Farm worker cash may amount to small change

Farmers worried about a shortage of workers this fruit picking season will be hoping a cash offer will entice job-hungry Aussies to regional areas for short-term harvest jobs. But some fear it still won’t be enough.

Workers thin the fruit on nectarine trees. Despite generous government incentives, Australia still faces a farm worker shortage. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

YOUNG Australians who take up work on farms to pick fruit could get up to double their earnings in federal government incentives.

But even if the generous scheme works, farmers could still be short tens of thousands of workers by March.

The Federal Government has allocated $17.4 million to help people cover the cost of temporarily moving regionally for short-term harvest jobs.

From next month, Australians will be able to claim up to $6000 in accommodation and transport costs associated with the move; while working holiday-makers will be able to claim up to $2000.

That’s enough to attract up to 2900 Australians claiming the full amount, or 8700 backpackers – a far cry from the 26,000 workers industry estimates it will need in the next six months.

Under the scheme, employees will have to work at least six weeks and 120 hours before making a claim for expenses.

Victorian Farmers Federation vice-president Emma Germano said average wages for 120 hours were close to $3000, making the maximum assistance that could be claimed almost double.

“If it requires that level of assistance to get people out on a farm, and it still doesn’t work, we might have to reconcile with the reality that Australians do not want to do these jobs,” she said.

However, the fact it could not be claimed immediately could present a barrier.

“It means anyone who genuinely doesn’t have the financial resource to get out on to a farm still won’t be able to,” she said.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud previously said the delay was necessary to ensure people did not “game the system”.

Previous attempts to offer incentives to get Australians into harvest work have failed; most recently, a scheme that allowed unemployed people to earn up to $5000 in harvest work without it affecting their welfare payments attracted just over 300 people.

AUSVEG chief executive James Whiteside said the group would closely monitor the new program.

“It may not be the silver bullet the industry needs but we are encouraged that the Government is working with industry to find workable and reasonable solutions to this critical problem,” he said.

The National Farmers’ Federation said it would continue to push for a dedicated workforce solution to fix agriculture’s labour shortages.