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Victorian and Gippsland farmers bumper harvest at risk as hard lockdowns make worsen labour shortages

Victorian farmers’ hopes of a record-breaking harvest are at risk while COVID restrictions continue to wreak havoc with availability of farm labourers.

By news@gippsland - 1st September 2021 - Back to News

Worker shortages across the industry, including horticulture, grains, wool production and meat processing, have left farmers and farm businesses fearing the loss of this season’s food and fibre. With the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government confirming a dedicated agriculture visa will be in place later this month, Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh said the next move was up to the Andrews Labor Government.

Australian farmers rely on seasonal workers to supplement their harvest workforce, they are forced to walk away from hundreds of dollars worth of crops as border restrictions create worker shortage

Extension stuck on premier's desk

Mr Walsh said, "Good rainfall and strong prices across the commodities have buoyed farmers’ spirits, but for the second year in a row they’re being weighed down by a lack of access to seasonal workers, Victoria’s quarantine agreement with Tasmania to bring in 1500 seasonal workers will expire in October."

"With the extension rumoured to be stuck on the Premier’s desk for three weeks now, farmers are understandably at their wit’s end. Crops won’t wait for Daniel Andrews to be done with his political vendetta against the Commonwealth. This deal needs to be signed – today – because without enough workers, a year’s hard work will go to waste."

Guilty of having no plan

An extension to the deal with Tasmania is just the starting point. Mr Walsh said our agriculture sector deserved a plan for the future. Farmers have found themselves facing the same shortages for seasonal pickers, harvest operators and shearers this year because the Andrews Labor Government is guilty of having no plan for Victoria’s agriculture workforce," Mr Walsh said.

"A long-term plan should include the Victorian Government signing on to the Commonwealth’s ag visa program and making sure that the new quarantine facility at Mickleham has places dedicated to farm workers when it comes online at the end of the year."

"The Victorian farmers deserve better than living with the constant worry that their hard work will be for nothing because the Andrews Labor Government can’t be bothered doing its bit."

Pictures from Victorian Farmers Federation Facebook page.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• Health Advocate Jane Anderson re-appointed by state government to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Latrobe Valley
  The Victorian Government is ensuring the right leadership is in place to improve the health and wellbeing of people in the Latrobe Valley.
• Another horror month from VLine from commuters on Gippsland trains
  V/Line’s reliability plummeted to a record low last month, including on train lines to Gippsland and Bairnsdale.
• Baw Baw Shire and Latrobe City Council get extra $13,200 from state government ‘Municipal Emergency Resourcing Program’
  Eastern Victorian Councils will receive more funding to help them prepare for and respond to emergencies thanks to a funding boost from the Andrews Labor Government.
• Calling for applications to chair Regional Development Gippsland committee
  Positions are now open to lead the regional development committees.
• New footpath along Howitt Avenue and Eastwood Road to make a safer route to school and the shops
  East Gippsland Shire Council starts work this week on a new footpath that will provide Eastwood locals with a safer route to school and the shops, and offer a great reason to leave the car at home.
• Black Spot program funded nearly $3 million for three projects in Baw Baw, Bass Coast and South Gippsland Shires for 2020-21
  Installation of safety barriers and safety upgrades such as lighting, signage, traffic lights and roundabouts in Sand Road/Princes Way as part of the government’s Black Spot Program.
• Expanded free TAFE turbocharges post-covid Victoria and Gippsland
  Additional TAFE courses ensuring appropriate training for Victorian job seekers.
• Honouring the Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Motorcycle Club of Gippsland Chapter
  Member for Monash Russell Broadbent and Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood, honouring the Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Motorcycle Club – Gippsland Chapter.
• Five remote areas get improved mobile phone coverage in East Gippsland
  Five remote areas in East Gippsland will receive improved mobile phone coverage thanks to Federal Government funding.
• Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project Environmental Effects Statement (EES) and Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) hearing cost East Gippsland Shire Council $730,688
  Total external cost hearing of the fingerboards mineral sands project.
• More than $15 million federal money spent to reduce mobile phone black spots across Gippsland
  Gippslanders are safer, and the economy has prospered because of more than $15 million being spent to reduce mobile phone black spots, according to the Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.
• Explore your backyard online this National Water Week with East Gippsland Water
  Join us in an online learning festival to celebrate the national water week.
• Macalister Resilience and Critical Infrastructure project gets $2.5M federal funding to improve pathway to Gippsland water security
  The Macalister Resilience and Critical Infrastructure project will receive $2.5 million in federal government funding.
• Australia day awards for 2020 nominations open for people that have gone above and beyond in South Gippsland Shire
  Nominations are now open for the South Gippsland Australia Day Awards.
• Landcare Australia gets bushfire environmental recovery boost of $3.8 million from federal wildlife and habitat recovery for East Gippsland
  Nearly 20 projects in East Gippsland will receive funding to aid the recovery of native wildlife and habitat severely impacted by the 2019/20 black summer bushfires.
• Victoria’s Chief Psychiatrist again not involved in decision to extend hard lock down by three more weeks
  More youth are suffering mental ill-health because of Labor’s extensive lockdowns.