Community & Business
4 February, 2026
Rumours of worker exploitation refuted by border force report
Farm labour report
A key organisation supplying farm labour to the Granite Belt and beyond entered voluntary liquidation last month with questionable rumours of “exploitation” surfacing. iComply Horticultural Compliance Specialists Pty Ltd entered into liquidation on 6 January this year, according to ASIC. The organisation was part of the PALM scheme, a temporary migration program that provides for eligible Australian businesses to hire workers from nine Pacific Island nations and Timor-Lest to fill workforce shortages.
At least two Vanuatu news sites have alluded to worker exploitation, specifically in Stanthorpe and Coffs Harbor, in light of the company’s closure. However, a report by the Australian Border Force indicates full compliance in the region.
The Vanuatu Daily Post, on January 17, reported on the liquidation and included the disturbing allegations. “Many Ni-Vanuatu workers recalled harsh working and living conditions while employed on Australian farms, particularly in Stanthorpe and Coffs Harbour, including overcrowded accommodation with six men per room, poor housing conditions with leaking roofs and no air conditioning, and excessive wage reductions for rent, food, and transport.”
YTS News, another Vanuatu-based news organisation, said “the decision follows investigation into serious allegations of worker exploitation, excessive wage deductions and financial misconduct that left many Ni-Vanuatu and Pacific Island workers destitute.”
In Australia, the ABC reported that on the liquidation of iComply on 19 January this year saying that “In recent times there had been claims on social media the company was in trouble with the Australian Government over alleged wage exploitation and financial misconduct”. However, those reports appear to be false, based on a report posted by the Australian Border Force in September last year.
In that month, the ABF officers from the Department of Home Affairs led a multi-agency immigration compliance operation which made surprise visits to 20 farms in the Granite Belt. Officer spoke to in excess of 300 workers during the investigation. According to the report, published on their website, all agencies found most businesses and workers “aware of their responsibilities and obligations, and doing the right thing”. “ABF commander Ben Biddington said the Stanthorpe operation was a success because it shows efforts to work with rural industries and businesses are achieving results.”
Indeed, Daniel Nicoletti, a third-generation farmer and owner of Nicoletti Orchards, was quoted by the ABF as saying that most operators in the region want to employ people who have the right to work and Australia and that “it’s not worth the risk or the hassle to break the rules”.
“We have lots of options to employ genuine workers, whether it's the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, contractors or backpackers – there's enough legitimate workers around. We also invest a lot of time training our workers, so we want to know they're going to stay around."
