17. Allowances

[Varied by PR718892, PR719045, PR729333, PR729518, PR740758, PR740924, PR762183, PR762350, PR773961, PR774129, PR786612, PR786782, PR799354, PR799510]

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.

17.1 Employers must pay to an employee the allowances the employee is entitled to under clause 17.

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

17.2 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, loadings or payment while they are on annual leave. The following allowance is paid for all purposes under this award:

(i) Leading hand allowance (clause 17.2(b)).

(b) Leading hand allowance

[17.2(b)(i) varied by PR718892, PR729333, PR740758, PR762183, PR773961, PR786612, PR799354 ppc 01Jul26]

(i) A leading hand in charge of one or more employees must be paid, in addition to the minimum wage for the highest classification supervised, or their own minimum wage, whichever is higher, the following:

In charge of | $ per week

1 to 19 employees | 40.96

20 employees or more | 68.45

(ii) The leading hand allowance applies for all purposes of this award.

(c) Cold work allowance

[17.2(c) varied by PR718892, PR729333, PR740758, PR762183, PR773961, PR786612, PR799354 ppc 01Jul26]

A cold work allowance is payable to an employee working for more than one hour in a place where the temperature is reduced by artificial means as follows:

Temperature | $ per hour or part thereof

From -15.6°C to -18.0°C | 1.00

-18.0°C to -23.3°C | 1.75

Less than -23.3°C | 2.75

(d) First aid allowance

[17.2(d) varied by PR718892, PR729333, PR740758, PR762183, PR773961, PR786612, PR799354 ppc 01Jul26]

A first aid allowance of $22.42 per week is payable to an employee who has been trained to provide first aid and holds an appropriate first aid qualification such as a certificate from St John Ambulance or similar body if appointed by the employer to perform first aid duty.

17.3 Expense-related allowances

(a) Meal allowance

[17.3(a) varied by PR719045, PR729518, PR740924, PR762350, PR774129, PR786782, PR799510 ppc 01Jul26]

A meal allowance of $19.14 is payable to an employee who works at least one and a half hours’ overtime after working ordinary hours, except where a meal is provided by the employer.

(b) Vehicle allowance

[17.3(b) varied by PR729518, PR740924, PR762350, PR774129, PR799510 ppc 01Jul26]

A vehicle allowance of $1.00 per kilometre is payable to an employee who is required to use their own vehicle to travel from one place to another during working time.

17.4 The allowances in clauses 17.2(c) to 17.2(d) and 17.3 are not subject to any premium or penalty additions.

Schedule C—Summary of Monetary Allowances

[Varied by PR718892, PR719045, PR729333, PR729518, PR740758, PR740924, PR750828, PR762183, PR762350, PR773961, PR774129, PR786612, PR786782, PR799354, PR799510]

See clause 17—Allowances for full details of allowances payable under this award.

C.1 Wage-related allowances

[C.1.1 varied by PR718892, PR729333, PR740758, PR762183, PR773961, PR786612, PR799354 ppc 01Jul26]

C.1.1 The following wage-related allowances are based on the weekly standard rate defined in clause 2—Definitions as the minimum hourly rate for Level 2 in clause 15.1 = $26.95. These rates are paid in accordance with clause 17.2.

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

Leading hand in charge of—1 to 19 employees1 | 17.2(b)(i) | 152.0 | 40.96 | per week

Leading hand in charge of—20 employees or more1 | 17.2(b)(i) | 254.0 | 68.45 | per week

Cold work allowance—From -15.6°C to -18.0°C | 17.2(c) | 3.7 | 1.00 | per hour or part thereof

Cold work allowance— -18.0°C to -23.3°C | 17.2(c) | 6.5 | 1.75 | per hour or part thereof

Cold work allowance—Less than -23.3°C | 17.2(c) | 10.2 | 2.75 | per hour or part thereof

First aid allowance | 17.2(d) | 83.2 | 22.42 | per week

1 This allowance applies for all purposes.

C.1.2 Automatic adjustment of wage-related allowances

[C.1.2 renamed and substituted by PR750828 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 PR719045, PR729518, PR740924, PR762350, PR774129, PR786782, PR799510 ppc 01Jul26]

C.2.1 The following expense-related allowances will be payable to employees in accordance with clause 17.3:

Allowance | Clause | $ | Payable

Meal allowance—overtime | 17.3(a) | 19.14 | per meal

Vehicle allowance | 17.3(b) | 1.00 | per km

C.2.2 Adjustment of expense-related allowances

(a) At the time of any adjustment to the standard rate, each expense-related allowance must 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:

Type of allowance | Applicable Consumer Price Index figure

Meal allowance | Take away and fast foods sub-group

Vehicle allowance | Private motoring sub-group

Award Code: MA000074 Effective: 01/07/2026 Published: 1/09/2026 1

Pay Guide - Poultry Processing Award

[MA000074]

Published 1 September 2026

When do the rates in the pay guide apply from? The first full pay period starting on or after 01 July 2026.

What is in this pay guide? It’s a summary of the award rates. Go to the award for information about coverage, classifications, conditions and the

operation of minimum rates, allowances, penalty rates and overtime.

Where can I go for more information? Our Pay and Conditions Tool can help you work out pay rates, leave, notice and redundancy minimum

entitlements based on the information you provide. Our website also provides useful templates, best practice guides, fact sheets and online courses.

Disclaimer

The Fair Work Ombudsman is committed to ensuring that information available through this pay guide including data is accurate and incorporates

changes to minimum rates of pay, allowances and penalty rates in the award as soon as they come into effect.

However, we cannot guarantee or accept any liability for the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of the information available in this pay

guide. This is because, for example, there may be a delay between when a change takes effect, and when the information available in the guide is

updated.

When considering information available in the pay guide about awards you should also have regard to the terms of the relevant award, which can be

found through our Awards page. If our information is inconsistent with the award, then the award applies.

If you need further assistance you can contact us. Alternatively, you may wish to get independent advice from a union, employer association or lawyer

on your particular circumstances.

We encourage you to subscribe to email updates to receive alerts when pay rates and entitlements change in this pay guide.

Award Code: MA000074 Effective: 01/07/2026 Published: 01/09/2026 8

Allowances

If any all purpose allowances apply (marked *), they should be added to the minimum rate before casual loading, penalties and overtime are

calculated.

Allowances Rate

Cold work allowance -15.6°C to -18.0°C $1.00 per hour or part thereof

Cold work allowance less than -18.0°C to -23.3°C $1.75 per hour or part thereof

Cold work allowance less than -23.3°C $2.75 per hour or part thereof

First aid allowance $22.42 per week

* Leading hand allowance - in charge of 1-19 employees $1.08 per hour per hour, payment in addition to the minimum wage for the

highest classification supervised, or own minimum wage, whichever is higher

* Leading hand allowance - in charge of more than 20 employees $1.80 per hour per hour, payment in addition to the minimum wage for the

highest classification supervised, or own minimum wage, whichever is higher

Meal allowance - overtime $19.14

Vehicle allowance $1.00 per km