New Agriculture Visa Provides Critical Lifeline to the Industry

After almost eight years of growing concern over no industry-specific visa for agriculture, the Australian Government has finally responded to calls to help our industry’s critical labour shortage.

The Australian government has promised a new visa to ensure Australia’s agricultural industry can remain afloat in the wake of labour shortages and quarantine restrictions affecting the supply chain. This comes from a reduction in workforce from Working Holiday Makers visas, leading to an estimated shortage of 30,000 people, as well as a shortage of Australians willing to take up agricultural work. Brett Collins, General Manager at Perfection Fresh Australia employs over 600 people nationally. He has recognised the need for a national approach to addressing labour shortage, as the business is always in need of more workers but is stumped by the requirements of workers to quarantine as well as face border restrictions barring workers from moving across state lines for work in other farms. “I believe a national approach dedicated to bringing international workers to our farms will streamline Perfection’s operations. It’s great to finally have a dedicated visa with the potential for ongoing employment and a less casualised work-force” Mr Collins said. The visa is designed to provide workers to farming, fisheries, forestry and meat processing for both skilled and un-skilled jobs. The plan currently is to target the UK and ASEAN nations for the visa, as these are places where the majority of the workforce usually comes from. Negotiations will be underway immediately, with plans to have the visa in effect from late September. This visa will hopefully lead to much-needed change and boost within the agricultural economy and help the industry to reach its goal of $100 billion by 2030. Victoria has extended its agreement with Tasmania to create a quarantine pathway for workers from the Pacific Islands to ensure our growers are supported into the coming harvest periods.