Coercive control and financial abuse are key topics for May’s “Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month” but while most public conversations and events will rightly focus on individual victims of this harm, advocates for fresh produce view this abuse through a different lens – one where we see systemic, systematic, and deeply damaging relationships within our own industry.

Fair Farms was launched in 2019 in direct response to the Harvest Trail Inquiry, which revealed that half of the 638 horticultural businesses investigated had breached workplace laws. 

The role of honeybees in supporting crop lifecycles is a fascinating and nuanced story. For example, you don’t need a bee to grow an onion, but you absolutely need a bee for onion seeds.

Given Monday was Labour Day — and the day after the Labor Party's election win — we figured it was time to chime in to the workforce conversation. In that spirit, here’s our (starting) list of demands.

In recent days, NSW Farmers made headlines by walking away from the National Farmers’ Federation. It’s yet another sign that even the big players are feeling disillusioned with the state of advocacy. We’re being challenged—and that’s a good thing.

To adopt or not to adopt – that is the question. Or is it that simple? 

Workforce attraction gets plenty of airtime — but what happens after you get workers through the gate? For many growers, that’s where the real challenge starts. 

As an apolitical association, we don’t take sides, but we do champion ideas that can make a positive difference for our industry—no matter where they come from.

Queensland’s horticulture industry has been subject to a wide range of industrial relations and legislative changes over the past three years – the latest, which came into effect this week, ironically on April Fool's Day - being the C14 determination.

Growers across the state have been asking for horticulture-specific HR/IR training to once again be delivered face-to-face in the regions. You asked, we listened.

It is understandable for leaders to find themselves overwhelmed with the constant flow of challenges, tough decisions and difficult conversations that arise day to day. In these circumstances, it can be easy to feel defensive, rush to conclusions, or shy away from difficult conversations.

Effective from 1 March 2025, businesses that operate in Queensland have a new duty under the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Qld) (Regulation) with regard to sexual harassment, or sex or gender-based harassment.

With Tropical Cyclone Alfred having blown by we’ve been handling a range of queries on how to treat employee absences during times of natural disasters. So, we’ve put together a breakdown of important considerations. 

A recent High Court ruling has emphasised the importance of employment contracts but for reasons quite different to why we generally encourage clients to ensure they have clear, comprehensive contracts for compliance purposes.

We often receive enquiries through the QFVG HR/IR support line about how to handle accommodation which is offered to employees as part of their employment/remuneration package.

The C14 determination came into effect for the Horticulture Award this week on 1 April 2025, so if you are not already set up for this, now is your time to act.

Last Friday, after a year of intense work, many in our industry received the validation they needed with the release of the ACCC’s final supermarket inquiry report.  

QFVG has welcomed the release of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) final report of the supermarket inquiry, as well as the Government’s in principle support of its recommendations.

Earlier this month the annual ABARES Outlook Conference was held in Canberra. 

With Queensland in the throes of yet another natural disaster we thought we’d do something a little different this week.