HISTORICALLY, Victoria is home to around 21 percent of Australia’s farm businesses and leads the nation in fruit and nut production, with the state’s horticultural exports valued at $1.6B in 2019-20.
With harvest season approaching, Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell has used the adjournment debate in State Parliament to obtain details on Labor’s plans to ensure a sufficient workforce.
Directing her contribution to Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney, Ms Lovell sought answers from the Minister on what she had done to prevent a repeat of chronic labour shortages experienced by horticulturalists recently.
“Over the last two harvest seasons, the Andrews Labor Government ignored industry warnings about the severe impacts of harvest labour shortages, and we saw millions of dollars’ worth of produce lost as a result,
“We see the current Northern Territory mango season impacted by worker shortages and the Minister needs to provide clarity to Victorian growers on her plans to make sure they have the workers they need this harvest season.”
Ms Lovell said the Andrews Labor Government had hidden behind Covid guidelines and done little to help address the seasonal worker shortages the last two years and called on Ms Tierney to detail her plans to ensure enough workers were available this year.
