Over the next 12 months, AUSVEG will carry on with government and industry stakeholder discussions about the subjects affecting vegetable growers and their operations. In this column, AUSVEG National Public Affairs Manager Tyson Cattle outlines the issues that will continue to be addressed.

Labour

Finding harvest labour continues to be the toughest issue facing horticulture growers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on what was already a difficult issue for growers.

While industry and government have seen some success – namely visa extensions, changes to international student visas, Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) restart and relocation assistance for domestic workers – industry still finds itself well short of the workforce it needs.

Industry has continued to push the message to all levels of government, as well as to the broader public, that it is forecast to have a 26,000 workforce shortage by the end of March, courtesy of a report by Ernst & Young in 2020.

Yet so far, we have seen just 1,600 workers arrive from the Pacific Islands and just 350 workers take up the opportunity for relocation assistance.

Industry has been working with government looking at all options to fill the harvest labour shortage, including engaging with a domestic workforce. However, industry has focused heavily on the Pacific Islands given Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud’s comments that there are about 22,000 pre-vetted workers ready to come and work.

We have focused on those nations for a few reasons:

• There are a number of workers who are ready, willing and able to come and work in Australia.
• The visa programs such as Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) and SWP have strong tracing capability through the Approved Employer process and significant pastoral care elements that help minimise the COVID-risk.
• The SWP and PLS are Foreign Aid programs to support our Pacific neighbours. The Pacific Islands have been decimated by COVID, not through infections, but by the lack of tourism into those countries impacting their economies.
• There have been limited COVID-19 cases in the Pacific Nations. In many nations they have remained COVID-free.
• Pacific Island workers are the best chance horticulture growers have available to them for a guaranteed workforce.

It is for these reasons industry will continue to push to bring in workers from these islands at scale.

Industry was, and is, pushing for a Pacific Island Bubble with COVID-free nations. However, with recent outbreaks here and abroad, as well as the risk of new strains of the disease, this has proven to be much more difficult in 2021.

This means industry and government must work through the current quarantine pathways, which is proving difficult. The states are at varying levels in this process. For example, Queensland and the Northern Territory have an on-farm quarantine option, but some states such as New South Wales and Victoria are still yet to have a quarantine pathway at all for seasonal workers.

Politics between state and federal governments are also clearly at play, which is frustrating growers.

That being said, industry will not be sidetracked by political point scoring and continue to work with all governments to look for practical solutions to this complex issue, in the hope to ease pressure on growers during this difficult time.

HILA Review

While harvest labour has been a focus, the Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement (HILA) has now been operational for 12 months. The HILA was created in 2020 and allows growers to access skilled and semi-skilled workers from anywhere in the world for 31 horticulture occupations.

Through AUSVEG’s work in negotiating the agreement, it has a 12-month review built into the agreement. AUSVEG will seek improvements to the HILA to better assist growers to be able to access the workforce they so desperately need.

If growers have any feedback on the HILA, they are encouraged to reach out to AUSVEG.

Harvest Trail industry service collaboration

AUSVEG was recently successful in a bid for a project by the Department of Employment, Skills and Education (DESE) regarding opportunities in the horticulture sector.

Over the next two years, AUSVEG will produce a range of videos showcasing skilled occupations and career opportunities within the horticulture industry and the day-to-day operations of the job.

The videos can then be shared across social media platforms and promoted to young people to pursue a career in our great industry.

Agvet chemical discussion

There are a range of conversation being had with the APVMA around looking to improve access to chemicals for growers. AUSVEG is continuing to be involved in those discussions to ensure that growers have access to the best chemicals available.

Plant-based labelling

AUSVEG is involved in discussions around plant-based food labelling and working to ensure growers who are growing plant-based foods are not disadvantaged or limited in this exciting and innovative space.

Health Star Rating for juice

The battle continues for all-natural juices to receive an automatic 4-star health star rating if it has been untouched and unprocessed.

This is an ongoing advocacy challenge between health and agriculture portfolios, but we are hoping common sense prevails so that we avoid a situation where diet soda would receive up to 3.5 stars and natural juice receives as low as 2 stars.

National Labour Hire Licencing Scheme

AUSVEG is continuing to work with the Federal Government to introduce a National Labour Hire Licencing or Registration Scheme.

The Morrison Government committed to delivering a registration scheme in high-risk industries, including horticulture, at the last election and it needs to be introduced.

We understand this is a significant piece of the level playing field puzzle for the industry and we will be working to ensure a scheme is implemented nationally in 2021.

Agriculture Visa

The Morrison Government also committed to delivering an Agriculture Visa at the last election to help deliver a dedicated workforce for the sector.

With the ongoing issues surrounding harvest labour and accessing a productive workforce. The Agriculture Visa conversation will be raised again in 2021.

Horticulture Code of Conduct

The impact of the Horticulture Code of Conduct and its relative enforcement is still regularly raised with us at AUSVEG.

There is a wide-ranging concern from members that the Code has either just been signed and forgotten about, or it is not being properly enforced.

AUSVEG, via the National Farmers’ Federation Horticulture Council, recently met with Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell, who is keen to hear from growers about any issues they may be having under the code.

Find out more

Please contact AUSVEG National Public Affairs Manager Tyson Cattle on 03 9882 0277 or email tyson.cattle@ausveg.com.au. Further details can be found here.

AUSVEG National Public Affairs Manager Tyson Cattle.