Gippsland › Latest news › Darren Chester MP
Fears of higher food prices from changes to foreign workers program to impact Gippsland agriculture industry
Proposed changes to the PALM foreign workers program may lead to higher food prices and undermine relations with Pacific countries. Industry leaders warn of unintended consequences.
Australians will face higher prices for fresh salads and vegetables if the federal government pushes ahead with changes to a popular foreign workers program. Member for Gippsland Darren Chester and industry leaders have warned the Albanese government that ill-thought-out changes to the Pacific Australia Labor Mobility Scheme (PALM) will have unintended consequences and undermine our relationship with Pacific countries which rely on the scheme.
Darren Chester and industry leaders caution Albanese government on ill-conceived changes to PALM, vital for accessing Pacific workers in agriculture
Agricultural workforce support
Mr Chester said, "PALM serves as a critical way in which Australian farmers, including Gippslanders, can gain access to workers from the Pacific Islands and Timor-Leste, when employee numbers become scarce. The PALM scheme allows employers to hire workers from participating countries to fill roles in unskilled, low skilled and semi-skilled positions in a rural and regional setting, and nationally in the agriculture sector."
"The countries that participate in the scheme are very supportive of the program, especially where it is delivering remittances to communities where the average household incomes are much lower than they are here in Australia."
"The scheme helps fill the gaps in the regional and rural workforce and offers our employers access to reliable and productive workers which contribute to not only the economic life but to the social and cultural life of the communities in which they are hosted," Mr Chester said
PALM scheme controversy
Mr Chester said there were 40,000 PALM scheme workers in Australia as of May this year, but the changes announced by the government to force a minimum 30 hours per week didn't recognise the seasonality of farm work and undermined the viability of the scheme.
"The changes the government have introduced as part of the budget process have been criticised not just by those on this side of the Parliament, but also by the industry itself," Mr Chester said.
PALM scheme's uncertain future
AUSVEG Chair and local horticultural industry leader Bill Bulmer has also warned the government that less workers will be brought to Australia under its changes. "The future of PALM is under threat following a rushed and inadequate consultation on proposed changes that will make the scheme less attractive for growers. It will be a lose-lose-lose situation for workers, growers and consumers."
"The horticultural industry has led the charge with PALM as its major employer and advocate, but this will be undermined if it is no longer fit for purpose. Industry has warned the government that implementing a fixed-hours requirement will decrease demand for Pacific workers, which negates the intent of the program to assist our Pacific partners."
"Averaging 30 hours a week over eight weeks is a sensible solution. The change takes into account any adverse weather events and unforeseen challenges with growing fresh produce and will give the industry confidence to hire more PALM workers while ensuring staff are well paid," Mr Bulmer said.
Expert advice ignored
Mr Chester urged the government to listen to the experts in the industry, not Canberra-based bureaucrats. "Listen to the advice from people who are working with the scheme on the ground."
"Don't be so stubborn. Understand that the font of all wisdom does not exist here in Canberra. Listen to the industry and make the changes that will make it work on the ground in regional Australia," he said.
Pictures from Darren Chester MP website.
Source: http://gippsland.com/
Published by: news@gippsland.com
![](http://global.gippsland.com/myrp/images/new.gif)
Darren Chester promotes Mobile Service Centres that offer essential government services like Centrelink and Medicare across Gippsland
![](http://global.gippsland.com/myrp/images/new.gif)
Gippsland Water adds customer care pop-ups for in-person payment support in Sale, Drouin, Warragul for July and Moe in August 2024
![](http://global.gippsland.com/myrp/images/new.gif)
Latrobe River Bridge at Tyers had completion delayed to August 2024 frustrating residents with safety concerns
![](http://global.gippsland.com/myrp/images/new.gif)
Baw Baw Shire attends 2024 Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly in Canberra advocating peri urban areas
![](http://global.gippsland.com/myrp/images/new.gif)
Enjoy free chicken parma while listening to inspiring story of Warren Davies South Gippsland Farmer on 22 July 2024 at Mirboo North Hotel
![](http://global.gippsland.com/myrp/images/new.gif)
Join Latrobe City Council and Planet Ark for National Tree Day 2024 at W H Burrage Reserve in Newborough on 28 July 2024
![](http://global.gippsland.com/myrp/images/new.gif)
Latrobe City Council requests Planning Panel for Amendment C144 for Traralgon West Precinct on 9 September 2024
![](http://global.gippsland.com/myrp/images/new.gif)
Latrobe Valley clubs excelled at 2024 Community Clubs Victoria awards with Morwell and Moe clubs earning top honours
![](http://global.gippsland.com/myrp/images/new.gif)
Warragul Leisure Centre $11M expansion of community sports facilities opens 28 July 2024
![](http://global.gippsland.com/myrp/images/new.gif)