Farmers forecast exodus of temporary workers as visas expire

The federal government has called time on a raft of temporary visas extended during Covid, causing panic for workers and employers alike.

Thousands of temporary visa holders who have been employed on Australian farms could soon be sent home.

The federal government has warned temporary visas extended due to Covid will not be renewed, sparking concern among farmers.

Many horticultural farmers in particular have relied on these workers to pick and pack their crop during the pandemic when backpackers returned home and very few Australians took up farm work in their place.

There are a record number of temporary visa holders currently in the country compared to pre-Covid, according to Department of Home Affairs figures.

This includes double the number of bridging visa holders, from 179,921 in June 2019 to 357,743 in October this year, and almost double the number of temporary protection and temporary resident visa holders compared with three years ago.

One Sunraysia horticultural farmer, who did not want to be named, said he feared many of these temporary visa holders ordered to return home would choose to stay in the country and survive as undocumented workers, off limits for the majority of farmers who have a labour hire licence and only employ workers with legal working rights.

“If we lose these guys it will be a massive hole. A big void that won’t be replaced immediately because yes, we can employ Pacific Islanders, but the whole training process has to start again,” he said.

The Department of Home Affairs did not respond to questions about whether temporary visas granted an extension during Covid were up for review.

A departmental spokesman said some temporary visa holders apply for a further temporary visa or to stay permanently in Australia, while others seek asylum by applying for a protection visa.

“A bridging visa is granted in association with their protection visa application, which allows for a lawful stay in Australia while their claims are assessed,” he said.

Sols Nurtano is one of the many hard workers to have benefited from a Pacific Island workers program.

Lawrie Brown, who co-owns labour hire company Top of the Crop, said the federal government warned his business months ago that seasonal worker visas extended during Covid would not be renewed.

Top of the Crop employs about 1000 Pacific Islanders in Australia as part of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility program, which the federal government is relying on to fill agriculture’s worker shortagein lieu of a dedicated agricultural visa.

However, Mr Brown was supportive of the move not to keep these workers in the country, given many have been in Australia for almost three years.

“The people that have been here on these Covid visas originally came here for a six month contract and some have been here for over two years, so it’s time for them to go home,” he said.