Wayne Gatt appointed Labour Hire Authority commissioner

Wayne Gatt, the head of The Police Association Victoria, has resigned to become the new commissioner of the Labour Hire Authority (LHA). Gatt stated that his appointment is a natural progression from a policing career focused on protecting workers from exploitation.

Gatt succeeds Steve Dargavel, who led efforts to clean up Victoria’s construction sector. The LHA was established in 2019 to license labour providers, but has faced challenges in preventing organized crime and corrupt officials from dominating the industry. Since its inception, the authority has processed nearly 12,000 applications, refused over 500, cancelled more than 1,000, and issued approximately $4 million in financial penalties.

Government sources indicate Gatt was selected for his background in policing and industrial relations to implement a more aggressive approach against criminal infiltration in labour hire companies, particularly those operating within the state’s Big Build projects.