Confusion continues over the state’s seasonal worker scheme as the government revealed this week workers are still weeks away, and there is no guarantee when they will arrive or how much the scheme will cost to growers.
The Victorian Government’s promised 1500 workers are still in the Pacific Islands and have not yet been issued with visas, Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas told parliament on Tuesday.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh slammed the government’s timeline, which he said has already caused the loss of millions of dollars in high-quality Victorian produce and dragged down productivity in the meat processing sector.
“A lack of seasonal workers has already left too many Victorian farmers with no option but to plough a year’s work into the ground,” Mr Walsh said.
“A workforce would already be available if the Andrews Labor Government had adopted the proposal put forward by industry and Aspen Medical in October last year to set up a dedicated quarantine facility in Mildura.
In response to questioning, Ms Thomas said she “would anticipate” all 1500 workers will be on Victorian farms by June 30, but the onus was now on federal departments to process applications from approved employers and issue visas.
“We do not issue the visas,” she said. “As soon as the visas are issued, as soon as the approved employers have put in their applications and had their workforce plans approved by the Federal Minister for Employment, then the workers will be able to arrive, and they will be on farm(s) two weeks after that.”
The government announced there will be a cost-sharing arrangement with farmers for quarantine, but has not detailed how much farmers will need to pay.
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper called on the government to provide clear details on the scheme.
“Could the government outline when the workers will arrive in Victoria, how many will be made available to growers in my electorate and what the cost of quarantine will be for farmers per worker?” Ms Cupper asked in parliament on Wednesday.
“Our growers are anxious about the finer details of that (cost-sharing) arrangement,” Ms Cupper said. “I urge the government to ensure the cost on farmers is minimised.”
“After battling drought and high temporary water prices over the past few years, growers have faced more burdens this harvest with a lack of access to foreign seasonal workers due to COVID-19,” she said.
Ms Thomas said allowing the initial 1500 workers in through the Federal Government’s Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme would “relieve some pressure” but was not a “silver bullet”.
