Victorian Farm Accused of Exploiting Migrant Workers

According to an ABC report on 17 December 2025, Bulmer Farms, located in Lindenow, East Gippsland, Victoria, has been accused by the Fair Work Ombudsman of breaching the Fair Work Act. The allegations state that between December 2019 and December 2023, the farm severely underpaid 28 migrant workers, with total unpaid wages exceeding AUD 645,000.

The workers were primarily from Kiribati, Timor-Leste, and the Solomon Islands, and were employed through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. Reports indicate that the farm paid employees a fixed weekly wage—approximately AUD 884 to 1,105 per week—regardless of actual hours worked. However, many employees worked more than 38 hours per week, with over 7% reportedly working more than 50 hours, resulting in failures to pay legal minimum wages, overtime rates, and public holiday entitlements. The farm is also alleged to have unlawfully deducted costs for airfares, accommodation, and health insurance from workers’ pay.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth described the alleged underpayments as “completely unacceptable,” stressing that employers are legally required to pay workers for every hour worked. The farm may also have breached record-keeping and payslip obligations.

Bulmer Farms is owned by Bill Bulmer, who is also the chair of agricultural industry body Ausveg. Ausveg stated that Mr Bulmer has not been directly involved in the farm’s day-to-day operations for several years and reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting farmers and worker welfare, but declined to comment further on the specific case.

The matter is scheduled to be heard on 21 January 2026 in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, with each alleged breach carrying a maximum penalty of AUD 93,900.

Social justice advocates have pointed out that migrant workers often hesitate to report mistreatment due to language barriers, visa insecurity, and fear of retaliation, and have called for reforms to the PALM scheme to strengthen protections for vulnerable workers.