The farm where the audit was undertaken in 2023. (ABC Rural: Jennifer Nichols)
A former Queensland labour hire company and its manager have been fined a total of $180,288.
A judge heard they provided false and misleading documents to a Fair Work inspector on a Glass House Mountains strawberry farm in 2023.
The Queensland Strawberry Growers Association president has condemned the operators of a former labour hire provider for deliberately falsifying documents and breaching workplace laws.
On August 13, the Federal Circuit and Family Court ordered Korserv Pty Ltd to pay $150,240 and fined its former manager, Janghwan Choi, $30,048.
The Fair Work Ombudsman is taking action to protect workers. (Supplied: Fair Work Ombudsman)
The court heard both admitted to providing false and misleading documents to a Fair Work inspector on a Glass House Mountains farm in December 2023 and January 2024.
Korserv, which is no longer operating, was being audited for compliance with pay rates for 14 farm workers, including at least three visa holders.
The Fair Work audit took place on a Glass House Mountains farm in 2023. (ABC Rural: Jennifer Nichols)
The falsified documents included pay slips, payment records purportedly from Korserv's bank account that were never made, superannuation records, and piecework agreements containing false signatures.
The court was told that Korserv had subcontracted two other companies, which were responsible for paying the workers at the farm, and had sent money to those subcontractors.
Fair Work was undertaking an audit on a Glass House Mountains strawberry farm. (Supplied: Fair Work Ombudsman)
In his judgment, Judge Gregory Egan described the "production of the false and misleading documents" as "egregious flouting" of workplace laws.
"The intention on the part of the respondents was to mislead the inspector," he said.
"Penalties ought to be imposed which will generally deter any future conduct of a similar nature by others."