Southern Highlands Provincial Government sent six men to Australia under the Seasonal Worker Program.
Of the six, four are returning workers and two are new. All six, will be working on a poultry farm in Queensland.
SHP Governor, William Powi, said his province is proud to send workers down south.
“The two new recruits are the first recruited under our new regional recruitment program. They are trusted workers from rural areas of Southern Highlands Province, experienced farmers who are also upstanding citizens.
“They are ambassadors for Southern Highlands Province and will encourage Australian employers to recruit more workers from our province.”
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LaManna Premier Group’s Anthony Di Pietro elected as next Chair of Australian Fresh Produce Alliance
Today, members of the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance (AFPA) unanimously elected Mr Anthony Di Pietro, CEO, LaManna Premier Group (LPG) as AFPA Chair for 2021.
Mr Di Pietro was appointed CEO of LPG in 2016, following the merger of LaManna Group and Premier Fruits Group. Prior to this appointment, Mr Di Pietro had been the CEO of Premier Fruit Group since 2003. In addition to significant experience within the horticulture industry, Mr Di Pietro is also currently the Chairman of Melbourne Victory FC. Mr Di Pietro will take over from Perfection Fresh’s Michael Simonetta, who served as AFPA Chair during 2020.
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Fruit and veg growers at the pointy end of labour shortages as government incentives fall short of industry s needs
TueTuesday 19
updated
TueTuesday 19
February-April is the busiest season for picking on southern Queensland s Granite Belt.
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Shoppers are being warned to expect higher produce prices at the checkout in the coming months after government programs failed to attract enough workers to address the industry s ongoing farm labour shortages.
Key points:
A Federal Government program aimed at attracting more Australians to harvest work has been taken up by 453 people
A similar incentive offered by the Queensland government has attracted around 60 people
A new report by MPs has warned that food prices could rise unless the government changes its approach to its post-Brexit UK immigration system. According to an Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) inquiry into labour in the food supply chain ‘getting food businesses to move away from migrant workers will take time.’
The cross-party group of MPs has instead suggested a more transitional shift away from migrant labour rather than a hard stop when freedom of movement rights between Europe and the UK officially end on 1 January, 2021.
The group has called on the government to be flexible in its approach to its post-Brexit UK immigration system in case its existing policy has an adverse effect on food businesses or food security. The MPs also urged the government to add job roles, such as veterinarians, to the Skilled Worker Shortage Occupation List.