Current News

The Fair Work Commission has announced a 3.0% increase to minimum wages following its 2019 Annual Wage Review.

The new national minimum wage will be $740.80 per week or $19.49 per hour.

The increase applies to base pay rates from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2019.

What do I need to do?

Nothing for now. We’re working on updating our pay tools with the new rates. This usually takes us around 3-4 weeks. We’ll send you an email when the updated pay rates are available.

Who does the increase apply to?

The change only applies to employees that get their pay rates from the national minimum wage, a modern award or in some cases a registered agreement.

Most employees are covered by an award. If you’re not sure which award applies to you or your employees, you can use Find my award on our website.

Find out more:

• Annual Wage Review Decision
• Annual Wage Review Summary
• Fair Work Commission – Annual Wage Review 2018 - 2019
• Privacy Policy

The second version of the Cherry Growers’ Biosecurity Manual was released this month. It provides an up to date guide for growers and their consultants and advisors to improve biosecurity on farm.

A digital version of the manual can be downloaded here and hard copies were sent to growers with the Autumn edition of Cherry magazine.

Overtime penalties for casual employees engaged under the Horticulture Award commences from the first full pay period on or after Monday 15 April 2019, following a decision by the Fair Work Commission (FWC), which was handed down on Tuesday 2 April 2019. 

These changes have been confirmed, and include:

• A 15% loading (in addition to the initial casual loading of 25%) for ordinary hours work performed on any day of the week between 8.31pm and 4.59am;
• In circumstances where an employee works more than 12 hours per engagement or per day an overtime penalty rate of 150% (plus 25% casual loading); and
• In circumstances where an employee works more than 304 ‘ordinary hours’ over an 8 week period (an average of 38 hours per week), an overtime penalty rate of 150% (plus 25% casual loading).

These changes must be implemented by 15 April 2019.  All growers must ensure they are compliant with the changes to the Horticulture Award or risk non-compliance.

A copy of the Fair Work Commission's decision can be found here. 

Export Market Development Grants Scheme - EMDG

The EMDG Scheme provides a taxable grant in the form of partial reimbursement of certain expenditure incurred in the promotion of Australian products/services by  Australian businesses in overseas markets (excluding New Zealand, Iran and North Korea).

Under the scheme, businesses must have a turnover of less than $50 million and spend at least $15000.00 on export promotional activities under the categories listed below.  First time applicants, having satisfied grants entry requirements, may combine two financial years' worth of expenses to make up the $15000.00.  The grant is payable at the rate of 50% of the eligible expenditure over the first $5000.00.  

For more information on the grant and how to apply, please download the PDF attachments below.