WITH the picking season almost upon us, governments at all levels are looking at the options available with the risk of COVID-19 still heavy in the air.
Over several decades, more and more reliance on foreign workers, primarily backpackers and Pacific Islanders has been the mainstay behind getting crops to market.
Member for Shepparton District, Suzanna Sheed, has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Jaclyn Symes, to meet with fruit grower representatives in the Goulburn Valley to discuss their need to have access to seasonal workers for the forthcoming harvest.
Ms Sheed took the opportunity during debate in the Victorian Parliament to discuss the deep concern local fruit growers have regarding their capacity to access a workforce that will fulfil their needs.
“Growers have welcomed the funding announcement made by the Minister to address aspects of this problem, but they remain concerned that they will not have the labour force necessary in the time and quantity required to secure the harvest,” Ms Sheed said.
“The number of people in Australia on Working Holiday visas has almost halved since international borders closed, falling from about 140,000 to 73,500 earlier this month. Backpackers have continued to return to their home countries during the pandemic.
“Similarly, bringing in workers under the Seasonal Worker Programme from the Pacific Islands will have its challenges and it is important that both the State and Federal Government work together to ensure enough workers can be accessed through this scheme and the necessary quarantine and flight arrangements put in place.
“Growers need to know now they can enter into contracts with workers in these countries and those workers can reach their destination to commence picking on our farms.”
One option the Federal Government has put forward is to encourage graduating year 12 students to take a gap year to pick fruit. That might require other incentives.
