In this policy update, we highlight important reports and initiatives that were announced in May and June 2026 that influence the Arts, Personal Services, Retail, Tourism, Hospitality and Vocational Education and Training (VET) sectors, as well as the broader economic landscape.

Workplaces for Women – Safe Staff, Safe Venues

In May, the Victorian Government and Victorian Trades Hall Council released Workplaces for Women: Safe staff, safe venues, a report focused on reducing gendered workplace harm and supporting safer, more respectful and inclusive hospitality workplaces.

The report draws on survey responses, primarily from Victorian workers, covering issues such as wage theft, rostering, gender discrimination, occupational health and safety, union awareness and understanding of workplace rights.

It highlights that workers’ experiences of exploitation are often shaped by unequal power dynamics with employers and customers, alongside intersecting factors such as gender, age, migration status and employment insecurity. Together, these factors make hospitality a high-risk industry for many workers.

The report concludes that creating a fairer and safer hospitality industry will require action from both the Victorian Government and employers, including stronger support for workers to understand and exercise their rights.

Access the full report here

NSW Small Business Commissioner – Small Business Momentum Survey – April 2026

On 20 May, the NSW Small Business Commissioner released the Small Business Momentum Survey: April 2026, which reported a further decline in sentiment among small businesses across New South Wales, with confidence levels falling to a new record low.

According to the survey, small business confidence declined for a second consecutive month, falling to 14%. This is the lowest level recorded since the survey began in 2020 and is below confidence levels reported during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Key findings from the report include:

• Confidence in the performance of the local economy also declined, falling by two percentage points to 7%, setting a new record low and surpassing the previous low of 9% recorded in the previous month.
• The decline in confidence coincides with ongoing inflationary pressures, elevated interest rates, rising fuel and energy costs, and continued uncertainty associated with conflict in the Middle East.
• Business Services and Social Services were the only industry groups to report confidence levels above the NSW average, at 15% and 21% respectively.

Access the full report here

Tasmanian Government Budget 2026-27

On 21 May, the Treasurer of Tasmania delivered the 2026-27 State Budget, outlining the Government’s priorities against a backdrop of continued economic resilience and a solid underlying economic foundation, despite ongoing global uncertainty.

Of particular interest to SaCSA, the Budget included a number of initiatives supporting tourism, hospitality, retail and small business.

Tourism

• $2.25 million to support additional training opportunities through the Tasmanian Hospitality and Tourism Training Academy.
• $82 million to strengthen Tasmania’s tourism marketing efforts.
• $10 million towards a new convention centre in Launceston, expected to drive additional visitor nights and deliver flow-on benefits for hotels, hospitality businesses, retailers and tourism operators.

Hospitality

• $2.4 million for Hospitality 2030, supporting the long-term growth and strategic development of the hospitality sector.
• $3 million for the Great Customer Experience program, helping businesses enhance service quality and improve visitor experiences.
• $1.5 million for the Club Tasmania program, supporting Tasmania’s club sector and local community organisations.
• $1.5 million for Women in Leadership, Mental Health and HOSPO Health initiatives, aimed at strengthening leadership capability and improving workforce wellbeing across the industry.

Retail and Community Pharmacy

• Expansion of pharmacists’ scope of practice, enabling treatment of a broader range of common health conditions.

Small Business

• As work continues on the next Small Business Growth Strategy, the Budget maintains investment in services that support small businesses, including the Tasmanian Business Advice Service and the New Business Support Service.

Access the full Budget Papers here

Jina: Western Australian Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan 2026-2030

On 26 May, the Western Australian Government released Jina: Western Australian Aboriginal Tourism Action Plan 2026-2030. The Plan outlines how Western Australia can build on the strong foundations of the previous plan and further position the state as a first-choice destination for Aboriginal cultural tourism.

The Plan is guided by the Larrakia Declaration and sets out 40 actions across three key pillars:

• Position WA as the first-choice destination for Aboriginal cultural tourism
• Build capacity for Aboriginal peoples’ participation in tourism
• Facilitate the development of Aboriginal tourism experiences

Of interest to SaCSA, the Plan includes initiatives to:

• Undertake research on the impact of WA’s Aboriginal tourism sector
• Support the development and sale of authentic Aboriginal art, products and artefacts from WA Aboriginal art and cultural centres and artists
• Deliver public cultural activations involving Aboriginal food, art, fashion, music, dance and performance through partnerships with Perth hotels, public authorities and key attractions
• Promote tourism and hospitality as attractive training and career pathways for Aboriginal people through marketing, career taster experiences and expos
• Fund Aboriginal-led partnerships to deliver training opportunities that support skills development and job pathways in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Read the full plan here

WA Office of the Auditor General – Universities and TAFEs 2025

On 27 May, the Western Australian Office of the Auditor General released its Universities and TAFEs 2025 report, highlighting improvements in governance and financial controls across the tertiary education sector. The report found that universities and TAFEs reduced their total number of audit findings by almost 40%, while financial management control weaknesses decreased by 75%.

Despite these improvements, the Auditor General noted ongoing concerns about the financial sustainability of the TAFE sector. All five TAFEs recorded operating deficits in 2025, and costs per student curriculum hour increased at most institutions. When non-cash expenses are excluded, three of the five TAFEs still reported underlying deficit positions.

In contrast, all Western Australian universities recorded operating surpluses in 2025. While this reflects improved financial performance, the Auditor General highlighted continued concerns about the sector’s reliance on international student revenue. All universities were assessed as having either medium or high-risk exposure to overseas revenue, underscoring the importance of diversifying income sources to support long-term financial sustainability.

Access the full report here

South Australia Budget 2026-27

On 4 June, the South Australian Treasurer delivered the 2026-27 State Budget, outlining the Government’s priorities following the 2026 State Election.

Cost-of-living relief is a key focus of the Budget, with a package of targeted measures designed to ease financial pressures on families, first home buyers, renters, seniors and downsizers.

The Budget also places a strong emphasis on productivity and reducing red tape. A new $50 million Research and Development Productivity Fund will be established over four years to increase the scale and impact of research activity in South Australia. The initiative aims to support high-impact programs, strengthen collaboration between universities, industry and government, and accelerate the commercialisation of research.

Of particular interest to SaCSA, the Budget includes the following investments:

Skills

• $261.5 million to support the development of a skilled workforce and strengthen South Australia’s future workforce capability.
• $150 million over four years to establish and operate three new technical colleges, including a regional campus in Murray Bridge and metropolitan campuses in Marden and Gawler.
• $28.2 million in 2025-26 for non-government training providers to meet growing demand for training in areas including care, hospitality and personal services, as well as increased demand for VET in Schools delivery. This investment is funded through the National Skills Agreement.

Arts, Recreation and Tourism

• $158 million over five years to support community participation, attract visitors and strengthen South Australia’s cultural and tourism offerings.
• $100 million over three years for a new State Gymnastics Centre, providing a state-of-the-art facility for community, national and international gymnastics events, while also supporting shared use by other indoor sports.
• $49.3 million by 2029 towards the development of the State Arts Media Hub at Tapangka, delivered in partnership with the ABC and co-locating the State Theatre Company, State Opera and Country Arts South Australia.
• $1.2 million in 2026-27 for nature-based tourism projects, including improvements to the Heysen Trail near Cudlee Creek and infrastructure upgrades at Flinders Chase National Park to enhance visitor access to Admirals Arch.
• An additional $1.5 million over four years for the Adelaide Fringe, supporting the expansion of the Honey Pot initiative, attracting national and international arts programmers, and creating new opportunities for artists. This brings total government support for the Adelaide Fringe to $20 million over four years.

Access the full budget papers here

WA Cultural and Creative Activity – Contribution to state product and industry value add

On 4 June, the University of Canberra released new research examining the contribution of cultural and creative activity to Western Australia’s economy.

The research found that, in 2024, cultural and creative activity contributed $6.2 billion to Western Australia’s Gross State Product (GSP), increasing to $10.5 billion when computer systems design is included. This continues a trend of sustained growth over the past six years.

Between 2018 and 2024, cultural and creative activity (excluding computer systems design) grew by an average of 6.8% per year, representing an increase of $1.9 billion, or 45%, over the period.

While the sector’s economic contribution has grown significantly, its share of total GSP declined over the same period. The research attributes this to the continued strength and rapid growth of Western Australia’s mining and resources sector, which has expanded at a faster rate than the broader economy.

Importantly, when measured against non-mining economic activity, the contribution of cultural and creative industries remained stable, accounting for approximately 2.4% of Western Australia’s non-mining GSP between 2018 and 2024.

Access the research here

The ACT Budget 2026-27

On 11 June, the ACT Treasurer delivered the 2026-27 Budget, with a strong focus on housing affordability, workforce development and economic growth.

The Budget includes significant investment in affordable, community and public housing, alongside reforms designed to improve housing accessibility. Notably, stamp duty has been abolished for unit-titled properties, supporting more Canberrans, including downsizers, to move into medium-density housing such as terraces and townhouses.

The Budget papers note that, despite ongoing global uncertainty and the economic impacts of conflict in the Middle East, the ACT economy remains resilient, characterised by economic growth, lower inflation than the national average and low unemployment.

Of particular interest to SaCSA, the following initiatives were announced:

Education and Training

The Budget includes almost $100 million in investments to support workforce development and skills growth across the ACT, including:

• Establishment of the University of New South Wales Canberra City Campus.
• Continued collaboration with the Australian Government to extend fee-free TAFE training, delivering an additional 9,093 training places across healthcare, advanced technology, construction, hospitality and foundation skills.
• Operationalisation of the CIT Woden Campus and co-located Youth Foyer, alongside the establishment of CIT Yurauna as a standalone campus.

Jobs, Entertainment, Sport and Culture

The Government has committed $143.5 million over four years to support economic development, tourism, arts and sport, while strengthening Canberra’s appeal as a place to live, work and visit.

Key initiatives include:

• Progressing the National Convention and Entertainment Centre project to a construction-ready stage through the development of a reference design, procurement plan and business case.
• A $7 million investment to continue and expand the Major Event Fund, supporting the attraction of major events that generate economic and visitor benefits for the ACT.
• Support for hosting international cricket matches at Manuka Oval in partnership with Cricket Australia, alongside increased support for local women’s sporting teams.
• An increase of 25% plus indexation in funding for ACT arts organisations, representing an investment of more than $8 million.
• Infrastructure upgrades at Canberra Stadium, Exhibition Park in Canberra, Manuka Oval, the National Arboretum Canberra and Stromlo Forest Park to improve safety, accessibility and visitor experiences.
• A two-year pilot to extend Floriade operating hours as part of celebrations marking the event’s 40th anniversary.
• Continued support for Screen Canberra to attract and grow television, film and digital gaming projects, alongside expansion of the Canberra Business Advice and Support Service.

Access the full budget papers here

JSA – Vacancy Report – April 2026

On 20 May, JSA released its Vacancy Report for April 2026, which tracks trends in online job advertisements across Australia.

Key findings from the report include:

• Online job advertisements fell by 0.9% in April, continuing the recent pattern of modest month-to-month fluctuations. This may indicate that the medium-term downward trend observed between June 2022 and early 2025 is beginning to stabilise.
• Despite the monthly decline, labour demand remains strong, with online job advertisements approximately 25% higher than the average monthly level recorded in 2019.
• Over the 12 months to April 2026, online job advertisements decreased by 1.4%. However, vacancy levels remain high by historical standards.
• Recruitment activity declined across six states and territories during the month.
  • The largest decreases were recorded in the ACT (down 5.9%), followed by New South Wales (down 2.5%).
• Job advertisements decreased across four skill level groups.
  • The largest decline was among Skill Level 1 occupations (typically requiring a bachelor degree or higher), which fell by 2.6%, followed by Skill Level 4 occupations (typically requiring a Certificate II or III), which declined by 1.1%.
• Five major occupation groups recorded decreases in recruitment activity.
  • The strongest decline was among Professionals (down 3.1%), followed by Community and Personal Service Workers (down 2.8%).
• Recruitment activity continued to be concentrated in metropolitan areas, with 70.3% of all online job advertisements located in Australia’s capital cities.
  • Over the past year, job advertisements increased in regional Australia by 6.7%, while capital city advertisements declined slightly by 0.7%, highlighting stronger growth in regional labour demand.

The findings suggest that while labour market conditions have softened from recent peaks, employer demand for workers remains elevated across much of the economy.

Access the full report here

JSA – Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey (REOS) Spotlight – Shifting Employer Sentiment

On 29 May, JSA released its latest REOS Spotlight, Shifting Employer Sentiment, examining how rising fuel costs, supply disruptions and increasing operating expenses are affecting employer sentiment and business conditions across Australia in early 2026.

Key findings include:

• Employer concerns have shifted since early 2025, with cost pressures, labour constraints and weaker demand replacing the previously high share of employers reporting no major concerns.
• Cost pressures became the leading concern in early 2026, coinciding with global fuel market disruption and supply chain pressures, particularly affecting transport-reliant and regional businesses.
• Recruitment and retention difficulties remain a structural challenge, especially for employers actively hiring or struggling to fill roles.
• Around two-thirds of employers reported impacts from rising fuel costs and supply disruptions, though most described these impacts as moderate rather than severe.
• Higher fuel prices and supply disruptions appear to be increasing operating costs, with flow-on effects including higher transport and input costs and reduced customer demand.

Of particular interest to SaCSA:

• Concerns about weak demand were prominent in Accommodation and Food Services, reported by around 30% of employers, and were also notable in Wholesale Trade at 27% and Retail Trade at 24%.
• Recruitment, retention and skills shortage concerns were pronounced in Accommodation and Food Services at 24%, highlighting ongoing workforce pressures in labour-intensive service sectors.

Access the full report here

JSA – International Labour Market Update – May 2026

On 29 May, JSA released its International Labour Market Update: May 2026, providing an overview of labour market trends across Australia and selected international economies.

Key findings from the report include:

• The OECD reported a softening in labour market conditions across member countries during the first quarter of 2026.
• Growth in job vacancies eased in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States as labour demand moderated, although unemployment rates across most OECD economies remained close to historically low levels.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) identified several European economies, including Ireland, Finland, Denmark and Switzerland, as global leaders in preparing workers with emerging skills, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence.
• In February 2026, the OECD unemployment rate remained steady at 5.0%, just 0.2 percentage points above the record low recorded in June 2023.
• Compared with January 2026, unemployment rates remained unchanged in 19 OECD countries, increased in 11 countries and decreased in three.
• The OECD youth unemployment rate (for people aged 15-24 years) was 11.5% in February 2026, highlighting ongoing challenges for younger workers in many labour markets.
• Annual real wage growth remained positive across almost all OECD economies in the September quarter of 2025. However, wage growth slowed as inflationary pressures increased.
• Labour productivity growth is forecast to strengthen in 2027, with Australia, New Zealand and the OECD projected to record productivity growth around one percentage point higher than forecast for 2026.

Overall, the report suggests that while labour markets in many advanced economies remain relatively resilient, signs of moderating labour demand and ongoing productivity challenges continue to shape the global employment outlook.

Access the full report here

JSA – 2025 Skills in Demand (SID) Report

On 29 May, JSA released its 2025 Skills in Demand (SID) Report, prepared in response to the Australian Government’s Migration Strategy. The report contributes to the ongoing design and evaluation of Australia’s targeted migration system by examining the labour market impacts of the three streams within the Skills in Demand visa program.

While noting that the program is still in its early stages and available data remains limited, the report concludes that the employer-sponsored temporary SID visa program is broadly operating in line with the objectives and principles outlined in the Migration Strategy.

Key findings include:

• The introduction of the SID visa, together with indexed salary thresholds, has resulted in higher nominated salaries for primary visa applicants compared with the previous Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa program.
• The transition from the Skilled Migration Occupation Lists (SMOL) to the Core Skills Occupations List (CSOL) has led to some changes in the occupational profile of employer-sponsored temporary skilled migrants, although these changes have been relatively modest.
• More than 90% of visas granted under the SID program were for occupations that were previously eligible under the TSS visa program, indicating a high degree of continuity between the two systems.

Of particular interest to SaCSA, the report found:

• For occupations such as Chefs, Café and Restaurant Managers and Cooks, the analysis did not identify a consistent relationship between levels of temporary skilled migration and Australian job vacancies or reported skills shortages.
• This may suggest an ongoing reliance on temporary skilled migration within these occupations and highlights the importance of continued investment in domestic training and workforce development to attract and retain workers within Australia.
• Chef occupations recorded growth in visa grants, building on the already high number of visas issued under the former TSS program.
• Accommodation and Food Services ranked fourth among industries receiving visa grants through the Core Skills Stream. However, the majority of visa grants in the sector were still issued under the TSS program, potentially reflecting the impact of recent migration policy changes, including indexed salary thresholds and the transition from SMOL to CSOL.

Access the full report here

JSA – Occupation Shortage Report – March Quarter 2026

On 3 June, JSA released its Occupation Shortage Report for the March quarter 2026, providing insights into labour market conditions and emerging workforce pressures.

Key findings from the quarter include:

• National vacancy fill rates declined to 68.2%
• Recruitment conditions weakened across both metropolitan and regional Australia
• The gap between metropolitan and regional vacancy fill rates widened
• Vacancy fill rates fell across all occupation skill levels

Access the full report here

JSA – Regional Labour Market Indicator (RLMI) Results – March 2026

On 4 June, JSA released the latest Regional Labour Market Indicator (RLMI) results for March 2026. The RLMI combines a range of labour market indicators from both employer and employee perspectives to provide a single measure of regional labour market performance.

Key findings include:

• Regional and remote areas were more likely than major cities to experience weaker labour market conditions, although outcomes varied significantly across regional Australia.
• Around 64% of SA4 regions located in major cities were rated either ‘strong’ or ‘above average’ in March 2026.
• Strong labour market conditions were also evident in several regional areas, including the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, parts of south-west Western Australia, Victoria’s Surf Coast region, and areas across the Southern Murray-Darling Basin.
• Labour market outcomes varied across regional Australia, with 38% of regions rated ‘below average’ or ‘poor’. These included parts of Northern Australia, regional and coastal New South Wales (including the Mid North Coast and Coffs Harbour-Grafton), the Spencer Gulf region and surrounding areas of South Australia, and Tasmania, including Hobart.

The RLMI was further enhanced in March 2026 with the addition of a labour productivity measure. Key productivity findings include:

• The five-year average annual productivity growth rate (adjusted for industry composition) has generally moderated over the past decade.
• While productivity growth varied across region types, growth rates remained below mid-2010 levels, consistent with broader evidence of a national productivity slowdown.

Access the full report here

NCVER – Place-based and culturally responsive VET for ATSI learners

On 28 May, NCVER released its latest report, Place-based and Culturally Responsive VET for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Learners. The report explores how place-based and culturally responsive approaches can be more effectively embedded in vocational education and training (VET) to support meaningful outcomes for First Nations learners.

Key findings include:

• Place-based training extends beyond geographic location. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners, it is closely connected to cultural safety, belonging and learning on Country.
• Culturally responsive training recognises the importance of culture, kinship, language and community protocols. It fosters respectful, trusting learning environments where learners feel safe to share their experiences and perspectives.
• Effective culturally responsive training is Aboriginal-led and includes employing and supporting Aboriginal staff, tailoring training to individual learner needs, and building local employment pathways through partnerships with communities and Aboriginal employers.
• Place-based approaches can improve employment, qualification and personal development outcomes by building learner confidence, strengthening connections to local industries and employers, and creating pathways to further education and training.

The report also highlights several challenges for training providers, including the cost of delivering culturally responsive programs, securing sustainable funding, and recruiting and retaining Aboriginal staff.

Access the full report here

 

We encourage our stakeholders to delve deeper into these reports and strategies to understand their potential impact and leverage them in planning and decision-making. As always, we remain committed to supporting a vibrant and sustainable workforce across all industries.

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Author: Shane Kocass, Policy and Government Relations Adviser at SaCSA, analyses government policies, fosters meaningful engagement with government stakeholders, and assists in navigating the complex policy landscape to drive impactful outcomes.