REGIONS TO BENEFIT FROM NEW HORTICULTURE INDUSTRY LABOUR AGREEMENT
Riverina MP Michael McCormack says horticulture farmers will welcome the signing of a new industry labour agreement which will give them more support to resolve labour hire shortages.
The new agreement means horticulture growers will have access to a skilled and semi-skilled workforce to help deliver the fruit and vegetables enjoyed by all Australians.
“For years, a shortage of workers during the harvest seasons has been more than a regular headache for Riverina and Central West horticulturalists wanting to bring their fruit and vegetables into the packing sheds and off to market,” Mr McCormack said.
“This agreement will help ease some of those pressures.”
Mr McCormack said that from 1 January 2020, horticultural employers will be able to submit an application to the Department of Home Affairs to sponsor a migrant worker to come to Australia and fill one of the 31 approved occupations listed under the Labour Agreement.
The Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alan Tudge, said the Government was focused on supporting regional economies by providing horticultural employers with access to more workers.
“We have worked with growers and industry representatives to negotiate this agreement as it is vital our farmers maximise their hard work and economic returns,” Mr Tudge said.
“Our first priority is always to fill jobs with Australians, but the immigration system can play an important role in helping to address regional skills gaps and grow local economies”.
The Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement follows the success of labour agreements in other industries such as the dairy, meat and pork industry.
It also complements existing migration programmes to support regional employers and communities, including the Working Holiday Maker Programme, Seasonal Worker Programme, the Pacific Labour Scheme and Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs).
The Minister for Agriculture, Senator Bridget McKenzie, said the new labour agreement was a practical response to the desperate need across regional and rural Australia for greater access to skilled and semi-skilled migrant workers.
“This is about recognising that horticulture is a developed industry and requires a skilled workforce to continue to grow,” Ms McKenzie said.
“It is another example of how the Government is improving opportunities for growth and development in regional communities.”
Further details are available on the Department of Home Affairs website: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/skilled-migration-program/recent-changes.
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