Key changes for racing, breeding and wagering businesses and employees implemented from July 1

A number of important regulatory and business changes have taken effect from July 1,  2026 that may impact employers and businesses across the thoroughbred racing, breeding and wagering sectors.

The most immediate change for many businesses will be the increase in minimum wage rates. Under both the national system, minimum wages rise by 4.75 per cent. For businesses operating under the Fair Work national system, the minimum wage for employees aged 21 and over increases to $1,004.90 per week, or $26.44 per hour. Employers should review payroll arrangements and ensure wage rates remain compliant from the first pay period on or after 1 July. Employees should check their entitlements.

Another significant reform is the introduction of Payday Super. From July 1m 2026, employers will be required to pay superannuation guarantee contributions at the same time as employees receive their wages. The change is intended to improve the timeliness of super payments and will require many businesses to update payroll and cash flow management practices

Businesses that communicate with customers, staff or contractors via branded text messaging should also be aware that new SMS Sender ID regulations are now in effect. Organisations using a business name rather than a phone number as the sender of SMS messages must ensure their Sender ID is registered with the Australian Communications and Media Authority to avoid messages being blocked or marked as spam.

Several tax measures announced in the 2026–27 Federal Budget are also now in place. Most notably, the $20,000 instant asset write-off has been made permanent, providing ongoing certainty for businesses investing in equipment, vehicles and technology.

The Loss Carry Back tax scheme has also been reintroduced, allowing eligible incorporated entities to offset current-year losses against taxes paid in the previous two financial years.

Looking ahead, businesses should also be aware of other changes including CPI-linked increases to ASIC business name and company fees, an expansion of paid parental leave to 26 weeks, and a ban on surcharges for debit, credit and prepaid card payments from October 1, 2026.

With many racing and breeding operations employing significant numbers of staff and contractors, now is an appropriate time to review payroll, superannuation and compliance processes to ensure businesses remain ahead of the changes.