Latest News

• Add My News • Search Old News

Gippsland › Latest news › Peter Walsh MP

Victoria’s Delayed Response still putting the Squeeze on Farmers

Failure to get seasonal workers on farm.

By Portal Admin - 21st December 2020 - Back to News

Victoria’s horticulture harvest is in full swing but the Andrews Labor Government is still full of excuses on why it has failed to do the work to get seasonal workers on farm.

Asked to detail the Victorian solution today, Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes said quarantine through the Northern Territory – which comes with an estimated cost of $8000 per worker – was still the preferred solution.

Shadow Minster for Agriculture Peter Walsh said price rises of up to 25 per cent were now predicted on festive fruits, like plums, peaches and cherries, and vegetables as a result of the worker shortage.

"Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes is full of excuses, but light on solutions," Mr Walsh said.

"Other states have programs in place that have already brought hundreds of workers on farm but all we’ve got from the Agriculture Minister is empty promises that still haven’t delivered.

"Jaclyn Symes should spend less time attempting to pass the buck to the Federal Government and more time actually doing her job to put a quarantine framework in place that gets workers on farm – now."

The Federal Government has put programs in place to ensure workers can get through Australia’s border closures, but it’s up to the states to manage quarantine programs.

In a meeting last month, Agriculture Department officials said quarantine through Howard Springs, not Victoria, was the preferred solution, at least until the hotel quarantine inquiry hands down its final report on the bungled scheme in late December.

"The Andrews Labor Government claims it can host international tennis players for the Australian Open, but refuses to find a way to get agriculture workers on farm," Mr Walsh said.

"Labor fails to understand it’ll be all over for our farmers if they can’t get the fruit off the trees in time.

"Not only that, but consumers will pay more at the checkout at Christmas because of the Andrews Labor Government’s pig-headed incompetence."

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com

• Martin Cameron slams Labor’s delayed Loy Yang rehabilitation plan, calling it tone-deaf and ignoring immediate Latrobe Valley job losses
  Morwell MP Martin Cameron criticises Labor’s delayed Loy Yang rehabilitation plan, calling it tone-deaf, failing to provide immediate jobs or industry support for the Latrobe Valley amid coal power closures.
• Martin Cameron criticises Labor government over delayed Morwell sobering-up facility, broken promises and lack of ministerial accountability
  Martin Cameron criticised the Allan Labor government for failing to deliver the promised Morwell sobering-up facility, ignoring repeated parliamentary questions, leaving the Latrobe Valley without adequate public intoxication support.
• Melina Bath criticises Labor government, calling Myki's delayed tap-and-go rollout a "mythical unicorn," outdated and incompatible
  Victoria's long-promised tap-and-go public transport system has been delayed until 2028, leaving commuters, especially in regional areas, still reliant on outdated Myki cards and paper tickets
• Darren Chester demands answers from council over delayed $5M Krauatungalung Walk boardwalk project delays
  Federal MP Darren Chester demands East Gippsland Shire Council explain delays to the $5 million Krauatungalung Walk, seeking clarity on timelines, budget and design for the community-backed all-abilities boardwalk project.
• Gippsland CFA volunteers still wait for critical fire station upgrades amid $55M Labor funding cuts
  Gippsland CFA volunteers face years-long delays for safe, modern fire stations as Labor cuts $55 million, reducing equipment, compensation, and infrastructure, putting communities at risk and demanding urgent funding.
• Martin Cameron criticises stalled Traralgon underpass, urges overpass alternative for delayed pedestrian safety project
  Morwell MP Martin Cameron criticises nearly three-year delay on Traralgon underpass, urging government to clarify plans or consider a safer overpass for students and pedestrians crossing the train line.
• East Gippsland Shire backs $15M Bairnsdale Airport upgrade to boost emergency response and healthcare services regionally
  East Gippsland Shire Council has backed a $15 million Bairnsdale Airport upgrade, extending the runway to boost emergency response, healthcare services, and regional aviation, supported by government funding and health agencies.
• Farmers warn Woolworths' green-and-gold Hillview butter misleads consumers and undercuts Australian dairy
  Australian dairy farmers warn Woolworths' green-and-gold Hillview butter misleads consumers, undercuts local producers, and risks jobs, as imported US butter competes with declining domestic dairy production.
• David Littleproud says farmers won major victory after Labor abandoned its plan to tax unrealised gains on farms held in self-managed super funds
  Nationals Leader David Littleproud says farmers have won a major victory after Labor abandoned its plan to tax unrealised gains on farms held in self-managed super funds.
• South Gippsland farmers dig into practical carbon farming at Down to Earth field day
  Thirty-five South Gippsland farmers explored carbon farming at Malabar Farm, learning practical ways to improve soil health, reduce emissions, and farm sustainably while sharing knowledge with peers.
• Darren Chester honours Gippsland farmers and workers on National Agriculture Day for vital regional contributions
  Darren Chester has praised Gippsland’s farmers and agricultural workers on National Agriculture Day, recognising their resilience, vital economic contribution and essential role in sustaining local communities and ensuring ongoing food security.