The Carroll Labor Government today announced the appointment of Wayne Gatt as the Victorian Labour Hire Licensing Commissioner.
Mr Gatt brings proven executive leadership, with almost a decade as CEO of The Police Association of Victoria, leading a complex member-based organisation and representing more than 18,000 personnel.
With experience working with government, regulators, unions, industry bodies and community stakeholders, in addition to his background in policing, Mr Gatt will be an asset to the Labour Hire Authority (LHA).
Mr Gatt succeeds Steve Dargavel, the inaugural Commissioner of the LHA.
Under Mr Dargavel’s guidance, the Authority’s actions have protected many thousands of vulnerable workers.
The Labor Government thanks Mr Dargavel for his service and wish him all the best in his future.
Since being established in 2019, the Authority has taken significant action to ensure Victorian labour hire businesses are licensed and run lawfully by appropriate people.
To date, LHA has:
received close to 12,000 labour hire licence applications
refused over 500 licence applications
cancelled over 1,000 licences
achieved close to $4 million in financial penalties through legal action.
LHA’s licensing, compliance and enforcement actions target a range of unlawful conduct, including underpayment of workers, sham contracting, illegal phoenix activity, breaches of workplace laws and accommodation standards.
As well as regulating labour hire industries such as horticulture, meat processing, security and commercial cleaning, LHA has taken significant action in Victoria’s construction industry.
The Labor Government has zero tolerance for any sort of illegal behaviour on any work sites and has passed reforms that strengthen labour hire regulation for all sectors – helping workers and businesses.
As stated by Minister for Industrial Relations Colin Brooks
“Mr Gatt brings a wealth of experience and will ensure strong leadership for the Authority moving forward, particularly with its recently strengthened powers.
“We thank Mr Dargavel for his dedication to the role and the important progress that has been made to improve the integrity and transparency of Victoria’s labour hire industry.”
As stated by Wayne Gatt, Victorian Labour Hire Licensing Authority Commissioner
“I look forward to commencing in this role, which at its heart protects vulnerable Victorian workers from exploitation. This will be a natural extension of the work I have performed for more than 30 years, caring for our community and for working people.”
