Queensland's horticulture industry has recorded the highest workplace compliance in Australia, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman's Horticulture Compliance Report 2021–2024, released today. The report reviewed over 500 horticulture employers across 15 regions nationally, finding that Queensland's Wide Bay and Moreton Bay regions had the lowest rates of non-compliance.
Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers (QFVG) CEO Rachel Chambers attributed the results to improved accountability and ongoing efforts to raise employment standards in the industry. She highlighted that these outcomes reflect the commitment of growers to meeting legal obligations and creating better workplaces.
One of the contributing initiatives has been Fair Farms, a QFVG-led program offering training, support, and a certification process to help growers comply with workplace laws. According to QFVG, regions where Fair Farms is active have shown higher compliance rates, demonstrating the impact of education and industry-led standards.
The report also highlighted continued issues within the labour hire sector, which accounted for 91 percent of infringement notices issued by the Fair Work Ombudsman. QFVG reiterated its support for a national labour hire licensing scheme and noted that Queensland's existing system contributed to its performance. In response to ongoing concerns, QFVG introduced a certification pathway for labour hire providers through Fair Farms earlier this year. The organization stated it will continue working with stakeholders to maintain and expand these compliance improvements across the sector.
For more information:
Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers
Tel: +61 07 3620 3844
Email: [email protected]
www.qfvg.com.au
