Growers' e-Bulletin | Australian Banana Growers

Strengthening Standards from the Ground Up: Freshcare CEO Tours FNQ Banana Region

The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) is proud to welcome Jane Siebum, CEO of Freshcare, to Far North Queensland as part of a regional tour to meet banana growers and visit farms across the region. This important visit offers a chance for grower members and…

Minimum Wage Going Up 3.5% from 1 July 2025

The Fair Work Commission has announced that the National Minimum Wage and award wages will go up by 3.5%, starting from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2025. This change happens every year as part of the Commission’s Annual Wage Review,…

Disengaged PALM Workers: What’s Really Going On?

For banana growers who rely on PALM workers, it’s not just frustrating, it can be costly when workers disengage or leave the scheme early. But what’s driving this behaviour, and how can growers help create better outcomes for their businesses and workers? A team of…

Need Workers for Your Banana Farm? Here’s What You Need to Know

Finding good workers can be hard. Whether you need help for harvest, packing, or year-round jobs, there are a few programs that can help banana growers like you. These are backed by the Australian Government and can make a big difference in keeping your farm…

Join us at Banana Congress 2025

Dear growers and banana industry partners, You’ve hopefully been hearing about the 2025 Australian Banana Industry Congress for some time now, but I wanted to take this opportunity to formally extend an invitation to you. Banana Congress will take place from 6-8 August at RACV Royal…

Tropical Cyclone Alfred

*Updated April 2025* Growers across Northern New South Wales are still counting the cost of the rain and extreme wind brought by an unusually southerntracking tropical cyclone earlier this year. While Alfred was downgraded before he made landfall, the ex-TC still proved devastating, with over…

Growers’ e-bulletin – 13 February, 2025

FNQ situation update (13 Feb)Access to and from Far North Queensland is still restricted. There have been reports of intermittent access throughout the week but growers are largely unable to send their fruit south. The cost to industry has been estimated at about $20 million…