In action filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria, the Labour Hire Authority (LHA) alleges a Yarra Valley orchard sourced workers to pick and pack apples through an unlicensed company.
In the wake of a significant compliance operation by the Labour Hire Authority (LHA) in February, and a concerning 2025 report by the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO), the heads of the FWO and LHA held a forum with local growers, industry groups and labour hire companies on 17 March.
Unlawful labour hire companies are targeting horticulture businesses in Mildura, putting growers at risk of fines, disruption and involvement with criminal elements.
The Magistrates’ Court of Victoria has issued penalties totalling $91,000 to an unlicensed labour hire company and its director, following legal action by Victoria’s Labour Hire Authority.
Victoria’s Labour Hire Authority (LHA) has filed four criminal charges against a company director for allegedly repeatedly providing information to LHA that he knew to be false or misleading.
The Victorian Government has announced that LHA's regulatory powers will be strengthened to further address unlawful behaviour in the construction industry.
The Supreme Court of Victoria has issued penalties totalling $287,500 to a horticulture company and its director, following legal action by LHA.
The Supreme Court of Victoria has imposed penalties totalling $220,104.96 on a Victorian labour hire company operating in the horticulture industry, following legal action by the Labour Hire Authority.
A total of $759,674 in penalties has been issued to five construction companies and three company directors for their involvement in unlicensed labour hire operations in Victoria.
A total penalty of $264,352 has been issued to a Victorian company and its director for engaging seven unlicensed labour hire providers to source workers for orchards in the Cobram area.
An unlicensed labour hire company has been issued a total penalty of $617,916 – the highest in Australian history for breaches of labour hire law.
LHA alleges the company provided unlicensed labour hire services, and underpaid and provided substandard accommodation to workers picking grapes and chestnuts in the Benalla region.
LHA has commenced legal action in the Supreme Court of Victoria against a company that allegedly provided workers to farms in the Yarra Valley and Koo Wee Rup.
LHA alleges a horticulture provider subcontracted to seven unlicensed providers to supply pickers for orchards in the Cobram area.
Victoria’s Labour Hire Authority has commenced legal action against a company alleging it provided workers to pick fruit and vegetables without a labour hire licence.
A Victorian company and its director have been fined a total of $483,428.40 – the highest combined penalty in Australian history for contraventions of labour hire law – following a successful prosecution by the Labour Hire Authority (LHA).
The LHA has imposed licence conditions on labour hire provider MADEC Australia to review and improve the standard of accommodation it procures for labour hire workers.
The Labour Hire Authority (LHA) has cancelled the labour hire licence of a horticulture provider after a known drug trafficker - who was previously refused a labour hire licence in Victoria - became a director of the company.
Yarra Valley growers are being given the opportunity to refresh their knowledge on workplace health and safety as their harvest season moves into full swing.
Labour hire providers are now on notice that requiring workers or job applicants to pay for required personal safety equipment may result in sanctions, including licence application refusal, licence renewal refusal, licence conditions or licence cancellation.
WorkSafe, Department of Justice and Community Safety and the Labour Hire Authority visited 38 horticulture businesses in the Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang and Cardinia regions after an online farm safety webinar in October.