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Expertise

Michael is a partner in our Sydney office and practices in all areas of workplace relations with a special focus on work health and safety. Michael acts for a diverse range of clients in construction and manufacturing, agribusiness, media, education, professional services, transport and government.

He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in Australia guide for Occupational Health and Safety Law since 2020. Since 2021, he has also been recognised as one of NSW’s leading workplace health and safety lawyers by Doyle’s Guide.

Michael’s expertise includes:

  • appearing in industrial disputes, litigated claims and coronial hearings
  • work health and safety including structuring WHS management systems, agreements, policies and procedures
  • conducting internal workplace investigations and dealing with investigations by regulatory agencies including SafeWork, Department of Immigration, Fair Work Ombudsman and ABCC
  • management of injured workers including workers compensation, personal injury and return to work issues
  • preparing all forms of employment contracts, including executive contracts, protection of confidential information and restraints of trade
  • the development of collective agreements and interpretation of the Fair Work Act 2009 and industrial instruments
  • managing employment issues in a transfer of business and company restructuring including advice in relation to outsourcing, organisational change and redundancy.
Michael Selinger, Partner, Holding Redlich, Sydney

Experience

Michael has extensive litigation experience in employment disputes and defending work health and safety prosecutions. Before joining Holding Redlich, Michael’s practice included acting on behalf of SafeWork NSW in prosecuting breaches of the safety legislation. Michael is a regular presenter of seminars and training on workplace issues, in particular on work health and safety.

Publications

26 March 2025 - Knowledge

Company fined for safety breach in high-pressure blasting accident

#Workplace Relations & Safety

The recent matter in SafeWork NSW v Silver Raven serves as a reminder to employers to ensure all workers involved in high-risk activities comply with safety procedures.

09 October 2024 - Knowledge

New rights for independent contractor in unfair arrangements

#Workplace Relations & Safety

Under the Closing Loopholes laws, new protections have commenced for independent contractors alleging unfair contract terms. We discuss how these changes could impact organisations and what steps they need to take.

15 August 2024 - Knowledge

NSW Government Bulletin: The call-up – NSW government workers to return to office

#Government, #Workplace Relations & Safety

Following the NSW Premier’s statement on government sector employee's stricter office working requirements, we discuss the legal issues government agencies need to consider. 

29 July 2024 - Knowledge

Court ruling clarifies WHS prosecution timing

#Workplace Relations & Safety

A recent case has questioned whether the two-year limitation period for prosecuting work health and safety (WHS) offences begins from the date of the incident if the safety regulator was previously aware of the risk.

23 July 2024 - Knowledge

Personal fine for a reckless director is a reminder for all businesses

#Workplace Relations & Safety

A recent WHS prosecution, where a worker was injured due to the reckless instruction of the director of the company, reinforces the obligation on all officers to exercise due diligence to ensure safety.

18 June 2024 - Knowledge

NSW Government Bulletin: SafeWork NSW announces new psychological health and safety strategy

#Government, #Workplace Relations & Safety

Government departments and agencies are advised to ensure compliance with new psychosocial hazard laws after SafeWork NSW released its Psychological Health and Safety Strategy 2024–2026.

05 June 2024 - Knowledge

Annual Wage Review 2023-2024: National minimum and awards wages increase by 3.75 per cent

#Workplace Relations & Safety

From 1 July, the national minimum wage and all modern award minimum wages will increase by 3.75 per cent. We discuss the implications and what employers need to do to prepare.

04 June 2024 - Knowledge

SafeWork NSW announces psychosocial hazard blitz on large employers

#Workplace Relations & Safety

Large businesses in NSW are warned to ensure compliance with new psychosocial hazard laws after SafeWork NSW released its Psychosocial Health and Safety Strategy 2024–2026.

02 April 2024 - Knowledge

First successful SafeWork NSW prosecution for discriminatory conduct under the WHS Act

#Workplace Relations & Safety

The District Court of NSW has convicted and fined a Qantas subsidiary for engaging in discriminatory conduct against a health and safety representative.

12 March 2024 - Knowledge

Whakaari Island eruption: Lessons from the WHS prosecution

#Workplace Relations & Safety

The outcome of the prosecution in New Zealand sends a strong message to all landowners who licence access to tour operators and persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) that operate tours in high-risk environments.

29 February 2024 - Knowledge

NSW Government Bulletin: Closing Loopholes No. 2 Bill: Second round of changes to workplace law

#Government, #Workplace Relations & Safety

The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Bill 2023 (Closing Loopholes No. 2 Bill), which introduced the second tranche of significant workplace law changes, has come into force this week.

28 February 2024 - Knowledge

Managing unconscious bias in employment decisions

#Workplace Relations & Safety

An employer’s decisions can be influenced by underlying attitudes or stereotypes, known as “unconscious bias”. We look at how that can impact a business and whether it can breach discrimination laws.

21 February 2024 - Knowledge

Update: Industrial manslaughter offences across Australia

#Workplace Relations & Safety

Industrial manslaughter is an offence in almost every Australian state and territory, with only New South Wales and Tasmania being outliers. In this article, we provide an update on the current status of industrial manslaughter offences across Australia.

01 February 2024 - Knowledge

When does an employee’s social media comment cross the line?

#Workplace Relations & Safety

Employers have a right to discipline an employee for misusing social media outside of work. However, it is important to assess whether the conduct is sufficiently connected to the workplace before taking any action.

24 January 2024 - Knowledge

NSW Government Bulletin summer edition: The more things change

#Government, #Data & Privacy, #Property, Planning & Development, #Workplace Relations & Safety

At the beginning of a new year of challenges, we refresh key concepts and skills to arm government lawyers for the year ahead.

13 December 2023 - Knowledge

Staying safe this summer: Steps to avoid workplace risks

#Workplace Relations & Safety

The hotter months bring with them work health and safety risks such as bushfires, extreme heat and solar UV radiation. How can employers avoid these increased risks to employees?

29 November 2023 - Knowledge

NSW Government Bulletin: Managing psychosocial hazards in the workplace

#Government, #Workplace Relations & Safety

In this article, we provide a snapshot of the Code and Regulations for managing the risk of psychosocial hazards in the workplace and discuss the steps an employer or PCBU can take to meet their obligations.

24 October 2023 - Knowledge

NSW WHS laws: Easier convictions, higher penalties & corporate culture focus

#Workplace Relations & Safety

The NSW Parliament has passed new amendments to the state’s Work Health and Safety Act that will double the maximum jail time and penalty rates for category 1 offences from 1 July 2024.

Upcoming Seminars