Citrus Australia recently stated that it condemns any exploitation of workers in horticulture. The statement followed recent media reporting, Fair Work Ombudsman (Australia’s workplace regulator) action in New South Wales (NSW) and a Victorian Supreme Court case alleging serious exploitation of horticulture workers by an unlicensed labor hire operator.
Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock said the allegations of worker exploitation relate to labor hire arrangements, not direct employment by growers. He added that Citrus Australia takes the allegations seriously and expects every grower to undertake proper due diligence on their labor hire providers and understand the conditions under which workers are engaged.
Every worker on an Australian citrus farm or other horticulture enterprise is entitled to be paid correctly, receive payslips and superannuation (retirement plan) and work in fair, safe conditions, Hancock stated.
“Citrus Australia supports strong scrutiny of labor hire providers operating in the industry and welcomes regulatory action against any operator found to be breaching their legal obligations,” he said. “This protects workers and it protects the great majority of growers who do the right thing.”
Citrus Australia has long advocated for a national authority to ensure uniform, mandatory labor hire licensing across every state and territory.
“If we’re serious about stamping out rogue labor hire providers for good, a properly designed national scheme isn’t optional, it’s essential, in every state and territory,” Hancock said.
Citrus Australia is also calling for a review of laws that can make an employer culpable despite clear evidence that a third party acted alone in exploiting a worker or workers. But it acknowledged that growers have a responsibility to check who they do business with.
“Where a licensing register exists, we expect every grower to check a provider’s status before engaging with them,” Hancock said. “But the law also needs to ensure growers who do the right thing aren’t the ones who end up prosecuted for the criminal actions of someone else.”
Hancock questioned why recent enforcement activity in NSW had focused so heavily on farm raids, when Fair Work Ombudsman reporting itself points to labor hire providers as the primary driver of non-compliance in the region. “A properly resourced, permanent Fair Work Ombudsman presence in regional growing areas would be a far more effective solution than raids like this,” he said.
Citrus Australia stated that the allegations of horticulture worker exploitation strengthen the case for additional working visa pathways.
“We need dedicated, lawful visa options that give growers reliable access to the seasonal workforce they depend on,” Hancock said. “That means progressing dedicated visa options, such as an agriculture or harvest visa, and looking at extending work rights to other long-term visa holders who are required to support themselves financially.”
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