Get on the farm: School leavers targeted in ag jobs drive

A new pool of local labour will be targeted in a bid to get fruit picked and stave off massive grocery cost hikes.

School leavers will be targeted in a renewed and expanded push to get Aussies into desperately needed fruit picking jobs and head off a grocery affordability crisis.

In a slow start, just under 1200 jobseekers took up a $6000 relocation allowance since November to move to the regions to work on a farm for at least six weeks.

Queenslanders were by far being the most willing to roll up their sleeves, with 566 taking up the cash payment, new data reveals.

Caboolture local Asha Ryan, 22, has taken up work picking fruit on Fullertons Pineapple Farm at Elimbah. Picture: Lachie Millard

But the scheme will be rebranded and expanded in a bid to boost participation.

Employment Minister Stuart Robert will announce the revamped scheme will be dubbed AgMove, while the hours worked and minimum age for eligibility dropped.

AgMove’s age eligibility will fall from 18 years to 17, for those who have graduated high-school, specifically to encourage school leavers to take a gap year in a job in agriculture.

Previously, an applicant had to work 120 hours over six weeks to claim up to a $6000 reimbursement in relocation costs.

From today it will drop to 40 hours across two weeks to receive a partial payment of $2000.

A workers can they go on to claim more if they go on complete the 120 hours over six weeks.

An EY report commissioned by key agriculture bodies last year revealed peak season demands for workers can reach as high as 15,000 people in places like Cairns and the Wide Bay, while above the 1170 recruited through the program so far.

Mr Robert said the relaunch was intended to make agricultural work more attractive and accessible to would-be workers.

Employment Minister Stuart Robert will relaunch an expanded agriculture worker relocation allowance on Wednesday.

“Whether you’re a student on a university break, on a working holiday or an experienced long-time work, the Australian Government is providing you the flexibility needed to give agriculture jobs a go,” he said.

The $17 million relocation allowance was announced in last year’s budget, starting from November 1 and running until December 31, 2021.

Sunshine Coast farmer Ken Fullerton said he would welcome a plan for more young Australians to get involved in fruit picking.

“It would be a good experience for them,” he said.

Mr Fullerton said having young Australians work in fruit picking jobs would benefit both the farmers and the unemployed.

“It would be great to have them, we need them.”