Federal Government incentives scheme attracts just 268 Australians to farm work

A scheme offering incentives to get more people to work on farms has so far attracted more backpackers than Aussies, new figures reveal.

Backpackers are making up the bulk of claims received for the workforce shortage incentive program.

JUST 268 Australians have signed up to pick fruit and vegies under a Federal Government scheme that’s attracted less than 750 people to harvest work.

Figures show that of 739 agreements under the Government’s $17.4 million incentive program, just over a third are with local workers, with backpackers making up the bulk of claims. 

The relocation incentive scheme was introduced last November to help people cover the cost of moving temporarily for short-term work – considered one of the biggest barriers to attracting Australians to fruit-picking.

Australians can claim up to $6000 in accommodation and transport costs, while working holiday-makers can claim up to $2000. There is enough funding to potentially cover up to 2900 Australians claiming the full amount, or 8700 backpackers.

But figures from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment show between November 1 and February 26, there have been 739 relocation agreements, with just 268 of those for Australian workers, and 471 for visaholders.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano said for the incentive to attract “such meagre numbers, shows it’s not a lever that can be pulled”.

Ms Germano said, however, it unlikely reflected the total number of Australians in the sector, noting those who heeded farmers’ calls earlier missed out on such programs.

A department spokesman said it could not provide a total amount that has been reimbursed so far as claims are made through employment service providers, but that “not all agreements will result in relocation costs totalling the full amount of funding available”.

He added that workers cannot claim costs under the Federal Government program that they may have already been reimbursed for under state government programs.

Australian Fresh Produce Alliance chief executive Michael Rogers said the figures were not unexpected, adding that the higher uptake among backpackers indicated they were on the move.

“It’s positive because it means people are moving around to take up work, but we’d encourage refinement of the first two weeks of the program,” Mr Rogers said.

Growers say it is difficult to get workers to stay for those first weeks on the job; the federal scheme only allows people to make claims after they have completed six weeks work, meaning people have to find the money to cover relocation costs themselves.

In contrast, Victoria’s new harvest sign-on bonus – which offers a $2500 cash bonus for six weeks harvest work, with $810 paid in the first 10 days – is understood to have attracted greater interest. 

Though application figures are not yet available, an Agriculture Victoria spokeswoman said the Big Victorian Harvest website received 6000 hits when the bonus was announced on February 17.

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