the cost of supplying those tools and equipment.

(ii) The provisions of clause 18.3 do not apply where the tools and equipment are paid for by the employer.

(b) Travelling allowance

(i) Where an employee is required to travel from one place to another for the purpose of work, the time occupied in travelling will be counted as time worked and paid for as such.

(ii) Time spent by an employee travelling from the employee’s home to the principal place of employment and return will not be regarded as time worked.

(iii) An employee who is compelled by their duties to spend the night away from home or the property at which the employee is employed (whichever is the employee’s normal place of sleeping during employment), will be reimbursed by the employer for the demonstrable cost of suitable accommodation.

(iv) The provisions of clause 18.3(b) will not apply where the employer provides the employee with suitable accommodation free of charge.

(c) Use of vehicle allowance

[18.3(c) varied by PR724570, PR729479, PR740884, PR762308, PR774088, PR799473 ppc 01Jul26]

An employee will be paid an allowance of $1.00 per kilometre when instructed by the employer to use their own vehicle during working hours to relocate materials, equipment, or personnel either within the normal work location or on public thoroughfares.

(d) Overtime meal allowance

[18.3(d)(i) varied by PR724570, PR729479, PR740884, PR762308, PR774088, PR786739, PR799473 ppc 01Jul26]

(i) An employee required to work overtime for more than 1.5 hours after working ordinary hours will be supplied with a suitable meal free of cost by the employer or paid $17.90 for the first and any subsequent meals.

[18.3(d)(ii) varied by PR724570, PR729479, PR740884, PR762308, PR774088, PR786739, PR799473 ppc 01Jul26]

(ii) An employee required to work overtime for more than 2 hours after the employee’s ordinary finishing time without having been notified before leaving work on the previous day that they will be required to work overtime:

 will be allowed a meal break not later than 2 hours after commencing overtime;

 will be allowed a meal break every 5 hours after the first meal break, for as long as the overtime continues; and

 will be provided with a suitable meal free of cost by the employer for each meal break or paid a meal allowance of $17.90 for each meal not supplied.

(e) Reimbursement of expenses

An employer who authorises an employee to incur expenses in the course of their employment, will reimburse the employee the expense upon provision of a tax invoice and receipt.

(f) Wet weather clothing and footwear

(i) An employee who is required to work in a wet place must be provided with protective clothing and footwear by the employer.

(ii) If an employee who is required to work in a wet place is not provided with protective clothing and footwear, the employer will reimburse the employee for the reasonable cost of providing their own protective clothing and footwear.

(iii) If protective clothing and footwear is provided and paid for by the employer, it will remain the property of the employer.

(iv) ‘Wet place’ is defined in clause 2—Definitions.

(g) Protective clothing

(i) If the employer requires an employee to supply his or her own protective clothing, the employer must reimburse the employee for the cost of supplying the protective clothing.

(ii) The provisions of clause 18.3(g)(i) do not apply where the protective clothing is paid for by the employer.

(iii) Any protective clothing that is paid for by the employer remains the property of the employer.

(h) Charges for accommodation, meat, goods, and services

(i) If the employer provides an employee with living premises for the use of a “without keep” employee and the employee’s household, the employer may charge an amount agreed between them in writing for the use of the premises and/or power supplied to the premises.

(ii) The employer may charge to an employee:

 the cost of goods or services supplied to the employee at the employee’s request and paid for by the employer; and

 the cost of goods purchased by the employer for the employee at the employee’s request.

(iii) If the employer supplies an employee with meat, the employer may charge the employee an amount mutually agreed upon.

(iv) If the employer sells groceries or stores to the employee, the prices charged must not exceed the cost price with carriage added.

2. Definitions

[Varied by PR734194, PR774744, PR777262, PR795663]

In this award, unless the contrary intention appears:

Act means the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).

all purposes means the payment will be included in the rate of pay of an employee who is entitled to the allowance, when calculating any penalties or loadings or payment while they are on annual leave (see clause 18.2(a)).

broadacre field crops means grains, seeds, grasses, silage, legumes, fibre, flowers, and other crops grown as part of a broadacre mixed farming enterprise.

broadacre mixed farming enterprise:

 means a farming enterprise consisting of the growing of broadacre field crops as defined;

 includes the rearing, management, and grazing of livestock;

 means a farming enterprise which combines both; or

 means a farming enterprise which in addition to any of the above grows other crops, for the purposes of crop rotation or the rearing, management, and grazing of livestock as part of a mixed farming enterprise.

[Definition of casual employee inserted by PR734194 from 27Sep21; varied by PR777262 from 27Aug24]

casual employee has the meaning given by section 15A of the Act.

NOTE: Section 15A of the Act was amended with effect from 26 August 2024. Under clause 102(3) of Schedule 1 to the Act, an existing employee who was a casual employee of an employer under section 15A as it was immediately before that date is taken to be a casual employee of the employer for the purposes of section 15A after that date.

casual pieceworker means a Shearer, Crutcher or Woolpresser engaged as a casual employee and paid the piecework rates in accordance with Part 9—Shearing Operations.

crutching includes all the operations for which rates are prescribed in this award. The meanings of the words crutch, Crutcher and crutched are similarly extended.

cut out means the completion of the shearing or crutching of the last sheep shorn or crutched at the termination of the shed.

defined benefit member has the meaning given by the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth).

double-fleeced means a sheep carrying 2 years’ fleece.

employee means national system employee within the meaning of the Act.

[Definition of employee organisation inserted by PR774744; substituted retrospectively by PR795663 ppc 01Jul24]

employee organisation has the meaning given by section 12 of the Act.

employer means national system employer within the meaning of the Act.

[Definition of enterprise inserted by PR774744 from 01Jul24]

enterprise has the meaning given by section 12 of the Act.

exempt public sector superannuation scheme has the meaning given by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth).

expeditionary employee means a woolclasser or Shearing shed expert who commences on the day as agreed for commencing shearing and resides on the property for the duration of the shearing. Expeditionary employees are entitled to free board and lodging.

experience in the industry means all and any experience in the industry as described in clause 4.2 of this award.

farm and livestock hand means an employee performing the work described in the classifications which apply to such work in Part 6—Broadacre Farming and Livestock Operations of this award and who is not a piggery attendant, poultry worker or any employee classified under Part 9—Shearing Operations.

found employees are employees who are supplied with up to 5 meals per day during the course of shearing or crutching; such meals are to be provided by the employer together with suitable accommodation.

keep is where a farm and livestock hand is employed on the ‘with keep’ rate as prescribed in this award, ‘keep’ will mean good and sufficient living accommodation and good and sufficient rations of sufficient quantity; sound, well-cooked and properly served by the cook or the cook’s offsider; but it will not include accommodation under a roof or cooking when circumstances render such accommodation or cooking impracticable.

livestock means all animals used in primary production including insects.

MySuper product has the meaning given by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth).

NES means the National Employment Standards as contained in sections 59 to 131 of the Act.

on-hire means the on-hire of an employee by their employer to a client, where such employee works under the general guidance and instruction of the client or a representative of the client.

ordinary hourly rate means the minimum hourly rate for an employee’s classification specified in clauses 32, 37, 47 and 51—Minimum rates plus any allowances specified as being included in the employee’s ordinary hourly rate or payable for all purposes.

pastoral industry has the meaning given in clause 4.2.

piggery attendant means an employee who is employed by an employer who is exclusively, wholly or substantially engaged in the raising and breeding of pigs, and who performs duties described in the classifications in Part 7—Pig Breeding and Raising of this award.

poultry worker means an employee who is employed by an employer who is exclusively, wholly or substantially engaged in the raising and breeding of poultry, and who performs duties described in the classifications in Part 8—Poultry Farming of this award.

ram stags are rams that have been castrated when they are 18 months or older.

rams are male sheep that are more than 6 months old.

shearing is where:

 the employee takes off the belly wool first and lays it aside, and, when required by the employer, the employee shears over the tail when shearing the first side; and

 in opening the fleece at the neck and belly, the machine or both blades of the shears will be kept under the wool and close to the skin, so as to avoid twice cutting and where the employee does not run the machine or shears through the fleece so as to break it down the centre or the back.

shearing cook means an employee who cooks for 6 or more employees who are engaged for shearing or crutching operations.

shearing shed expert or expert means an employee who is competent to perform experting duties at a shearing shed as described in clause 50.8 in accordance with the requirements of the employer or a representative (such requirements to be specified at the time of engagement).

shed means shearing shed or, in relation to crutching work performed other than at a shed, the property, station or location where crutching work is or will be undertaken.

silviculture and afforestation means planting, pruning, fertilising and any other activity in or in connection with the establishment or cultivation of trees in forests.

[Definition of small business employer inserted by PR774744 from 01Jul24]

small business employer has the meaning given by section 23 of the Act.

standard rate means the hourly rate payable to a farm and livestock hand level 2 in clause 32.1.

station cook means an employee who cooks for station hands and/or other station personnel.

stud ewes are ewes with tags in their ears from which rams are bred for sale or station use. The term does not include ewes of the flock which have tags in their ears for the purpose of identification other than for stud purposes.

wet place means a place where the clothing of the employee becomes wet or a place where the employee has to stand in water or slush so that the employee’s footwear becomes saturated.

woolclasser means a person who is registered as such and who is employed in or in conjunction with a shearing operation. A woolclasser who performs the additional duty of shearing shed experting at the one shearing will, for the purposes of this award, be deemed to be employed as a woolclasser and not as an expert.

woolpresser means a person who presses wool shorn or crutched; weighs, brands and stores the wool; presses and closes the bales; and performs additional duties as directed.

[Definition of workplace delegate inserted by PR774744 from 01Jul24]

workplace delegate has the meaning given by section 350C(1) of the Act.

Schedule C—Summary of Monetary Allowances

[Varied by PR724570, PR729290, PR729479, PR740716, PR740884, PR750789, PR762145, PR762308, PR773920, PR774088, PR786573, PR786739, PR799316, PR799473]

See clauses 18, 32, 33, 43, 51, 52, 53 and Schedule A—Shearing Operations—Methods for calculating Minimum Rates for full details of allowances payable under this award.

C.1 Wage-related allowances

[C.1.1 varied by PR729290, PR740716, PR762145, PR773920, PR786573, PR799316 ppc 01Jul26]

C.1.1 The following wage-related allowances are based on the standard rate as defined in Schedule A—Shearing Operations—Methods for calculating Minimum Rates as the hourly rate payable to a Farm and livestock hand level 2 = $26.44. These rates are to be paid in accordance with clauses 18.2, 33.4, 51.3(b), 51.9 and 52.1.

Allowance | Clause | % of standard rate | $ | Payable

General Employment Conditions | | | |

Leading hand, in charge of—2 to 6 employees1 | 18.2(b)(i) | 115.0 | 30.41 | per week

Leading hand, in charge of—7 to 10 employees1 | 18.2(b)(i) | 134.0 | 35.43 | per week

Leading hand, in charge of—11 to 20 employees1 | 18.2(b)(i) | 191.0 | 50.50 | per week

Leading hand, in charge of—More than 20 employees1 | 18.2(b)(i) | 240.0 | 63.46 | per week

First aid allowance1 | 18.2(c) | 14.0 | 3.70 | per day

Broadacre Farming and Livestock Operations | | | |

Station hand—jetting, spraying, swabbing sheep | 33.4 | 17.0 | 4.49 | per day

Shearing Operations | | | |

Lack of amenities allowance | 51.3(b) | 51.5 | 13.62 | per day

Conditions allowance | 51.9(f) | 602.3 | 159.25 | per week

Enterprise flexibility allowance | 51.9(f) | 853.8 | 225.74 | per week

Woolrolling allowance | 51.9(f) | 426.8 | 112.85 | per week

Bookkeeping allowance | 51.9(f) | 277.5 | 73.37 | per week

Allowance where sleeping quarters not provided—to pay for sleeping quarters | 52.1(b) | 259.4 | 68.59 | per night

Allowance where sleeping quarters not provided—travel time in excess of one hour per day, between shed and sleeping quarters | 52.2 | 85.6 | 22.63 | per hour

Allowance where sleeping quarters not provided—travelling allowance (more than 65 km distance from shed)—Shearers (or Crutchers) only | 52.3(a) | 77.0 | 20.36 | per day

1 These allowances are payable for all purposes.

C.1.2 Adjustment of wage-related allowances

[C.1.2 renamed and substituted by PR750789 ppc 15Mar23]

The amount of each wage-related allowance is the percentage of the standard rate specified for the allowance and will automatically adjust to reflect the specified percentage when the standard rate is varied.

C.2 Expense-related allowances

[C.2.1 varied by PR724570, PR729479, PR740884, PR762308, PR774088, PR786739, PR799473 ppc 01Jul26]

C.2.1 The following expense-related allowances will be payable to employees and adjusted in accordance with clause C.2.2:

Allowance | Clause | $ | Payable

General Employment Conditions | | |

Use of vehicle allowance | 18.3(c) | 1.00 | per km

Meal allowance—overtime of more than 1.5 hours | 18.3(d)(i) | 17.90 | per meal

Meal allowance—overtime of more than 2 hours without required notice | 18.3(d)(ii) | 17.90 | per meal

Broadacre Farming and Livestock Operations | | |

With Keep deduction | 32.3 | 165.86 | per week

Station hand—to find own horse | 33.1(a) | 9.63 | per week

Station hand—to find own saddle | 33.1(b) | 7.69 | per week

Pig Breeding and Raising | | |

Meal allowance—overtime after working ordinary hours on Monday to Friday | 43.7(a) | 17.90 | per meal

Meal allowance—unplanned overtime of more than 2 hours | 43.7(b) | 17.90 | per meal

Shearing Operations | | |

Combs and cutters allowance | 50.5(b)(iv) | 24.36 | per week

Allowance where sleeping quarters not provided—vehicle allowance—all employees | 52.3(b) | 1.00 | per km

Fares and travelling allowances for expeditionary employees—motor vehicle expenses | 53.1(a) | 1.00 | per km

Fares and travelling allowances for expeditionary employees—expenses other than fares—per day | 53.1(f) | 104.77 | per day

Fares and travelling allowances for expeditionary employees—expenses other than fares—per hour rate | 53.1(g) | 4.36 | per hour

Shearers—shearing industry allowance | A.1.1 | 287.77 | per week

Shearers—rations | A.1.1 | 79.78 | per week

Shearers—combs/cutters allowance | A.1.1 | 121.75 | per week

Shearers—handpiece payment | A.1.1 | 27.52 | per week

Shed hands—shearing industry allowance | A.3.1 | 287.77 | per week

Shed hands—rations | A.3.1 | 79.78 | per week

Woolpressers—shearing industry allowance | A.4 | 287.77 | per week

Woolpressers—rations | A.4 | 79.78 | per week

Shearing cooks—69.58% of shearing industry allowance | A.5 | 200.23 | per week

C.2.2 Adjustment of expense-related allowances

(a) At the time of any adjustment to the standard rate, each expense-related allowance will be increased by the relevant adjustment factor. The relevant adjustment factor for this purpose is the percentage movement in the applicable index figure most recently published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics since the allowance was last adjusted.

(b) The applicable index figure is the index figure published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the Eight Capitals Consumer Price Index (Cat No. 6401.0), as follows:

Allowance | Applicable Consumer Price Index figure

Allowance for combs/cutters | Tools and equipment for house and garden component of the household appliances, utensils and tools sub-group

Meal allowance | Take away and fast foods sub-group

Payment for handpiece | Tools and equipment for house and garden component of the household appliances, utensils and tools sub-group

Rations | Take away and fast foods sub-group

Shearing industry allowance | All groups

Special allowance (horse and saddle allowance) | All groups

Travelling allowance | Domestic holiday travel and accommodation sub-group

Vehicle allowance | Private motoring sub-group

With keep rate | All groups

C.2.3 Other allowances—Shearing Operations:

[C.2.3 varied by PR729290, PR740716, PR762145, PR773920, PR786573, PR799316 ppc 01Jul26]

Allowance | Clause | $ | Payable

Woolpressers—weighing and branding bales | 51.5(b) | 0.56 | per bale

Woolclassers—Conditions allowance | 51.9(f) | 159.25 | per week

Woolclassers—Enterprise flexibility (including hours) and wet weather allowance | 51.9(f) | 225.74 | per week

Woolrolling and other shed hands work allowance | 51.9(f) | 112.85 | per week

Bookkeeping, overseeing, experting allowance | 51.9(f) | 73.37 | per week

Breakdown of machinery—allowance for delays and termination of agreements—not found employees1 | 52.5(a)(ii) | 239.98 | per day

Breakdown of machinery—allowance for delays and termination of agreements—found employees1 | 52.5(a)(ii) | 197.93 | per day

1 See clause 52.5(b) for method of adjustment.