in the last episode for 2024, Tony Damian and Andrew Rich cover off some of the highlights of their 2025 M&A predictions!

Read our predictions here: https://www.herbertsmithfreehills.com/insights/2024-12/top-10-australian-manda-predictions-for-2025

In this not-to-be-missed final episode of InsideIR for 2024, your favourite IR team has done all the hard work for you, and pulled together a succinct summary of:

• the top 5 issues that shaped industrial relations in 2024, and
• our predictions on the top 5 IR issues that you will need to get ahead of for 2025.

In this bumper end-of-year edition, Rohan Doyle is accompanied by no less than 9 of his HSF IR colleagues from across the country.

Rohan Doyle (Partner), Victoria Fijalski (Senior Associate), Mathew Reiman (Senior Associate), Rachel Dawson (Partner) and Anna Creegan (Partner) review and reflect on 2024, calling out:

1. the steady stream of IR reform,
2. learnings from the new intractable bargaining jurisdiction,
3. the impact of same-job-same-pay,
4. the rise of multi-enterprise bargaining, and
5. the continued flow of FWO underpayment penalty proceedings.

Meanwhile, Wendy Fauvel (Partner), Kara Reynolds (Executive Counsel), Drew Pearson (Partner), Jessica Light (Senior Associate) and Sophie Beaman (Executive Counsel) look into their crystal ball, and outline the five IR issues to keep an eye on in 2025, including:

1. the approaching Federal Election and potential further reform,
2. the rise of the right to disconnect and flexible work,
3. the practical fallout of IR reform,
4. the increasing impact of new workplace delegates’ rights and the resurgence of union membership,
5. the commencement of new federal wage theft laws.

From all of us at Herbert Smith Freehills, thank you for your support of InsideIR and the HSF industrial relations practice in 2024, and have a safe, happy and restful end of year break.

In the final episode of The Third Wheel for 2024, Tim Stutt and Mel Debenham reflect on the year’s ESG developments and look ahead to 2025. They discuss the recent governmental response to the statutory review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth); the winding path of nature positive reforms in Australia; preparations ahead of the first year of reporting under the new climate reporting regime; and the growing focus on nature-related disclosures. The episode closes with their thoughts on a possible pendulum swing towards greater scrutiny of proposed ESG regulations moving forward, as regulatory fatigue sets in and having regard to changes in sentiment locally and abroad.