Labour hire NSW vs Victoria: the regulatory comparison Australia does not have a national labour hire licensing scheme. Each state sets its own rules, and the gap between Victoria and New South Wales is the widest in the country. Victorian providers must hold a Labour Hire Authority (LHA) licence to operate, hosts must use licensed providers, and breaching either obligation

Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the ACT require labour hire providers to hold a state-issued licence. From 29 January 2026, South Australia’s expanded regime now covers all labour hire providers, not just high-risk industries. New South Wales and Western Australia do not currently have a state licensing regime, though both have faced policy pressure to introduce one. This guide covers

This guide is written for host businesses in Victoria. It explains what the Act requires, how to check any provider on the public register in under two minutes, what industry scope actually means, and the exemptions most people get wrong.