BSCAA Meets with Fair Work Ombudsman on Security Industry Compliance and Enforcement

BSCAA recently met with the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) on 18 December 2025 to discuss systemic compliance and enforcement challenges within the private security industry. This meeting marked a positive and important step forward in strengthening collaboration between regulators and industry.

The discussion was open, constructive, and solution‑focused. FWO representatives were supportive of BSCAA’s advocacy and expressed a clear willingness to work with the association to better understand the structural drivers of non‑compliance and identify practical, system‑wide responses. Importantly, there was strong recognition of the need to support compliant businesses, protect vulnerable workers, and address deliberate non‑compliance through more targeted and coordinated approaches.

BSCAA outlined key challenges facing the industry, including wage underpayment, sham contracting and phoenix activity, multi‑tier subcontracting, worker vulnerability (particularly among migrant and international student workers), inconsistent licensing and training requirements, and procurement practices that prioritise lowest cost over sustainable compliance. We also put forward a number of policy and structural options for discussion, including:

• lifecycle‑based compliance and auditing approaches
• improved cross‑agency intelligence sharing
• differentiated enforcement that supports compliant businesses while deterring repeat offenders
• stronger alignment between procurement practices and regulatory outcomes
• enhanced corporate oversight
• consideration of a Fair Work‑led national task force for the security industry

FWO engaged positively with these proposals and indicated an ongoing interest in continued dialogue and collaboration with BSCAA.

While this meeting does not mark the end of the process, it represents a constructive foundation for further action. BSCAA highlighted with FWO that additional meetings and follow‑up work will be required to progress these issues and explore practical enforcement, education, and policy solutions.

BSCAA will continue to advocate on behalf of members and keep the industry informed as discussions progress and next steps are confirmed.