What the 2026 decision means for employers On 2 June 2026, the Fair Work Commission’s (FWC) Expert Panel handed down its decision in the 2026 Annual Wage Review. From the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026, minimum wages under modern awards will rise by 4.75%, and the National Minimum Wage will increase to $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week, up from $24.95 per hour ($948.00 per week). That equates to a rise of roughly 5.97% in the National Minimum Wage