Victorian farm work: New cash bonus to take up seasonal harvest jobs
Victorian jobseekers will be able to access a new government-funded incentive to take up harvest work. Here’s what you need to know.
A NEW incentive has been announced to lure Victorian jobseekers on to farms, as the horticulture industry continues to face a chronic labour shortage.
The Victorian Government has today unveiled the Seasonal Harvest Sign-on Bonus, which includes $810 paid after two weeks of work and a further $1,620 paid after an additional six weeks of work. $10 million has been allocated for the program.
To be eligible, workers need to complete at least 10 days of work within a one-month period to receive the first bonus and at least another 30 days within a three-month period for the additional payment.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the sign-on bonus meant jobseekers could take home almost $2500 on top of their wage.
“It’s a big day’s work, but the reward can be just as big,” she said.
“We’ve said from the start that while Pacific Islander workers will be important to the harvest’s success, it’s not a silver bullet.”
Industry groups that support growers in priority harvest regions will also receive funding for additional staff and resources through a new $1 million Seasonal Workforce Industry Support grant program.
A Government statement said the funding will bolster the capacity of these groups to provide dedicated seasonal workforce support to their members and make sure businesses are well equipped to attract the workers they need.
Since November 1 last year Australians have been able to claim up to $6000 in accommodation and transport costs under a $17.4 million Federal Government scheme to help people cover the cost of temporarily moving regionally for short-term harvest jobs.
The Victorian Government has also offered to pay up to $250 a day in travel and accommodation for jobseekers to take on fruit-picking gigs, but both schemes have had low uptake.
The announcement today comes after it was revealed on Monday the Victorian Government would spend $7.8 million bringing 1500 Pacific Island seasonal workers into the state, via its quarantine-sharing arrangement with Tasmania.
Farmers wanting to access the program will pay $2000 per worker towards covering the cost of quarantine in Tasmanian hotels, on top of the usual costs of the seasonal worker program such as flights and on-farm accommodation.
The Victorian Government will pay the remaining $5200 of the $7200 quarantine bill per worker.
Wine crisis: Raise marketing levies “substantially” to compete with Bordeaux, NZ and Napa
Australia’s wine industry is on its knees, but a leading economist suggest a way out is spending “significantly” more money rather than less on advertising.
Slow and sweet co-operative approach to banana farming
Traditionally grown in the tropics, bananas are often associated with Far North Queensland, but this small co-operative out of WA is challenging industry perceptions.