CHDC backs plan for Ag Visa to attract seasonal workers

“Any additional initiative that can help address the labour shortage would certainly be welcomed”: Central Highlands was one of many Australian regions that struggled to attract enough agricultural workers during the pandemic.

NEWS: FRUIT PICKING Sidney Aspland has been training young people in fruit picking, for the Pick Shepp program which is aiming to attract more people to the sector. He reckons Vic Govt's sign-on bonus has been working well. PICTURED: Generic apple orchard. Generic picking. PHOTOGRAPHER: ZOE PHILLIPS

Central Highlands businesses welcome the federal government announcement that the agricultural visa will be in place by the end of September, helping to secure the future of rural and regional Australia.

The Agricultural Worker Visa will provide a long-term, reliable workforce for critical industries while solving one of regional Australia’s greatest challenges in recent history.

The announcement, co-signed by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, confirmed regulations to enable the creation of the visa would be in place by the end of September.

“The agriculture visa delivers what so many primary producers are crying out for,” Mr Joyce said.

“It will give regional Australia the workers they need to get produce to plate in Australia, as well as our export markets.

“The agriculture visa will be in place no later than September 30 this year, with the full implementation of this demand-driven visa complete within three years.”

The visa will be open to applicants from a range of countries and will be available to skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers and will include meat processing, fisheries and forestry sectors, and provide a basis for the ongoing growth of our primary industries.

Central Highlands Development Corporation (CHDC) Agtech community officer, Cassie Turner, said the agricultural workforce shortage had impacted many regions through Covid.

“Although we’re still waiting for the finer details of the Federal Government’s Agricultural Worker Visa, any additional initiative that can help address the labour shortage would certainly be welcomed,” she said.

“Just like other regional and rural areas around Australia, the challenge to attract a large enough agricultural workforce – both skilled and unskilled – to the Central Highlands has only increased during the global pandemic.

“The visa could complement CHDC’s own Working Holiday campaign, which targets young Aussie job seekers and school leavers, and the State Government’s Pick QLD campaign, which includes a $1,500 cash incentive for job seekers.

“While the visa likely hinges on the reopening of our international borders, establishing this initiative now positions Australia to act quickly to attract overseas workers when international travel resumes.”

Deputy Leader of the Nationals and Minister Agriculture, David Littleproud, said although it was still a way off, the visa would provide Australian farmers a confidence to plant a crop and know that they’ll be able to get it into the supply chain.

In the meantime, Queensland Farmers’ Federation and Jobs Queensland are preparing a five-year workforce plan to address workforce issues in the state’s agriculture industry.

The plan will respond to the major issues experienced by the industry while anticipating future workforce demand.

Join the Queensland Farmers’ Federation to discuss workforce issues from 9am to 12.30pm on September 21 at Emerald. Click here for more information and to secure your spot.