Application for approval of the Maurice Blackburn Employees' Agreement 2024

[1] Maurice Blackburn Lawyers (ABN: 21 105 657 949) has applied for approval of an enterprise agreement known as the Maurice Blackburn Employees' Agreement 2024 under s 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009.

[2] The Agreement is a single enterprise agreement.

[3] I observe that the following clauses are likely to be inconsistent with the National Employment Standards:

• Clause 29.3(b) - Parental leave: adoption

• Clause 29.3(c) - Parental leave: definition of partner

• Clause 23.7 - Personal leave: prior notice

• Clause 11.4 - Termination: failure of employee to provide notice

[4] Clause 4.2 of the Agreement gives precedence to the NES and I am satisfied that the more beneficial entitlements of the NES will prevail where there is an inconsistency between the Agreement and the NES.

[5] The Employer has provided written undertakings. I am satisfied that the undertakings will not cause financial detriment to any employee covered by the Agreement and that the undertakings will not result in substantial changes to the Agreement.

[6] Subject to the undertakings referred to above, I am satisfied that each requirement of ss186, 187 and 188 as are relevant to this application for approval have been met. The undertakings are taken to be a term of the Agreement.

[7] The Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union (ASU) lodged a Form F18 statutory declaration giving notice under s 183 of the Act that it wants the Agreement to cover it. In accordance with s 201(2) of the Act, I note the Agreement covers the ASU.

[8] The Agreement is approved and, in accordance with s 54 of the Act, will operate from 15 July 2025

[9] In accordance with clause 5, the nominal expiry date of the Agreement is 30 September 2027.

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