Since Queensland introduced the labour hire licensing scheme in 2018, authorities have prosecuted 32 breaches of the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017 (Act) with Queensland courts imposing fines totalling $2.42 million. These outcomes demonstrate the effectiveness of the scheme in enforcing its legislation.
During the 2025–2026 financial year, authorities have prosecuted several offences under the Queensland and Victorian labour hire licensing schemes, resulting in fines of over $1.4 million. This includes over $196,000 in fines imposed on directors for their role in company breaches.
Prosecutions involved
Providing labour hire without a licence
Many of these cases involved exploiting workers and unfair trading practices. Unlicensed labour hire providers often target vulnerable migrant workers, pay below award wages, don’t pay superannuation and fail to comply with other relevant laws including workers’ compensation and tax laws. Ensuring labour hire companies are licensed is essential to protecting workers and improving the integrity of the industry.
Companies and their directors advertising or holding out that companies they could provide labour hire services when they did not hold a licence
Companies and their directors were also prosecuted for advertising or claiming they could provide labour hire services when they did not hold a licence. Regardless of where a provider is based in Australia, it must check the licensing requirements in the state where it intends to supply labour hire workers before advertising or holding out it can provide labour hire services.
Providing false and misleading information to regulators
Individuals can face penalties for providing false or misleading information to regulators. In one case, a company director received a fine for providing false or misleading information to the Victorian labour hire licensing regulator while the regulator assessed the company’s application for a labour hire licence. The director falsely advised he was not involved in his wife’s labour hire business and falsified an invoice.
When assessing applications, regulators may make enquiries to test whether a business and its relevant persons are fit and proper and compliant with relevant laws. Ensuring fit and proper persons run labour hire companies is important to help maintain the integrity of the labour hire industry and protect workers.
