Queensland Labour Hire Licencing Compliance Unit secures successful prosecution in Mount Isa Magistrates Court
On 30 October 2025, the Queensland Labour Hire Licencing Compliance Unit successfully prosecuted an unlicensed labour hire provider for breaches of the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017 (the LHL Act) at the Mount Isa Magistrates Court. The court imposed a substantial fine of $240,000 on the security company and $80,000 on the director of the company having been found guilty on 13 charges across two areas of Queensland.
The court found that the security company and its director had provided security guards to more than a dozen licensed venues and events such as race days, show society events and local councils in the Mount Isa and Cloncurry regions over a period of more than 16 months. These activities required the security company to hold a labour hire licence.
The director, having previously applied for and being granted a labour hire licence in 2018, had full knowledge of the licensing requirements. Despite being aware of the requirements, the company, and its director, provided labour hire services without a licence, an offence under the LHL Act that carries significant penalties.
In delivering the sentence, the Magistrate noted that it was unfortunate that the labour hire services provided were to members of the Mount Isa and Cloncurry communities as well as businesses that were operating for the benefit of hospitality, tourism and for the general pleasure of the communities.
The Magistrate also noted that the business continued to provide labour hire services after two warnings from an inspector and in disregard of the LHL Act which Parliament established to protect workers from exploitation and to promote the integrity of the labour hire industry. The Magistrate emphasised that such offenses harm the broader community, place businesses at risk, and jeopardise the safety of patrons and visitors associated with those businesses.
In delivering the substantial penalties, the Magistrate stated that it was necessary to not only deter the company and its director, but also to discourage others in the labour hire industry from engaging in similar unlawful behaviour. The Magistrate further noted that the fine was intended to act as a deterrent to any other company that might contemplate engaging in such conduct, whether operating in the agricultural sector, any other labour hire sector, or in the provision of security services.
The total penalty of $320,000 is a significant reminder that businesses and their directors who attempt to circumvent the labour hire licensing scheme face serious consequences under the law. It highlights the importance of Queensland’s pioneering labour hire licensing scheme, which aims to raise standards across the industry, promote a level playing field for legitimate operators who comply with the law and offers essential protections against exploitation.
