Riverina fruit growers have criticised a plan to meet harvest labour shortages with unemployed people as an alternative to a new class of visa for overseas farm workers.
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Apple and cherry farmers said they would welcome any new options for foreign workers as the National Farmers Federation continues to fight for a new visa.
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has been pushing for months to allow smaller farms to gain easier access to foreign labour.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said he wanted unemployed people to lose a month of Centrelink payments if they did not take up farm jobs.
Batlow apple and cherry farmer Greg Mouat said he did not discriminate against Australian workers, but he was worried about forced applicants.
“It certainly has merit, but from a practical point of view our experience is that it’s very difficult for people like these to be engaged,” he said.
“How capable are they of doing a relatively physical form of work and could they stick at it? At the end of the day we are not babysitters and we need jobs done.”
Ralph Wilson, whose Wilgro apple and cherry farm also produces cider and vinegar at Batlow, said the temporary nature of harvest work meat it was not a complete solution to unemployment.
“I can’t speak for everyone, but in our experience Work for the Dole schemes have been an abject failure,” he said.
“People who come don’t want to be here and don’t want to work, or they work only a little so it doesn’t impact their dole.”
Within the National Party, at least some of the blame for the stalled visa change has fallen on Riverina MP and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, with anonymous MPs claiming he had not stood up to Mr Morrison.
Mr McCormack said party members supported his approach and the government was committed to finding “a long term workable solution to solve workforce shortages”.
“We will ensure if there are available Australian job seekers, they’ll be offered the job first. If they can’t or choose not to do those jobs, the government will review their welfare payments and fill those vacancies with overseas workers,” he said.
“Foreign labour has worked in the past and will continue to fill the gaps for our farmers’ needs.
“It is crucial we help farmers find workers and fill labour supply gaps to pick fruit or harvest crops when and where they need it.”
Mr McCormack said he was “comfortable with the Prime Minister’s commitment to take action to resolve farm labour shortages and explore options to find seasonal workers”.