1MG FlippingBooks
Horticultural employee pay changes now in effect
Staff Writers
As of the 15th of April, horticultural growers are now required to pay overtime and night loading to casual employees, following changes to the Horticulture Award made by the Fair Work Commission.
Casual workers employed in the horticultural industry are now entitled to overtime rates when working more than 304 ordinary hours during an eight-week period, or 12 ordinary hours on any day or engagement, with overtime to be paid at 175 per cent of their minimum hourly wage.
Workers are also entitled to a 15 per cent night loading if they work between 8.31pm and 4.59 am, though during daylight saving time in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia these hours can be shifted to 7.31pm to 3.59am.
The Fair Work Commission also clarified the public holiday penalty rate for casual employees in the industry, setting the rate at 225 per cent of the employee’s minimum hourly wage.
The changes were announced on the 2nd of April, giving growers just two weeks to implement the changes – a decision that has attracted criticism from the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) due to concerns about misunderstandings and mistakes in such a short compliance period.
“Farmers need time to revisit their budgets, their business strategy and workforce planning to assess the impact of the change and time to modify their plans if needed,” said NFF CEO Tony Mahar. “Farmers want to make working on their farm a rewarding experience and that's why we did not object to the introduction of overtime for casual workers.
“The Fair Work’s two-week implementation period shows an astonishing ignorance of the way in which small businesses operate.”
To help farmers adapt quickly to the new wage system, the NFF has prepared an information sheet outlining the changes and the measures farmers need to take to ensure compliance. You can also find out more about the changes on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
NEWS
As sheep producers adopt electronic identification, many are focusing on systems that keep work flowing in the yards and deliver value beyond compliance. For producers, the real benefit of EID is simple: faster yard work, more reliable reads, and cleaner flock records — all without adding extra steps.
Regional Australia Bank is helping innovative farmers unlock productivity, diversify income, and build stronger regional businesses.
As consumer expectations evolve, the need for safe, fresh, and sustainably produced food will only intensify. BOC and Elgas are at the forefront of this transformation, providing the gases, energy, and expertise that make paddock-to-plate possible. From boosting productivity on farms to ensuring the highest standards in packaging and preservation, their solutions empower Australia’s food industry to thrive—today and into the future.
Adding hectares isn’t the only business growth strategy for farmers. Smarter landforming can recover margin, improve efficiency, and deliver quicker returns — whether automation is on your agenda or not.
When heat, rising input costs, and water scarcity collide, protecting yield becomes even more critical for growers. In that context, growers are prioritising proven products and technologies that reduce risk and perform under Australian conditions.
The next generation 8 Series Tractors deliver more power, improved manoeuvrability, and advanced technology to help farmers cover more hectares.
