Welcome to the October 2026 edition of the LHA News

Welcome to the October edition of LHA News.

I am pleased to welcome Wayne Gatt as the incoming Labour Hire Licensing Commissioner. 

Mr Gatt brings proven executive leadership, with almost a decade as CEO of The Police Association of Victoria, leading a complex member-based organisation and representing more than 18,000 personnel. 

Mr Gatt has extensive experience working with government, regulators, unions, industry bodies and community stakeholders, in addition to his background in policing.
 
Mr Gatt commences with LHA today, and you will hear more from him in coming editions of LHA News.  

In this edition, we look at a case where a horticulture business voluntarily refunded their workers for substandard accommodation, following an LHA investigation that raised considerable concerns about their workers’ health and safety.

The refunds were issued following sustained action from LHA to prevent further harm to the affected workers, who were housed in unsanitary and significantly overcrowded conditions.

October is National Safe Work Month, an opportunity for employers to commit to building safe and healthy workplaces.

Keeping labour hire workers safe at work is central to achieving LHA’s mission, and licensing helps to ensure labour hire companies are operated by fit and proper people, compliant with the laws relating to occupational health and safety.

Also in October, the scope of labour hire law has been clarified – with the final changes to our legislation coming into effect. These changes aim to improve accountability for hosts and providers using subcontracting arrangements. Later in the month we anticipate a change to the legal definition of labour hire to cover additional construction activities in specific contexts.

These changes are designed to improve the labour hire industry’s integrity and transparency – building upon the legislative changes in June which give LHA stronger tools to refuse, cancel and prosecute providers who do the wrong thing, backed by greater information-gathering and publication powers.

I hope you enjoy this edition.

Michelle Osborne
Acting Labour Hire Licensing Commissioner

In this edition

• PALM scheme workers receive nearly $160,000 in refunds following LHA investigations into substandard accommodation 
• Changes to clarify the definition of labour hire within supply chains take effect
• Make a commitment to health and safety in National Safe Work month this October
• New webinar for new providers in high-risk industries
• Providers subject to licensing action in August 2026

Licensing update

September 2026:

• 86 licence applications submitted
• 67 licences granted
• 71 licences refused or cancelled (by LHA or provider)
• 105 licence renewals granted