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Natasha Jones

Special Counsel - Canberra

Areas of Expertise

Workplace Relations & Safety

Expertise

Natasha is a special counsel in our Canberra office and practices in our Workplace Relations and Safety team.

Natasha works with employers across a diverse range of fields, including in government, finance, construction, manufacturing, communications and media, and professional services.

Experience

Natasha’s experience includes:

  • advising and representing employers in general protections, unfair dismissal and discrimination proceedings 
  • advising on workplace matters, including managing ill and injured workers, restructures, transfer of business, terminations, performance and conduct matters and work health and safety duties
  • strategic and legal advice on Commonwealth public sector enterprise bargaining
  • drafting and advising on enterprise agreements, employment contracts, workplace policies and contractor arrangements
  • conducting workplace training for managers and employees regarding unlawful discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying and victimisation, and managing performance and conduct issues
  • acting and advising on enforcement of post-employment restraints including non-solicitation and non-competition clauses
  • advising on work health and safety matters, including assisting employers who have been investigated and prosecuted by regulators.

Publications

17 June 2026 - Knowledge

Australian Government releases 2026 Public Sector Workplace Relations Policy

#Workplace Relations & Safety, #Australian Government

The new policy sets out the parameters for enterprise bargaining across APS and Non-APS agencies and will kick-start APS-wide enterprise bargaining ahead of agreements expiring in late 2026 and early 2027. We discuss the key requirements for agencies.

16 June 2026 - Knowledge

APSC releases principles and guidance on the use of AI in APS recruitment

#Workplace Relations & Safety, #Australian Government

The APSC released principles and guidance for agencies and candidates on the use of AI in APS recruitment. APS agencies are expected to implement the Principles for agency use by 1 June 2026. These principles and guidance align with the existing AI Plan for the APS and Australian Government Policy for the Responsible use of AI in government.

11 June 2026 - Knowledge

Flexible work requests – lessons for the APS

#Australian Government, #Workplace Relations & Safety

With flexible work on the rise in the APS, we look at the requirements for employers handling flexible work requests and key lessons from recent FWC decisions in Naden and Westpac.

02 June 2026 - Knowledge

FWC announces increase in national minimum and award wages, but falls short of awarding a ‘real wage’ increase

#Workplace Relations & Safety

The Fair Work Commission Expert Panel has handed down its decision in the Annual Wage Review for 2026, increasing the national minimum wage and modern award wages by 4.75% and making structural adjustments for lowest-paid modern award classifications effective from 1 July 2026. However, the economic context weighed against the Panel awarding a real wage increase, which would have required an increase of well over 5%.