In this policy update, we highlight important reports and initiatives that were announced in August and September 2026 that influence the arts, personal services, retail, tourism, hospitality and vocational education and training (VET) sectors, as well as the broader economic landscape.

Northern Tasmania Economic Summit

On 15 July, the Tasmanian Government released its summary report of the Northern Tasmania Economic Summit. The report identifies priorities that will shape the region’s long-term economic future and inform the Government’s existing plan for the region.

A consistent message throughout the report is that Northern Tasmania has significant advantages, including strong research and education capability, an attractive lifestyle, diverse industries and a strong community identity.

Of interest to SaCSA, the report highlights the following:

• Workforce development should be positioned as a whole-of-region priority.
• Discussions highlighted that future prosperity will depend on the region’s ability to attract and retain workers, and better align workforce development, housing supply, planning systems, education pathways and investment attraction through greater collaboration.
• Workforce issues cannot be considered in isolation, with housing, infrastructure, education and regional leadership all seen as interconnected enablers of employment and economic growth.
• Housing availability and affordability were identified as barriers to attracting and retaining workers.
• Participants called for workforce development systems that are more responsive to industry needs and future employment opportunities.
• Priorities include stronger school-to-work transitions, leveraging immigrants’ skills and experience, lifelong learning opportunities, industry-led training models and targeted workforce development.

Read the full report here

Tourism Tasmania – Corporate Plan 2026-2029

On 14 August, Tourism Tasmania released its Corporate Plan for 2026-2029, which sets out its roadmap to 2030, with a focus on driving demand, enabling industry and championing the island’s visitor economy.

The plan seeks to connect travellers emotionally and culturally with Tasmania, drive visitation and enhance visitor contribution, and lead a sustainable visitor economy that delivers social, environmental and economic value for all Tasmanians.

Of interest to SaCSA, the plan acknowledges the need to invest in building the key capabilities required for a future workforce, including embedding a commercial mindset, increasing digital fluency and adopting emerging technologies.

Access the full plan and read its core pillars here

Variation on the Commission’s own initiative – Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020

On 14 August, the Fair Work Commission announced changes to the Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020.

The Award is an industry award that covers employers throughout Australia in the amusement, events and recreation industry and their employees. The industry is defined to include ‘heritage, tourism and cultural centres’, as well as ‘museums and galleries’, among other things.

Changes to the classification structure of the Award seek to more clearly identify the roles of ‘arts workers’, and changes to the title and terminology of the Award seek to address confusion about its application and explicitly recognise art as work.

The changes are informed by a number of written submissions received by the Commission from stakeholders across Australia.

Tourism Australia – Empowering Consumers for Australian Tourism

On 21 August, Tourism Australia released its overview entitled Empowering Consumers for Australian Tourism, which applies to tourism operators and marketing organisations that actively target consumers in the EU.

New laws under the EU Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (the Directive) come into effect on 27 September 2026 and encourage organisations to communicate in ways that are clear and credible.

According to the overview, the Directive restricts the use of certain generic environmental terms, including ‘eco’, ‘green’, ‘biodegradable’ and ‘climate-friendly’. It also prescribes how some claims can be made, particularly those relating to carbon emissions, certifications, future performance and comparative claims.

Access the full overview here

QLD – Training Priorities Plan 2026-2027

On 27 August, the Queensland Government released its updated Training Priorities Plan for 2026-2027, which sets out what the Queensland Government is doing in 2026-2027 to deliver on the longer-term objectives of the Right Skills Strategy 2025-2028.

Highlights from the Plan include:

• Support upskilling with skill sets and higher-level qualifications through a $52.6 million investment.
• Offer free training and Free Apprenticeships in priority skills.
• $3 million to expand Industry Skills Solutions into new industries, including tourism and advanced manufacturing.
• Meet the needs of regional economies through the $5 million Local Skills Solutions program.
• $3 million for industry-led micro-credentials to address priority skills gaps.
• $11 million in industry-led initiatives to increase the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in sectors with high skills demand.
• Expand Career Tasters to more locations and industries so Year 10 students and disengaged young people can try a vocational career.

Access the full plan here

TEQSA Corporate Plan 2026-30

On 31 August, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) released its Corporate Plan for 2026-2030, which sets out its priorities for the four reporting periods from 2026-27 to 2029-30.

The plan was prepared at a time when Australia’s higher education sector faces continued challenges and uncertainty, shaped by changing student expectations, policy reform, technology disruption, pressures on student safety and wellbeing, threats to academic integrity, constrained resources, research security and heightened public debate.

The plan details how the Australian Universities Accord reform agenda continues to progress, including the establishment of ATEC on 29 April 2026 and the appointment of its Commissioners on 1 July 2026.

Additionally, the plan highlights how the Government is progressing work to provide TEQSA with additional powers and tools to support efficient and effective regulation and respond more rapidly to systemic risks.

Access the full plan here

NT Arts Strategy 2034 – Action Plan 2026-30

On 3 September, the Northern Territory Government released its first five-year Action Plan for the Arts Strategy 2034.

The Plan will guide how government, industry and community partners work together to turn ideas into action, grow creative career pathways and ensure Aboriginal leadership and the Northern Territory’s multicultural richness remain central to cultural life.

It calls for long-term vision, stronger collaboration and meaningful opportunities for growth. The Plan recognises the arts as an important contributor to the Territory’s broader future.

Of interest to SaCSA, the Plan notes the following:

• The Territory must continue to invest in workforce development, new training pathways, stronger regional programs and the next generation of artists and creative workers.
• Aboriginal art is a major reason visitors choose the Territory, yet demand continues to outstrip supply.
• Support targeted investment in skills, education and training, using and growing local leadership capacity, including digital literacy and technology readiness.
• Support lifelong learning, employment and opportunity in the arts, and inspire the next generation of arts and cultural leaders.
• Promote inclusivity, foster creative partnerships, ensure safe and diverse workplaces and invest in accessible infrastructure.

Read the full Plan here

Migration reform to end rorts and bring in the skills Australia needs for a strong economy

On 17 September, the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, the Hon Tony Burke MP, announced changes to Australia’s migration system.

The changes seek to focus on attracting skilled workers for roles identified as priorities for the Australian economy and are designed to deliver a reduced Net Overseas Migration target.

Highlights from the announcement include:

• Strengthening compliance measures to ensure people without valid visas leave the country.
• Updating Ministerial Direction 119 to ensure the skilled migration program supports priority processing for a range of key sectors, including healthcare, construction, education, law enforcement, defence, resources, agriculture, aquaculture and fishing.
• Improving the integrity of student visas by stopping visa hopping and restricting secondary applicants on most student visas.
• Cracking down on rogue migration agents who knowingly support visa applications without merit.
• Introducing a No Further Stay condition for all visitor visas to ensure they are only used by genuine visitors and not as a pathway to extending a stay in Australia.
• Updating Ministerial Direction 110 to combat hate and criminal behaviour by:
  • better protecting children who are victims of crime
  • better protecting victims of domestic and family violence
  • reflecting modern Australia’s commitment to stamping out hatred.
• Changing the Working Holiday Maker Program to introduce a ballot system for years two and three, with a regional work requirement to support regional Australia. The Government will also stabilise processing times for Working Holiday Maker applications to three months.

Read the full media release here. Additional information on the Working Holiday Maker program can be found here.

JSA – Australian Labour Market for Migrants – July 2026

On 14 August, JSA released its report titled Australian Labour Market for Migrants for July 2026, which provides information on Australian labour market conditions. It is intended to inform people interested in working in Australia on a temporary or permanent basis, and organisations that provide services to migrants and visa applicants.

According to the report, the Australian economy and labour market remain resilient, although there are signs of further softening in labour market conditions. The outlook is uncertain, and outcomes will depend on the scale and persistence of fuel-supply-related disruptions.

Additionally, the report highlights that over the year to May 2026, trend vacancies decreased for most occupation groups, including sales workers (down by 5.3%), community and personal service workers (down by 2.8%), managers (down by 1.2%) and professionals (down by 1%).

The report also shows that in 2021, cafes and restaurants were among the top employers of sponsored primary temporary skilled visa holders.

Access the full report here

JSA – Measuring Employer Investments in Learning: Insights, challenges and a pathway forward

On 14 August, JSA released its report titled Measuring Employer Investments in Learning: Insights, challenges and a pathway forward, which details the role employers play in supporting lifelong learning and workforce capability.

According to the report, employer investment in learning is critical to labour market productivity and adaptability. This includes direct financial contributions, as well as good job design that enables workers to apply, develop and deepen their skills over time, often through peer learning and other informal experiences that occur through day-to-day work.

However, the report highlights that Australia lacks a consistent and contemporary measure of employer learning activity and expenditure. This limits the ability to target policies effectively or assess whether investment levels are sufficient and effective. This is a gap at a time of increasing focus on productivity and workforce capability.

The report shows that evidence from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics Survey suggests that participation in work-related training has recovered following a COVID-19 decline and a longer-term reduction in average training hours. However, this is contradicted by recent ABS data, which suggests that work-related training rates are below 2013 levels.

Read the full report, and its recommendations here

JSA – Vacancy Report – July 2026

On 19 August, JSA released its latest Vacancy Report, which provides a monthly count of online job advertisements.

The report shows that online job advertisements increased in July 2026, continuing the recent pattern of minor monthly variations and indicating a potential slowing of the medium-term downward trend observed from June 2022 to early 2025.

Further, the report highlights that:

• Job advertisement numbers remain at elevated levels, with around 25% more advertisements in the labour market presently compared with the monthly average for 2019.
• Over the year to July 2026, online job advertisements decreased by 0.3%.
• Recruitment activity increased across six states and territories over the month. The strongest increases were recorded in VIC (up 4.2%), followed by TAS (up 3.4%) and QLD (up 3.3%).
• Over the month, advertisements increased across all Skill Level groups.

Of interest to SaCSA, the report includes a spotlight on retail supervisors, showing that labour demand remains strong while employment continues to trend upward.

Access the full report here

JSA – Regional Labour Market Indicator – Quarterly Report – June 2026

On 24 August, JSA released its latest Regional Labour Market Indicator Quarterly Report for June 2026, which details labour market capacity from both an employee and employer perspective.

Key highlights from the report include:

• Labour market conditions continue to be stronger on average in major cities compared with outcomes across regional Australia, which are more mixed.
• The gap between major city and regional labour market performance has narrowed over the three years to June 2026. This reflects improving conditions in several regional labour markets, including parts of north-eastern NSW, alongside softer labour market conditions in some major city areas, including Melbourne.
• Remote Australia continues to face persistently challenging labour market conditions.
• While employment opportunities remain available, persistent recruitment difficulties, lower job matching efficiency and elevated levels of long-term JobSeeker Income Support continue to constrain labour market performance.

Access the full report here

JSA – Recruitment pressures in Australia’s higher-skilled labour market

On 27 August, JSA released its latest Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey, titled Recruitment pressures in Australia’s higher-skilled labour market, which examines the factors contributing to recruitment challenges.

According to the report, many employers have reported difficulty recruiting for higher-skilled roles. Employers may face a range of interconnected pressures, including shortages of suitably qualified or experienced workers, limited applicant pools, competition for talent and concerns about future workforce capacity.

The findings suggest that recruitment outcomes are influenced by both workforce-related factors, such as skills shortages and workforce capacity, and location-related factors, such as access to housing, training opportunities and supporting infrastructure. These pressures can be pronounced in regional and remote Australia, where workforce shortages may be compounded by local barriers to attracting and retaining workers.

Access the full report here

JSA – International Labour Market Update – August 2026

On 4 September, JSA released its latest International Labour Market Update for August 2026, which provides labour market data and information for Australia and selected overseas countries and country groups.

The August 2026 edition shows:

• Labour market conditions are weakening across OECD economies, with unemployment rates rising, employment growth slowing and labour market shortages continuing to ease.
• Global economic growth is expected to slow in 2026, including across emerging and developing economies, according to projections from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
• Growth in labour force participation is expected to decline across OECD countries, reflecting changing labour market conditions and participation trends.

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.

---

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.