**National minimum wage (2025–26): $24.95 per hour** (adult, award/agreement-free, before any casual loading), operative from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2025.

Working: the 2024–25 rate was $24.10/hour ($915.90/week for a 38-hour week). The Annual Wage Review 2024–25 awarded a 3.5% increase: $915.90 × 1.035 = $947.9565, expressed by the Commission as $948.00/week; $948.00 ÷ 38 = $24.947…, i.e. **$24.95/hour**. (A casual employee would receive the 25% loading on top, taking it to about $31.19/hour.)

**Setting body:** the **Fair Work Commission** — specifically its Expert Panel — through the annual **Annual Wage Review** under the *Fair Work Act 2009* (Cth).