Queensland growers show strong compliance – but risks remain
A recently released Fair Work Ombudsman report reveals progress for Queensland horticulture, with standout compliance in the Wide Bay and Moreton Bay, but some regions still rated ‘high risk’.
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has released its latest horticulture compliance report, covering investigations across 15 major growing regions nationwide. For Queensland growers, the findings are a mix of positive results and areas of caution.
The good news for Queensland
Queensland is leading the way nationally when it comes to compliance. The report shows that the Wide Bay (82% compliance) and Moreton Bay (92% compliance) were the strongest performers across the country.
Several factors are credited with this success including:
Direct employment of workers, reducing reliance on higher-risk labour hire arrangements;
Fair Farms program and certification, supporting growers with practical governance and compliance tools;
Strong industry leadership, with groups like Berries Australia [and QFVG] actively promoting compliance; and
Queensland’s labour hire licensing scheme, operating since 2018, which has removed non-compliant operators from the industry.
The report praised Queensland growers for their investment in modern record-keeping systems and governance.
Ongoing challenges in Queensland
Despite these encouraging results, Queensland is not risk-free. Other regions were rated at higher levels of non-compliance with Whitsunday Coast (47% non-compliance) and Lockyer Valley (41% non-compliance) both rated as high risk, and the Sunshine Coast (38% non-compliance) and Stanthorpe (36% non-compliance) rated as moderate risk.
Common compliance issues included:
Failures in record-keeping and pay slips.
Underpayment of pieceworkers due to incorrect piece rate arrangements.
Non-compliant labour hire providers, some of whom paid workers in cash with no records.
The FWO found that labour hire providers were responsible for 91% of infringement notices issued nationally – a reminder that growers engaging third-party labour must exercise caution.
The importance of compliance
During the three-year investigation, the FWO issued $760,000 in fines through 166 infringement notices. That is an average of over $4,500 per contravention (and that doesn’t include back payment amounts for unpaid wages which was an additional $380,000).
Non-compliance is costly. Compliance is not impossible, and help is available.
The Fair Work website provides information on:
And even has information specific to the horticulture industry in their Horticulture Showcase page
And when it all becomes too much to read and digest, Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers Members have access to two hour of HR/IR support provided by Focus HR as their Partners who Cares.
QFVG has been supporting horticultural growers with information and advice on workplace relations, human resource management and workplace health and safety for over 20 years. Today, we partner with consultants, and QFVG Partner Who Cares, Focus HR to deliver tailored and expert advice to our members.
Grower Members enjoy a range of benefits including:
Two hours complimentary workplace relations advice per year.
Discounts on all products in the Workplace Relations Shop and full range of services provided by Focus HR.
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