Contract vs employee

For those looking around for harvest labour, you might be interested in a recent decision by the High Court on employment law.

Previously when employing staff, farmers have been locked into the Pastoral Award which, despite its name, includes broadacre cropping.

The Award makes for interesting reading, covering everything anyone could ever think of when employing someone, including setting afternoon or night shift penalty rates level 1 ($26.73) to Level 8 ($33.26), overtime ($37.42–$46.57) and Sunday penalty rates ($37.42–$46.57).

But that’s just the beginning as there is the non-casual loading of 115 per cent, for permanent