Growcom urges clarity over passed Fair Work Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

That's the request from Queensland peak body Growcom which has called for "genuine and meaningful discussion" over the bill which passed in early December.

Growcom chief executive officer Rachel Chambers said when discussing a Bill called "secure jobs, better pay", it was important to have the business owners, the people who create the jobs for employees, around the table.

"The horticulture sector wasn't consulted anywhere near enough in the development of this Bill which in itself is concerning given the unique and seasonal nature of our industry," Ms Chambers said.

Ms Chambers added that Growcom was prepared to welcome any rational and well-considered changes to industrial relations and labour policy which promote employment.

However, she warned that unintended consequences were usually the result of rushing through changes.

"The irony for me is we're dealing with this on one hand and on the other we're being asked to work through issues around food security," Ms Chambers said.

"This Bill potentially allows disruptive industrial action in our food and fibre supply chain. Something we all are trying to avoid."

THE Queensland Farmers' Federation has echoed the calls, citing "real concern" amongst members the Bill may have unintended consequences which ultimately could disrupt food, fibre and foliage supply chains and place downward pressure on enterprise viability.

QFF president Allan Dingle said multi-enterprise bargaining may ultimately contribute to an increased level of industrial action resulting in disruptions to production which will not only impact farmers and other small businesses but also customers.

"This is a supply chain that is already under enormous pressure as a result of global disruptions and natural disasters," Mr Dingle said.

"The agricultural sector is trying to juggle escalating input costs, fertiliser shortages and extended transport and logistics delays.

"Any further disruptions would severely impact businesses right across the supply chain, production, and enterprise viability.

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The short timeframes in considering the proposed new legislation have not allowed industry an adequate opportunity to fully understand the implications of many aspects of this complex Bill, let alone provide meaningful input."

National Farmers' Federation president Fiona Simson said it was disappointing to see a government so disinterested in the genuinely held concerns of employers.

"Employers and business groups have been at the table since the election, engaging constructively on pathways to improve wages and make the industrial relations system fairer," Ms Simson said.

"When push has come to shove, the government has chosen to ram through an agenda that nobody fully understands the impact of, with minimal effort to achieve consensus.

"What does seem clear is that this bill will add cost and complexity to the system, and potentially widen the reach of industrial disputes. This will make it harder and more costly to get food from paddock to plate."

Mr Dingle said the government has chosen to push this through without the due consideration worthy of such important legislation, without adequate consultation or any real effort to reach a consensus.

GROWCOM was among the employer and advocacy groups who sought to split the Bill so that the more complex issues such as the controversial multi-employer bargaining elements could be delayed until 2023 allowing more time for business to understand the consequences and argue for changes.

"I would like to have a mature conversation going forward around the process we are going to use to improve pay and conditions in the horticulture sector. The government needs to understand the world in which horticulture lives and our unique labour needs," Ms Chambers said.

"A minority of growers have scarred our sector however, this year's 'Minimum wage guarantee' for pieceworkers has certainly made any legacy arguments about pay conditions in the industry null and void."

"None of us are against better pay and conditions, the issue lies in businesses needing to turn a profit in order to do so.

"Unfortunately, as a price-taking sector, there is little capacity for growers to pass on any additional costs.

"We are concerned that this bill may be counter intuitive to the government's intent and instead result in employment of less staff or a scaling down of business."

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