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Contracts and agreements (Updated Feb 2025)

The contract and agreement templates on this page can be used to create a draft document to take to your legal adviser.

Download the templates that are relevant to your state or territory and customise them for your farm business. Be sure to save a copy to your hard drive.

Please note: casual employment laws have changed, contact us if you have any questions.

State or territory Contract or agreement
All states except WA (updated Aug 2024)
Western Australia (updated Jan 2025)
Contracts and agreements for people working on the farm other than employees

Contract for services on the dairy farm (independent contractors)

Share dairy farming agreement checklist

Other documentation for enterprise agreements

Employee election to cash out annual leave

Employee election to cash out personal leave

Model flexibility term

Model consultation term

Notice to Centrelink

Notice of Employee Representational Rights

A guide to contract law

Basic principles of contract law for employers

Links to websites
Fair Work Commission www.fwc.gov.au
Fair Work Ombudsman www.fairwork.gov.au
Department of Home Affairs www.homeaffairs.gov.au
Australian Taxation Office www.ato.gov.au
Business Victoria www.business.vic.gov.au
Visa Entitlement Verification Online https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/already-have-a-visa/check-visa-details-and-conditions/check-conditions-online
Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission www.wairc.wa.gov.au

 Rent and Utilities

If you wish to charge for utilities such as gas, electricity and water you can agree with the employee to deduct payment from the employee’s wages or salary as this is for their benefit. You can also agree with the employee to deduct rent from their salary as this is also for their benefit. Use the Authority to Deduct to formalise these deductions and keep the signed form with your employment records.

Accommodation Agreement templates

The Accommodation Agreement templates have been drafted to address some of the main issues which arise with on farm accommodation.

As the laws about accommodation vary there is a template accommodation agreement specifically for Victoria and one for NSW, Tasmania, South Australia or Western Australia.

There is also a template for shared accommodation in Victoria such as backpacker accommodation, a template for shared accommodation in Tas, WA, SA or NSW, and a Code of Conduct for shared accommodation.

There is no template for Queensland as the residential tenancy laws apply to all accommodation regardless of whether rent is charged.

Charging rent- NSW, Tasmania, South Australia or Western Australia

If you wish to charge rental and you are in NSW, Tasmania, South Australia or Western Australia then you will need to enter into a formal residential tenancy agreement in accordance with state laws. Some people find that the local real estate agent will arrange this and manage the property including performing inspections.

Each state has a residential tenancy authority website which provides information and pro forma agreements.

Go to the following links for the residential tenancy authority in your state:

South Australia
https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/housing/renting-and-letting/renting-privately/forms-and-fact-sheets-for-private-rental-tenancies

New South Wales
https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property

Tasmania
https://cbos.tas.gov.au/topics/housing/renting/beginning-tenancy/leases

Western Australia
https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/consumer-protection/renting-home

Queensland
https://www.rta.qld.gov.au

 

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