Pyrenees Shire MEA progress

23 July 2026

The ASU lodged an application earlier in the year for Hepburn Shire Council (the first regional council that voted to join the Regional LG MEA) with the Fair Work Commission (FWC).

The ASU has written to FWC seeking an update to the MEA application several times. FWC pre-approved our application in May and indicated it would be finalised a week later.

We are still waiting for this to happen, which is unfortunately outside our (or Hepburn’s) control, but worth noting similar delays have become standard across many FWC applications. Had we bargained for a single EBA, aside from the fact we’d still be at the negotiating table, we would likely also experience similar delays in any application for approval.

ASU & Hepburn Council remain positive given FWC has pre-approved the application. As soon as we have final approval, we will be lodging a similar application for Pyrenees Shire to join the MEA, along with Moira, Moorabool, and Buloke shires.

While these FWC delays will mean a bit of a wait until the MEA can apply to you, the Agreement contains strong clauses around backpay and entitlements, so you will not lose out once it does. This will be similar to what happened under single-employer bargaining, but with the superior clauses of the MEA helping to protect your wages and conditions.

We will update you as soon as there is any further news regarding the rope-in applications.

If you have any other queries please contact: Your delegates or
ASU Organiser Melissa Wainwright | 0461 4200 021