Kyabram businessman calls for extra Victorian visa workers

While coronavirus lockdowns are seemingly over, regional Victorian businesses says labour shortages linger on.

A fixture in farm machinery, the D’Angelo family have seen the impact of droughts, floods and other economic curveballs over the past five decades.

But labour shortages as the a result of the pandemic have presented a whole host of new challenges.

The D’Angelo family business — JN&R Engineering — is a key employer in the Kyabram region, usually with 40 staff in normal circumstances.

But JN&R director Gino D’Angelo said the maker of earthmovers and on-farm machinery is working with a skeleton staff of 27 — right at a time when orders are flying in due to the booming regional economy.

“Worker shortages have long been an issue. Five or six years ago, we brought out workers from The Philippines. The cost associated with bringing the workers here was astronomical but we had no choice,” Mr D’Angelo said.

“The choice was bring workers in or lose the work. We have the same dilemma now.”

Mr D’Angelo said pre-pandemic, his business would usually fulfil orders within six to eight weeks. The turn-around time is now roughly six months, all due to staff shortages.

“If you’re looking to buy a product from me, you’re looking at a delivery date of the second week in September — and that’s providing everything goes to plan,” he said.

The seven-day isolation of coronavirus-positive workers has exacerbated staff shortages and the Kyabram business is no exception.

“I thought when covid hit two years ago, that we were going to be in strife. But we put some plans in place and really rode through the storm. The toughest time has been the seven day isolation — not only do you have staff out but the ones still doing the job have extra to cover.”

Victorian National Party leader Peter Walsh recently wrote to Federal Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on the matter, calling for him to lift the state’s skilled worker visa allocation.

Mr Walsh called for the visa ceiling to be raised from about 750 to at least 3640 — the number NSW is currently allocated.

“Kyabram’s JN & R Engineering are thriving, but workforce shortages are a constant handbrake,” Mr Walsh said.

“Victoria’s carrying the unenviable burden of home to the world’s longest lockdown which is why these regional worker visas will continue to be crucial to recover and rebuild a skilled workforce across agriculture, healthcare and hospitality.”

The Immigration Minister’s office did not respond in time for deadline.