Mr Swaddling's comment comes after confirmation that Julia Gillard has requested the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) to revisit the proposed award.

This decision has relieved the worst fears of growers over the imposition of unrealistic and inflexible working hours and penalty rates, Mr Swaddling says.

“It is now hoped that the AIRC will act swiftly to remove the provisions under the new award that would see significantly increased costs and loss of jobs in horticultural businesses,” he says.

“The horticulture industry requires flexibility, as fruit and vegetables need to be picked and packed seven days a week, and this is determined by the weather, not the grower.

"It should be emphasised that this is not about paying workers less, but rather continuing with flexible arrangements under the 11 different existing awards that benefit both the growers and their employees.

“The horticulture industries, under the HAC banner, have worked in a united front to successfully deal with the single biggest threat to our viability we have ever faced.

“The Deputy Prime Minister has made the most significant contribution in a generation to the ongoing sustainability of both the horticulture industry and the regional communities it supports."

The council met with Ms Gillard’s advisers and officers from the department on May 26 to highlight that the AIRC did not appear to fully consider the Deputy Prime Minister’s request that the award should neither ‘disadvantage employees nor increase costs for employers’, and the specific nature of the fruit, nuts and vegetable growing industries.

Other representative groups, such as the AiG and NFF, also have consistently supported HAC’s position on the new award, he says.