We’re sounding the alarm that the Federal Government’s deliberate go-slow on visa processing is creating significant uncertainty for Victorian farmers, with the state’s agricultural sector heading into critical harvest and peak production periods.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke has confirmed that working holiday visas are continuing to be processed, but “more slowly than they were previously”, and regional employer-sponsored visas have been dropped from the priority list.
The VFF says agriculture cannot afford for seasonal workforce policy to become caught up in the broader political debate about migration.
VFF President Ryan Milgate said farmers needed certainty and a skilled workforce they could rely on when crops and livestock required it.
“We are already seeing the impacts of workforce uncertainty, and the timing could not be worse as Victorian agriculture heads into peak harvest and production periods.”
“If a crop is ready to harvest and the cattle are needing to milked and the workers are not there, it will be a potential disaster. There will be no option but to let produce it rot on the tree, wilt in the paddock or significantly scale back on-farm production.”
“We understand the Government has broader migration issues to manage, but agriculture has very specific skilled seasonal workforce needs. We are working with our national farming counterparts to make sure that message is heard, but we are also calling on decision makers to talk to farmers before making uninformed decisions that will have serious consequences at the farm gate.”
“This isn’t a speculative issue. We’re already hearing real world stories and concerns of workers and farmers trapped in limbo,” Mr Milgate said.
VFF Grains President Jason Mellings said the stakes for grain growers were particularly high this harvest.
“For grain growers, this is shaping up to be one of the most expensive crops we have ever planted. We have faced the fuel and fertiliser crisis in March, alongside massive increases in input and operating costs.”
“Farmers have put an enormous amount of money on the line and we now need to get the crop harvested. If workforce disruptions mean we cannot get that job done efficiently, farmers could be left with a massive financial hole in their hip pocked,” Mr Mellings said.
VFF Horticulture President Michael Crisera said horticultural growers were especially exposed to delays because crops had narrow harvest windows.
“In horticulture, timing is everything. When fruit and vegetables are ready, they need to be picked. You cannot put a crop on hold while you wait for workers to arrive.”
“A shortage of workers at the wrong time can mean produce is left in the field, quality is lost and growers lose income. We need confidence that the workforce will be available when the crop is ready,” Mr Crisera said.
Acting VFF UDV President Mark Billing said the workforce issue extended beyond seasonal harvesting.
“Dairy farmers need people who can reliably turn up every day. Cows still need to be milked, calves need to be cared for and we must have staff for every day of the week.”
“Visa uncertainty makes it harder for farmers to plan their businesses, secure the people we need to keep our farms operating and puts a massive workload on the staff we do have.”
“Fatigue and burnout are real risk at the moment and it’s a real safety issue,” Mr Billing said.
Mr Milgate said the issue was ultimately about protecting Australia’s food production and the viability of farming businesses.
“Farmers are not asking governments to ignore the broader migration debate. We are asking them to recognise that agriculture has a unique workforce and skills requirement and that the consequences of getting this wrong are very real.”
“Our industry needs workers to do our jobs, particularly as we approach harvest. If farmers cannot harvest what they have grown, it affects food supply, regional communities and the financial viability of farm businesses.
“This is why we are calling for governments to work with industry, not make decisions about agriculture without agriculture. Before making changes that affect the agricultural workforce, decision makers need to sit down with farmers and understand what is actually happening on the ground,” Mr Milgate said.