New worker cash splash as Qld farm losses hit $42m

Thousands of dollars in cash is up for grabs with the state government overhauling a failed program to get more workers to Queensland farms.

A failed program to offer cash and lure workers onto Queensland’s struggling farms has been quietly axed and rebranded as damning new figures reveal the plight of the state’s agriculture industry.

Bombshell figures released to The Courier-Mail reveals $60m worth of crops have been destroyed nationally due to a chronic labour shortage caused by closed international borders and a lack of workers.

Of the $60m lost, a staggering $42m was from Queensland farms.

About 9000 more workers are needed to pick fruit and vegetables in Queensland’s agriculture sector – which already employs about 60,000 people across the state.

Consumers could soon feel the pinch caused by the lack of labour, with the price of fruit and vegetables tipped to increase by between 15 and 20 per cent.

The increase could see about 20c added on bananas and apples and 10c on oranges.

Strawberry Picker Jack Turner 20, in the field at Erbachers Farm at Didillibah. Picture Lachie Millard

In an attempt to secure Australian workers, the state government has quietly rebranded its Back to Work in Agriculture Scheme – which offered people up to $1500 to relocate to a regional farm – after only a handful of people finished the eight-week program.

In January it was revealed the scheme, established to address a critical farm worker shortage, signed up just 85 people with all but “a few” of those quitting before the eight-week program ended.

Its lack of success prompted Agriculture Minister Mark Furner to rebrand and loosen the program’s criteria to encourage more applications – with more than 665 people already applying.

“The fact that the revamped #pickqld scheme has already attracted twice the number of applications as the previous scheme is tribute to how our close collaboration with industry is reaping real results on the ground and the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic on labour supply and jobs,” he said.

Minister for Agriculture Mark Furner speaking during Parliament. Picture: Tara Croser.

Growcom Advocacy and Policy manager Richard Shannon welcomed the renewed interest in the program but said it would not solve all of the industry’s problems.

“We’re grateful for the assistance - it appears to be more successful already,” Mr Shannon said.

“We’ll have to wait and see what kind of effect it still has.”

Under the rebranded program workers are not required to relocate or be a Queensland resident – meaning visa holders can access work under the scheme.