Victorian Premier in Talks with Commonwealth For New Seasonal Workers Strategy
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is in talks with the federal government to develop a new strategy to quarantine seasonal workers after months of rejecting previous proposals.
“We are working very closely with the federal government on this matter, and I’ve been working with some inter-state colleagues as well, and we’ll have some announcements to make soon,” Andrews said at a press conference on Tuesday.
“We are working very hard on this issue. It is a significant challenge, the numbers that are involved are really tough,” he said.
A flagship agriculture scheme established to address Queensland s critical farm worker shortage has signed up just 85 people - with all but a few of those quitting before the eight-week program ended. The failure of the State Government s Back to Work in Agriculture Scheme - which provides up to $1500 for workers to temporarily relocate and pick crops in regional Queensland - comes as bombshell new data reveals $31 million in crops had been lost across the state due to the seasonal worker shortage. The state s $130 million strawberry industry has been hardest hit, with one-tenth of all crops thrown away. Queensland s staggering losses make up 72 per cent of Australia s $42.8 million in lost produce, according to Growcom s National Lost Crop Register.
National Lost Crop Register launched
A National Lost Crop Register enabling horticulture growers around Australia to anonymously record crops that have gone to waste because of a lack of seasonal labour.
The National Farmers Federation Horticulture Council says more than 30 growers have already reported crop losses, worth more than $22 million at the farm gate.
Queensland s peak horticulture body Growcom has led the design and development of the register in collaboration with industry colleagues reports www.goodfruitandvegetables.com.au
NFF chief executive officer Tony Mahar said crop losses would be tracked and reported as the slow moving crisis of seasonal worker shortages unfolded.