A SECOND week of high-level stakeholder meetings including five federal government departments will be held in Sunraysia as part of the continuing push to find a solution to the agricultural labour hire issue.
Member for Mallee Anne Webster on Sunday said officials from the agriculture, immigration, employment, home affairs and foreign affairs departments would meet growers, packers, labour hire contractors and local government representatives in Swam Hill on Monday and Mildura on Tuesday to discuss visa issues for seasonal workers ahead of the picking season.
The meetings come after officials from four government departments met industry and government representatives in Mildura last week during which issues around accommodation were raised along with the need for visas which allow growers access to the workforce they need.
“There was no unified position around what type of visa is going to work and resolve the issue,” Dr Webster said.
“Obviously there is a real concern about the harvest being left to rot on the ground and nobody wants that to happen.
“But there’s also an understanding that things must change. That’s difficult and complex but I believe there is a commitment for that to happen.”
There us a growing concern the horticulture industry will not be able to gain access to unskilled labour it needs for the this season’s harvest.
The government has been advocating holiday visas which attract backpackers and the seasonal worker program — as well as a push to secure more domestic labour — but growers and industry have been adamant those measures are not sufficient.
“There are local growers who tell me they need 15,000 seasonal workers and I know that there is talk of far fewer than that able to be found,” Dr Webster said.
“What we need to understand is there is no silver bullet, there is no simple solution, it’s not all going to be all over this harvest but I’m committed to ensuring we resolve this long-term problem so that we can do things right.
“We have to do it right.”
The current round of meetings come after Dr Webster lobbied Prime Minister Scott Morrison and various ministers in an effort to find a workable solution before the harvest.
“We’re by no means done but we’re working hard to try and bring a resolution,” Dr Webster said.
