Australia mandates $31.30 hourly floor for gig delivery drivers in landmark ruling

In a pioneering decision, the Fair Work Commission issued a minimum standards order that guarantees on-demand delivery drivers in Australia a base pay of $31.30 an hour and requires platforms to provide personal accident insurance. The Transport Workers’ Union, together with DoorDash and UberEats, sought the protections after lengthy negotiations, and the order will cover any platform offering food, beverage or grocery delivery.

While drivers must maintain their own vehicle insurance, the platforms are responsible for a minimum level of personal accident cover, though the exact scope remains open to interpretation. Pay rates will range from $31.30 to $32 depending on vehicle type and will increase by 50 cents from 1 January 2027. The standards also introduce clearer dispute-resolution mechanisms and unpaid-time-off rights. Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth called the order a milestone, and TWU national secretary Michael Kaine described it as "world-leading".