AI Takes on the Lawyers: Macquarie Academic Wins Landmark Fair Work Case With ChatGPT
Synopsis
Macquarie University academic Greg Baker used ChatGPT to argue that he was entitled to a permanent part-time role under Australia's new casual conversion laws — and won, in a case that puts AI-generated legal arguments in the spotlight.
A Macquarie academic who filed a dispute over his employment with the Fair Work Commission has been ordered to return to a permanent part-time position after a case that sparked controversy this week.
The commission decision that took place on 12 August 2026 will require Baker to be employed as a 0.1 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) permanent employee. This means that he will be working on average 3.5 hours per week over 12 months or 182 hours.
The order will be implemented within 28 days from the date of determination by the Fair Work Commission.
The employment dispute
Baker worked for the School of Computing at Macquarie University, starting his employment in 2023. He was teaching the same course every semester. However, on 5 November 2025, he notified the university that he believed that his casual employment was no longer genuine as he did not consider himself to be a casual worker
The university disagreed with Baker, and the matter went before conciliation and then to the Fair Work Commission.
The Macquarie academic Fair Work dispute was heard under the casual employment provisions which commenced on 26 August 2024. According to Commissioner Crawford, the agreement was not simply a part-time arrangement; instead, it was a true ongoing commitment to work.
Baker worked more than 900 hours for the university in 2025, but his permanent employment was set at 0,1 FTE as he worked during the university’s academic semesters. The case number is [2026] FWC 3054.
AI used during case preparation
Baker used AI to help him with the case. He used ChatGPT and other platforms to analyze documents, paperwork, meeting minutes, and previous decisions he made within his organization while managing the case.
The Macquarie academic case follows the trend of most Australian businesses being heavily dependent on their casual workers. As of 2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), there were 2.4 million casual employees, representing 19% of all employees.
Casual employment was highest in the Education and Training sector (12%) and the Accommodation and Food Services (58%).
This ruling does not have implications for Australian employment law since both US and Australian employment laws are different.
Source: InformationAGE
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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