Australia’s Fair Work Commission has seen its workload rise by an estimated 70% over the past three years. The increase is linked to a surge in cases aided by generative AI tools, a rise in self-represented litigants, budget constraints, and other resourcing challenges [1, 2, 3].
Between July 2025 and April 2026, the Commission received 44,039 case lodgments, nearly matching the 44,075 filings recorded in the entire 2024-25 financial year. This volume was reached with two months still remaining in the current financial year [2]. The Commission handles matters relating to minimum wages, unfair dismissal claims, discrimination, workplace bullying, and sexual harassment complaints [2].
Murray Furlong, general manager of the Fair Work Commission, said the use of AI has lowered the barrier to filing cases. "These impacts, taken together, are having a direct effect on the Commission's ability to provide timely, efficient and effective dispute resolution services to the community," he told reporters [3].
In response to the workload strain, the Commission announced on May 29 it will review its processes. It is trialling new measures including involving senior staff to resolve disputes earlier and considering deploying an AI voice agent to triage helpline calls [1, 2, 3].
The burden from AI-assisted case filings is being felt globally. Research published in May 2026 highlighted rising AI use in US federal civil courts and suggested relaxing AI restrictions for judges to cope with demand [3]. There are also concerns about AI "hallucinations"—incorrect outputs—in legal filings, prompting some startups to limit AI access only to trusted legal databases [3].
Other Australian tribunals and authorities, such as the Tenancy Tribunal and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority, are similarly reporting increased workloads linked to AI use [2].
The Fair Work Commission will continue its review and testing of new tools this year to manage the surging number of cases linked to generative AI and other pressures.
