Wide Bay farm owners praised by ombudsman for ‘compliance’

New data has revealed Wide Bay farms are among the most compliant in the nation when it comes to record keeping and pay slips. See how the region compares.

In the Wide Bay, from 36 finalised investigations, only one breach, a minor payslip error, was found.

As farms in other parts of the nation were fined tens of thousands of dollars for noncompliance, employers in the Wide Bay region have been praised for their adherence to the law.

The Fair Work Ombudsman fined growers and labour hire providers in Victoria’s Sunraysia region, South Australia’s Riverland, and New South Wales’s Coffs Harbour and Grafton a combined $78,362 for breaching pay slips and record-keeping laws in the past year.

But in contrast, there has been high levels of compliance found in Wide Bay and Moreton Bay.

In the Wide Bay, from 36 finalised investigations, only one breach, a minor pay slip error, was found.

Investigations into eight businesses are still active.

Since December 2021, the Ombudsman has investigated 237 businesses across Australia.

Fair Work Inspectors have issued a combined 31 fines totalling $35,964 in Sunraysia, $22,644 in the Riverland and $19,754 in Coffs Harbour and Grafton.

Fair Work inspectors have issued a combined 31 fines totalling $35,964 in Sunraysia, $22,644 in the Riverland and $19,754 in Coffs Harbour and Grafton.

Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said employers were expected to apply the rules correctly.

“Record-keeping is the bedrock of compliance,” Ms Parker said.

“Employers who fail to meet these obligations are more likely to be underpaying, whether intentionally or not.

“It is concerning that inspectors have needed to issue close to $80,000 in fines to employers who breached pay slip and records laws.”

Fair Work inspectors also issued six compliance notices to employers who the inspectors believed had underpaid workers under an award or had contravened the National Employment Standards.

Of these, four were to employers in the Riverland, and one was to an employer in each of Moreton Bay and the Sunraysia region.

All but one of the compliance notices related to underpayment of hourly rates.

The other, in Mildura, was issued for failure to provide the Fair Work Information Statement to workers.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has investigations into more than 80 agriculture employers ongoing nationally.

In Moreton Bay, Queensland, and Coomealla, NSW, Fair Work Inspectors observed how some farms had rolled out sophisticated digital systems in response to the April 28 Award changes.

In Moreton Bay, Queensland, and Coomealla, NSW, Fair Work inspectors observed how some farms had rolled out sophisticated digital systems in response to the April 28 Award changes.

Each worker scanned an identification card to clock in and out; at a deposit point out in the field; and when packing fruit in a shed.

This delivered real-time data about workers’ performance.

Overall, high compliance levels have been found in two Queensland locations, one of which was the Wide Bay.

In Moreton Bay, from 38 finalised investigations, only one instance of noncompliance was found, leading to a compliance notice being issued to an avocado grower who rectified the minor underpayment.

In the Wide Bay, from 36 finalised investigations, only one breach, a minor pay slip error, was found.

There are 12 investigations still underway

So far, noncompliance has been found to be higher among finalised investigations in northwest Victoria.

Inspectors investigated 58 businesses in the Sunraysia region following site visits in August 2022 and have so far issued nine Infringement Notices, resulting in $35,964 of fines for pay slip and record-keeping breaches, and one Compliance Notice.

About 40 investigations remain ongoing.

In the Riverland, Inspectors investigated 34 businesses following site visits in February and July this year. In addition to the 10 infringement notices totalling $22,644, Inspectors issued four compliance notices. The regulator has 13 ongoing investigations in this hot spot.

Most recently, inspectors assessed 21 sites in the Whitsunday Coast, Queensland between November and December.

Investigations are ongoing, and further inspections will also take place.