2025 WAIRC 00612
Plywood and Veneer Workers Award

1B. - MINIMUM ADULT AWARD WAGE

(1) No employee aged 21 or more shall be paid less than the minimum adult award wage unless otherwise provided by this clause.

(2) The minimum adult award wage for full-time employees aged 21 or more working under an award that provides for a 38-hour week is $953.00 per week.

The minimum adult award wage for full-time employees aged 21 or more working under awards that provide for other than a 38-hour week is calculated as follows: divide $953.00 by 38 and multiply by the number of ordinary hours prescribed for a full-time employee under the award.

The minimum adult award wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.

(3) The minimum adult award wage is deemed to include all State Wage order adjustments from State Wage Case decisions.

(4) Unless otherwise provided in this clause adults aged 21 or more employed as casuals, part-time employees or piece workers or employees who are remunerated wholly on the basis of payment by results, shall not be paid less than pro rata the minimum adult award wage according to the hours worked.

(5) Employees under the age of 21 shall be paid no less than the wage determined by applying the percentage prescribed in the junior rates provision in this award (if applicable) to the minimum adult award wage, provided that no employee shall be paid less than any applicable minimum rate of pay prescribed by the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.

(6) The minimum adult award wage shall not apply to apprentices, employees engaged on traineeships or government approved work placement programs or employed under the Commonwealth Government Supported Wage System or to other categories of employees who by prescription are paid less than the minimum award rate, provided that no employee shall be paid less than any applicable minimum rate of pay prescribed by the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.

(7) Liberty to apply is reserved in relation to any special category of employees not included here or otherwise in relation to the application of the minimum adult award wage.

(8) Subject to this clause the minimum adult award wage shall –

(a) Apply to all work in ordinary hours.

(b) Apply to the calculation of overtime and all other penalty rates, superannuation, payments during any period of paid leave and for all purposes of this award.

(9) Minimum Adult Award Wage

The rates of pay in this award include the minimum weekly wage for employees aged 21 or more payable under the 2025 State Wage order. Any increase arising from the insertion of the minimum wage will be offset against any equivalent amount in rates of pay received by employees whose wages and conditions of employment are regulated by this award which are above the wage rates prescribed in the award. Such above award payments include wages payable pursuant to enterprise agreements, consent awards or award variations to give effect to enterprise agreements and over award arrangements. Absorption which is contrary to the terms of an agreement is not required.

Increases under previous State Wage Case Principles or under the current Statement of Principles, excepting those resulting from enterprise agreements, are not to be used to offset the minimum wage.

(10) Adult Apprentices

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause, the minimum adult apprentice wage for a full-time apprentice aged 21 years or more working under an award that provides for a 38-hour week is $791.30 per week.

(b) The minimum adult apprentice wage for a full-time apprentice aged 21 years or more working under an award that provides for other than a 38-hour week is calculated as follows: divide $791.30 by 38 and multiply by the number of ordinary hours prescribed for a full-time apprentice under the award.

(c) The minimum adult apprentice wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.

(d) Adult apprentices aged 21 years or more employed on a part-time basis shall not be paid less than pro rata the minimum adult apprentice wage according to the hours worked.

(e) The rates paid in the paragraphs above to an apprentice 21 years of age or more are payable on superannuation and during any period of paid leave prescribed by this award.

(f) Where in this award an additional rate is expressed as a percentage, fraction or multiple of the ordinary rate of pay, it shall be calculated upon the rate prescribed in this award for the actual year of apprenticeship.




SCHEDULE 1. - RATES OF PAY

The minimum rates of wages payable to employees covered by this award shall be as follows:

The rates of pay in this award include arbitrated safety net adjustments available since December 1993, under the Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment Principle.

These arbitrated safety net adjustments may be offset against any equivalent amount in the rate of pay received by employees since 1 November 1991 above the rate prescribed in the Award, except where such absorption is contrary to the terms of an industrial agreement.

Increases in rates of pay otherwise made under the State Wage Case Principles, excepting those resulting from enterprise agreements, are not to be used to offset arbitrated safety net adjustments.

1. Rates of Pay Per Week:-


Base Rate$
Supplementary Payments $
Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment $
Total Rate$





Group A




First Year
390.37
15.50
629.13
1035.00
Thereafter
395.04
15.50
630.56
1041.10





Group B




First Year
378.46
15.50
625.84
1019.80
Thereafter
384.07
15.50
627.23
1026.80





Group C




First Year
363.75
15.50
621.65
1000.90
Thereafter
368.42
15.50
622.98
1006.90





Group D




First Year
355.34
15.50
619.16
990.00
Thereafter
361.42
15.50
620.78
997.70





Group E




First Year
348.63
15.50
617.27
981.40
Thereafter
352.19
15.50
618.31
986.00





Group F




First Year
342.97
15.50
615.43
973.90
Thereafter
348.57
15.50
617.23
981.30





Group G




First Year
338.76
15.50
614.34
968.60
Thereafter
344.02
15.50
615.88
975.40





Group H




First Year
332.69
15.50
612.61
960.80
Thereafter
338.53
15.50
614.27
968.30





Group I




First Year
325.22
15.50
612.28
953.00
Thereafter
330.59
15.50
612.01
958.10





Group J




First Year
315.41
15.50
622.09
953.00
Thereafter
321.95
15.50
615.55
953.00

2.
Classification
Group



(1)
Man in charge of log yard and/or powercross cut saw
G
(2)
Veneer Lathe Machinist over 3ft 6ins
C
(3)
Veneer Lathe Machinist 3ft 6ins or under
D
(4)
Veneer Lathe Operator 3ft 6ins
E
(5)
Veneer Lathe Operator 3ft 6ins or under
F
(6)
Operator of veneer slicing machine
E
(7)
Operator of power operated Guillotine who trues final fancy veneer edges
E
(8)
Guillotine assistant
H
(9)
Plywood Scarfing Machinist, who scarfs set up, presses and cleans off
E
(10)
Feeders and Assistants on Driers
H
(11)
Core or Centre Layer
E
(12)
Plywood Press and overlay press operator
E
(13)
Plywood Press and overlay press assistant
H
(14)
Panel Sawyer
E
(15)
Core Sawyer
F
(16)
Glue or Casein Mixer
H
(17)
Operator of 4 edge automatic plywood trimming machine using parallel saws
E
(18)
Drum sander machinist
F
(19)
Minami automatic continuous feed cross belt sander operator
E
(20)
Belt sander machinist
H
(21)
Grader of finished panel products
H
(22)
Crater for assembling and despatch
H
(23)
Taping and Tapeless Veneer jointing machinist
H
(24)
Centre feeder and/or Core Feeder
H
(25)
Assistant to Lathe or Slicer Operator
H
(26)
Guillotine Operator not elsewhere included
H
(27)
Operator Groover and Slotter
E
(28)
Workers employed in any calling not described in this clause
J


Base Rate$
Supplementary Payments $
Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment $
Total Rate $
(29)
Tractor using power operated attachments




(a)
35 b.h.p. and under
346.70
15.50
616.80
979.00
(b)
over 35 b.h.p. and under 70 b.h.p
354.29
15.50
618.61
988.40
(c)
over 70 b h p. and under 130 b.h.p
359.78
15.50
620.32
995.60
(d)
over 130 b.h.p. and under 230 b.h.p.
362.58
15.50
621.12
999.20
(e)
over 230 b.h.p
363.99
15.50
621.71
1001.20






(30)
Fork Lift Operator




(a)
Up to 10000 lbs lifting capacity
371.93
15.50
623.87
1011.30
(b)
Over 10000 lbs and up to 20000 lb capacity
376.13
15.50
624.87
1016.50
(c)
Over 20000 lbs capacity
376.83
15.50
625.17
1017.50






(31)
Power Grader Operator -




(a)
Under 50 net engine horse-power
360.48
15.50
620.52
996.50
(b)
Between 50 and 100 net engine horse- power
364.34
15.50
621.66
1001.50
(c)
Over 100 net engine horse-power
370.17
15.50
623.43
1009.10






(32)
Straddle Carrier Driver -




(a)
Who operates within the confines of the employer's property
375.54
15.50
624.86
1015.90
(b)
Other
379.75
15.50
626.05
1021.30






(33)
Driver of Motor Vehicles -




(a)
Not exceeding 25 cwt capacity
363.17
15.50
621.23
999.90
(b)
Exceeding 25 cwt but under 3 tons
367.60
15.50
622.70
1005.80
(c)
Exceeding 3 tons but under 6 tons
371.93
15.50
623.87
1011.30
(d)
Exceeding 6 tons but under 7 tons
372.74
15.50
623.96
1012.20
(e)
Exceeding 7 tons but under 8 tons
375.08
15.50
624.72
1015.30
(f)
Exceeding 8 tons but under 9 tons
375.43
15.50
624.87
1015.80
(g)
Exceeding 9 tons but under 10 tons
376.19
15.50
624.91
1016.60
(h)
Exceeding 10 tons but under 11 tons
376.83
15.50
625.17
1017.50
(i)
Exceeding 11 tons but under 12 tons
378.11
15.50
625.79
1019.40
(j)
Exceeding 12 tons but under 13 tons
379.16
15.50
625.94
1020.60
(k)
Exceeding 13 tons but under 14 tons
380.22
15.50
626.18
1021.90
(l)
Exceeding 14 tons but under 15 tons
381.27
15.50
626.43
1023.20
(m)
Exceeding 15 tons but under 16 tons
382.08
15.50
626.82
1024.40
(n)
Exceeding 16 tons but under 17 tons
382.43
15.50
626.77
1024.70
(o)
Exceeding 17 tons but under 18 tons
383.25
15.50
627.15
1025.90
(p)
Exceeding 18 tons but under 19 tons
384.19
15.50
627.41
1027.10
(q)
Exceeding 19 tons but under 20 tons
385.24
15.50
627.66
1028.40
(r)
Exceeding 20 tons but under 21 tons
386.40
15.50
627.80
1029.70
(s)
Exceeding 21 tons but under 22 tons
387.34
15.50
628.16
1031.00
(t)
Exceeding 22 tons but under 23 tons
387.81
15.50
628.59
1031.90
(u)
Exceeding 23 tons and over
388.27
15.50
628.73
1032.50







Driver of a Motor Vehicle (not being tractor) drawing a trailer:-

For a loaded single-axle trailer $1.70 cents per day extra, or for an empty single-axle trailer $2.15 cents per day extra, or for any other empty trailer $1.25 cents per day extra.

An employee who in the course of their employment drives a vehicle with self loading equipment which requires the possession of a Certificate of Competency shall be paid an extra $11.70 per week.



Base Rate$
Supplementary Payments $
Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment$
Total Rate$
(34)
Driver of Articulated Vehicles





Not exceeding 9 ton capacity
380.80
15.50
626.40
1022.70

9 tons and over but under 10 tons
381.97
15.50
626.83
1024.30

10 tons and over but under 11 tons
382.32
15.50
626.78
1024.60

11 tons and over but under 12 tons
383.02
15.50
627.08
1025.60

12 tons and over but under 13 tons
383.37
15.50
627.13
1026.00

13 tons and over but under 14 tons
384.42
15.50
627.48
1027.40

14 tons and over but under 15 tons
386.05
15.50
627.85
1029.40

15 tons and over but under 16 tons
386.52
15.50
627.88
1029.90

16 tons and over but under 17 tons
387.45
15.50
628.15
1031.10

17 tons and over but under 18 tons
388.16
15.50
628.74
1032.40

18 tons and over but under 19 tons
389.56
15.50
628.84
1033.90

19 tons and over but under 20 tons
390.49
15.50
629.11
1035.10

20 tons and over but under 21 tons
390.96
15.50
629.14
1035.60

21 tons and over but under 22 tons
391.78
15.50
629.62
1036.90

22 tons and over but under 23 tons
392.94
15.50
629.76
1038.20

23 tons and over but under 24 tons
393.99
15.50
630.11
1039.60

24 tons and over but under 25 tons
394.69
15.50
630.31
1040.50

25 tons and over but under 26 tons
395.16
15.50
630.54
1041.20

26 tons and over but under 27 tons
395.98
15.50
630.82
1042.30

27 tons and over but under 28 tons
397.26
15.50
631.04
1043.80

28 tons and over but under 29 tons
397.96
15.50
631.14
1044.60

29 tons and over but under 30 tons
398.78
15.50
631.62
1045.90

30 tons and over but under 31 tons
399.60
15.50
634.40
1049.50

31 tons and over but under 32 tons
400.77
15.50
634.73
1051.00

32 tons and over but under 33 tons
401.88
15.50
638.02
1055.40

33 tons and over but under 34 tons
402.28
15.50
638.22
1056.00

34 tons and over but under 35 tons
403.10
15.50
638.60
1057.20

35 tons and over but under 36 tons
404.27
15.50
639.13
1058.90

36 tons and over but under 37 tons
405.55
15.50
639.55
1060.60

37 tons and over but under 38 tons
406.37
15.50
639.83
1061.70

38 tons and over but under 39 tons
407.07
15.50
640.03
1062.60

39 tons and over but under 40 tons
407.77
15.50
640.33
1063.60

40 tons and over but under 41 tons
409.52
15.50
640.88
1065.90

41 tons and over but under 42 tons
410.22
15.50
641.28
1067.00

42 tons and over but under 43 tons
411.27
15.50
641.53
1068.30

43 tons and over but under 44 tons
412.56
15.50
642.34
1070.40

44 tons and over but under 45 tons
413.38
15.50
642.42
1071.30

45 tons and over but under 46 tons
414.19
15.50
642.71
1072.40

46 tons and over but under 47 tons
415.83
15.50
643.17
1074.50

47 tons and over but under 48 tons
416.41
15.50
643.69
1075.60

48 tons and over but under 49 tons
417.35
15.50
643.85
1076.70

49 tons and over but under 50 tons
418.16
15.50
644.44
1078.10

50 tons and over but under 51 tons
419.33
15.50
644.57
1079.40

51 tons and over but under 52 tons
420.27
15.50
645.13
1080.90

52 tons and over but under 53 tons
421.32
15.50
645.38
1082.20

53 tons and over but under 54 tons
422.25
15.50
645.85
1083.60

54 tons and over but under 55 tons
423.30
15.50
646.10
1084.90

55 tons and over
424.24
15.50
646.56
1086.30






(35)
Driver of Double Articulated Vehicle or Road Train:-





Not exceeding 31 ton capacity
405.20
15.50
639.50
1060.20

31 tons and over but under 32 tons
405.67
15.50
639.53
1060.70

32 tons and over but under 33 tons
406.49
15.50
639.81
1061.80

33 tons and over but under 34 tons
407.19
15.50
640.01
1062.70

34 tons and over but under 35 tons
408.12
15.50
640.48
1064.10

35 tons and over but under 36 tons
409.29
15.50
640.91
1065.70

36 tons and over but under 37 tons
409.76
15.50
640.94
1066.20

37 tons and over but under 38 tons
410.46
15.50
641.34
1067.30

38 tons and over but under 39 tons
410.92
15.50
641.48
1067.90

39 tons and over but under 40 tons
412.56
15.50
642.34
1070.40

40 tons and over but under 41 tons
413.61
15.50
642.49
1071.60

41 tons and over but under 42 tons
414.19
15.50
642.71
1072.40

42 tons and over but under 43 tons
415.24
15.50
643.06
1073.80

43 tons and over but under 44 tons
416.18
15.50
643.62
1075.30

44 tons and over but under 45 tons
416.76
15.50
643.74
1076.00

45 tons and over but under 46 tons
417.70
15.50
644.10
1077.30

46 tons and over but under 47 tons
418.63
15.50
644.37
1078.50

47 tons and over but under 48 tons
419.33
15.50
644.57
1079.40

48 tons and over but under 49 tons
420.15
15.50
645.05
1080.70

49 tons and over but under 50 tons
421.32
15.50
645.38
1082.20

50 tons and over but under 51 tons
422.13
15.50
645.87
1083.50

51 tons and over but under 52 tons
422.72
15.50
645.98
1084.20

52 tons and over but under 53 tons
423.65
15.50
646.05
1085.20

53 tons and over but under 54 tons
424.59
15.50
646.71
1086.80

54 tons and over but under 55 tons
425.52
15.50
647.08
1088.10

55 tons and over
426.34
15.50
647.36
1089.20
(36)
Tow Motor Operator
358.38
15.50
619.92
993.80







Group

(37) Driver of Logging Tractor B

(38) Crane or Fork Lift Assistant I

3. Junior Workers

Junior employees rates are the relevant percentage of "Group J - Thereafter" wage rate:


%
Base Rate$
Supplementary Payment $
Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment $
Total Rate $
Between 16 and 17 years of age
50
160.98
7.75
307.77
476.50
Between 17 and 18 years of age
60
193.17
9.30
369.33
571.80
Between 18 and 19 years of age
70
225.37
10.85
430.88
667.10

4. Leading Hands:-

(a) Any employee placed by the employer in charge of not less than three and not more than ten other workers shall be paid $19.00 per week extra.

(b) Any employee placed by the employer in charge of more than ten other workers shall be paid $28.70 per week extra.

(c) Any employee placed by the employer in charge of more than twenty other employees shall be paid $37.10 per week extra.

5. Supplementary Payments:-

(a) The supplementary payments as prescribed in this Schedule are in substitution for any over-award payments as defined hereunder. Any such over award payment shall be reduced by the amount of supplementary payment prescribed for the classification concerned.

(b) "Over Award Payment" is defined as the amount (whether it be termed "over-award payment", "attendance bonus", "service pay" or any term whatsoever) which an employee would receive in excess of the Award Rate for the classification in which such employee is engaged. Provided that such payment shall exclude overtime, shift allowance, penalty rates, disability allowances, fares and travelling time allowances and any other ancillary payments of a like nature prescribed by this award.

(c) Subject to clause 6 of this Schedule, the Award Rate prescribed in clauses 1, 2 and 3 of this Schedule and which includes the supplementary payment shall be paid for all purposes of the Award.

(d) The Supplementary payments prescribed by this Schedule shall not be payable to new employees during the first month of employment.

6. Calculation of Wage Rates - State Wage Case Decision:-

In circumstances where award wages are to be increased as a result of State Wage Case Decisions, unless otherwise specified in such decisions the amount of the increase shall be calculated and applied to the Wages Clause as follows:

(a) Where the State Wage Case Decision provides that Award wages be increased by a flat amount, that amount shall be applied to the Base Rate only.

(b) Where the State Wage Case Decision provides that Award wages be increased by a percentage amount, that amount shall be applied to the Base Rate and the Supplementary Payment.

Such percentage increase shall also apply to the Leading Hand Allowances, the Special Payment and the Disability Allowances.

(c) In the instances outlined in paragraphs (a) and (b) hereof the new Award Rate shall be calculated by adding the Award Base Rate and the Supplementary Payment.

(d) Where the State Wage Case Decision provides for a plateau formula (that is, a combination of a percentage increase and a flat money amount), the plateau level shall be determined by reference to the Base Rates and the Award Rate and the Supplementary Payment shall be calculated by subtracting the Base Rate from the Award Rate.