Labour hire licensing: which states need a licence?
Last checked 27 October 2026
Short answer
Four jurisdictions have labour hire licensing schemes: Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT. New South Wales and Western Australia are considering one.
Queensland
- Every labour hire provider supplying workers in Queensland needs a licence, including providers based interstate or overseas.
- Businesses that use labour hire must only engage licensed providers. A pending application is not enough.
- Licensees report on their labour hire activities every six months.
- Providing labour hire without a licence, or using an unlicensed provider, carries a maximum penalty of $500,700 for a corporation (penalty unit value from 1 July 2025).
Victoria
Stronger laws now apply, including a tougher fit and proper person test for decision-makers. From 1 October 2026 the definition of labour hire focuses on whether labour supply is involved, anywhere in a supply chain.
South Australia
Since 29 January 2026, all labour hire providers have been covered again, not only five sectors. Newly covered providers had until 29 July 2026 to become licensed.
Before you work with a provider
Search the licence register in the state where the work happens. Each scheme publishes its own register.
Sources
- Labour Hire Licensing Queensland — About the scheme
- Labour Hire Licensing Queensland — Penalties and offences
- Labour Hire Authority (Vic) — Labour hire law changes 2026
- Consumer and Business Services (SA) — Labour hire licensing reforms
- NSW Government — Update on labour hire regulation
General information only, not legal advice. Rules change and can differ between states and sites. Check the official source or ask your employer before you act.
See tickets before you shortlist.
Search candidates by ticket, region and availability. Free during the pilot.
Try the demo