Queensland strawberry growers slam labour hire firm for falsifying inspector documents

Korserv Pty Ltd and its ex-manager Janghwan Choi were each fined by the Federal Circuit and Family Court after admitting to giving a Fair Work inspector false documents on a Glass House Mountains strawberry farm in late 2023 and early 2024. The falsified materials included pay slips, purported bank transaction records, superannuation details and piece-work contracts bearing forged signatures, all intended to mask non-compliance with pay rates for 14 workers, among them three visa holders.

The court noted that Korserv had hired two subcontractors to pay the farm staff and had transferred money to those entities. Judge Gregory Egan described the act as a serious flouting of workplace legislation and stressed the importance of punitive measures to deter similar conduct. Adrian Schultz, president of the Queensland Strawberry Growers Association, welcomed the penalties but argued they should be harsher, warning that a small number of operators exploit vulnerable workers. Fair Work Ombudsman officials highlighted the agency’s focus on eliminating such practices in agriculture and urged workers to report violations, offering anonymous and translation-assisted channels.