LHA files Supreme Court action alleging four Swan Hill farms used unlicensed labour hire

6 August 2026
LHA files Supreme Court action alleging four Swan Hill farms used unlicensed labour hire

The Labour Hire Authority (LHA) has commenced legal action in the Supreme Court of Victoria alleging four farms in the Swan Hill region engaged an unlicensed labour hire business.

LHA’s case alleges Soo Soo Siong Pty Ltd provided unlicensed labour hire services, and that four individual farms engaged the unlicensed company to provide workers:

  • Cutri Fruit Trusco Pty Ltd
  • Infantino United Fruit Pty Ltd
  • Mallee Fresh Produce Pty Ltd
  • A & A Marra & Sons.

Maximum penalties of over $660,000 apply under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic) for companies using unlicensed labour hire services – the same as apply for providing those services. 

The farms allegedly paid Soo Soo Siong a total of approximately $750,000 over an eleven-month period for labour hire services such as picking and packing fruit and vegetables.

LHA alleges two individuals were knowingly involved in the contraventions by Soo Soo Siong – Lee Kwai Chow and Akhmar Salni Mohamad-Ramlee.

LHA also alleges that Lee Kwai Chow effectively confined a person to a property and restaurant in Swan Hill for over three years, and used their name and passport – without their knowledge or consent – to open a bank account and apply for a labour hire licence for Soo Soo Siong.

LHA’s investigation into the alleged contraventions began following a tip-off reporting that Soo Soo Siong was paying workers in cash at below the legal minimum rate under the Horticulture Award.

As well as addressing the alleged unlawful behaviour of Soo Soo Siong, the case reflects LHA’s enhanced focus on compliance by host businesses, targeting the unlawful use of unlicensed labour hire operators.

In March, LHA filed action against a host in the Yarra Valley, alleging the orchard procured workers from an unlicensed labour hire provider.

In recent years, LHA has undertaken extensive industry engagement and advertising campaigns to raise hosts’ awareness of their obligations. It is fast and free for hosts to ensure they only use licensed providers – in two minutes on the LHA website, hosts can check a provider’s licence and subscribe to be notified of any changes in licence status. 

By always checking a provider’s labour hire licence, hosts support lawful operators and protect themselves from disruption, penalties and potential involvement in unlawful and exploitative conduct.

“This case provides one of the best examples I’ve seen of why labour hire licensing matters,” said Acting Labour Hire Licensing Commissioner Michelle Osborne.

“We allege this operator effectively confined a person for three years and took away their passport, while their company raked in over $700,000 in unlawful revenue in that person’s name,” said Acting Commissioner Osborne.

“We are talking about serious harm, and serious money – and exactly the kinds of risks we’ve been highlighting to growers across Victoria for years now,” said Acting Commissioner Osborne.
“There really is no excuse – if you use an unlicensed provider, you can expect to feel the full force of the law.”

“Checking a labour hire licence on our website costs you nothing and takes one minute; not checking a licence could cost you half a million dollars – it’s not worth the risk.”

“Businesses need to be aware that they face the same significant penalties for using unlicensed labour hire services as apply for providing those services,”

Actions for hosts – protect your business

Hosts are urged to take two quick actions to protect their business and support LHA in working towards a fairer industry for businesses and workers:

For more information for hosts on how to protect their business when engaging labour hire, visit labourhireauthority.vic.gov.au/host