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Payroll tax relief a cashflow lifeline for Queensland horticulture growers
Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG) is calling on the Queensland Government to introduce temporary payroll tax relief for primary producers in declared disaster zones, saying the measure would provide an immediate boost to farm cashflow and help growers recover faster.
Protecting Your Business in 2026: The HR/IR Risks You Can’t Ignore
In this 45-minute webinar, QFVG Partner Who Cares, Focus HR, unpacks the most pressing workplace issues facing horticulture businesses right now.
From ‘where you are’ to ‘where you want to be’
Farming comes with enough uncertainty. From crops, staff, machinery, audits, and getting produce to market, it can be difficult to take a step back and ask: “Where are we now? Where do we want to be? And how do we get there?”
Chemicals, regulation, and the balance horticulture needs
Recent decisions affecting the industry’s access to Dimethoate has brought regulatory processes into the spotlight once again.
Fair Farms appoints Amanda Higgins as National Program Manager
Fair Farms, Australia’s only independent social compliance training and certification program for horticulture, has appointed Amanda Higgins as National Program Manager, reinforcing the program’s strong foundations and clear strategic direction for the future.
Queensland labour hire provider in court
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against a Queensland-based labour hire provider and its manager for allegedly knowingly providing false and misleading records to a Fair Work Inspector.
Employer obligations after a natural disaster
For growers impacted by the recent weather events it is important to understand how to best manage your skilled workforce and not lose good employees.
Superannuation rules updated in awards
The Fair Work Commission recently updated the rules about superannuation in 147 Awards to make sure that Awards reflect the current superannuation rules.
Probation isn't a checkbox - it's where performance and culture begin
Are you using probation periods to their full potential? Probation is often treated as a checkbox, but when handled well it can become a powerful driver of performance, engagement and workplace culture.
Four common questions employers ask about unpaid leave
Unpaid leave isn’t always straightforward. A new Fair Work Commission ruling highlights the importance of fairness, clarity and good documentation. This article breaks down the key lessons for employers.
QFVG welcomes independent review of Horticulture Code of Conduct
Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG) welcomes the Australian Government’s announcement of an independent review of the Horticulture Code of Conduct, to be led by Mr Chris Leptos AO.
Payroll tax relief: A lifeline for Queensland growers
At QFVG, our role is to ensure policy settings keep pace with the realities growers are facing on the ground. One issue we continue to hear growers speak about is payroll tax.
Behind every Christmas feast is a Queensland grower
This Christmas, as we sit down to our festive feasts, it’s worth pausing to think about the hands that grew the food on our plates. From juicy pineapples to sweet strawberries, leafy greens and roasted sweet potato, Queensland horticultural growers work tirelessly to make sure we have fresh, nutritious produce all year round - especially over the holiday season.
Growers hit the road
Growers and industry stakeholders from the Wide Bay-Burnett and Central Queensland regions hit the road in October for the ‘Pest, Dirt & Fert’ Study Tour that provided insights not only on farming practices, but across the supply chain.
Driving digital development for women in ag
When it comes to growing Queensland’s agricultural workforce, women are stepping up – and a new initiative is giving them the skills and confidence to thrive.
Laying foundations for the next generation
For many young families, buying a home in the suburbs comes with dreams of renovations or extensions. For young farming families like Dimbulah papaya growers Ben Bozzo and Jaime Smith, those dreams look a little different. Their reno project was re-laying 3.3 kilometres of ageing irrigation pipe.
Advocacy in Action | Primary Industries Prosper 2050
In early 2025, the Queensland Government began the largest consultation effort in over a decade to develop its 25-Year Blueprint for primary industries. QFVG has been at the forefront, ensuring the horticulture sector’s voice is heard and its needs are represented.
Advocacy in Action | Sustainability
Sustainability is no longer just a buzzword; it’s increasingly a business imperative. For many horticultural growers, the rise of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting has prompted a mixture of curiosity, caution, and, at times, frustration. Some have never encountered the term, while others are already deep into reporting obligations. Yet, the reality is clear: ESG is shaping trade, supply chains, and market access, and it’s not a matter of if but when these reporting obligations are imposed on growers.
Advocacy in Action | Water
Few issues cut closer to the heart of horticulture than water. It is not just an input. It is the very foundation of our capacity to grow food. With rising input costs, water pricing has become one of the most pressing concerns for Queensland growers.
Advocacy in Action | Climate Variability & Disasters
Queensland growers know better than most that natural disasters are part of the landscape. Cyclones, floods, fires, and storms aren’t just weather events - they are business interruptions, crop losses, and community upheavals. While the risks that come with climate variability and natural disasters are second nature to growers, resilience alone cannot carry an industry through disaster after disaster. That is where QFVG’s advocacy has made a measurable difference.