Moves to tackle imminent labour shortage in federal budget

With fruit and vegetable growers projected to be short up to 26,000 casual staff by March, the Federal Government is hoping its budget measures will solve the crisis. Here is what’s proposed.

A picker plucks stone fruit from a tree. International travel bans have seen the number of harvest workers available plummet, prompting calls for swift intervention.

AUSTRALIANS will be able to claim up to $6000 to cover the costs of moving to take up agricultural work.

And students on Youth Allowance will find it easier to be assessed as independent, if they commit to joining the harvest trail.

The measures are confirmed in tonight’s federal budget, as part of the bid to tackle agriculture’s imminent labour shortages.

“What we’re saying to young Australian who have mobility is get out there and see your country, and make a quid while doing it,” Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said.
Fruit and vegetable growers will be short up to 26,000 casual staff by March, after international travel bans saw the number of working holiday-makers and seasonal workers — who typically make up most harvest workers — plummet.

The new incentives are aimed at getting more Aussies, particularly those on Jobseeker or who lost their jobs due to coronavirus shutdowns, out in the fields.

The Federal Government has allocated $17.4 million for relocation assistance. From November 1, Australians can claim up to $6000 in incidental costs such as accommodation or transport.

Working holiday-makers and international students will be able to claim up to $2000.

The payments will be made six weeks after a person’s placement is confirmed, a condition Mr Littleproud said was necessary when dealing with taxpayer funds.

“People will invariably game the system if we don’t put upfront the goals we’re trying to achieve,” he said.

“We’ve got to get the balance right to incentivising people.”

A further $16.3 million will go toward making it easier for those on Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY to claim independence, if they take up harvest work.

Mr Littleproud said the measures aimed to encourage people to move to where the jobs were, acknowledging that most were short-term roles thousands of kilometres away from home.

The budget did not contain any further measures around reopening the working holiday-maker program to allow new travellers in, another option industry has suggested to tackle the shortages.

Mr Littleproud said further announcements around WHMs and seasonal and Pacific Island workers would be made in coming weeks.

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