Agricultural visas are not the solution

OCTOBER 16, 2018: The agricultural visa which has been touted to address workforce shortages on farms is not the solution.I congratulate Prime Minister Scott Morrison on his initiative to bring together eligible Aussie job seekers with farmers in need of workers because our first option should always be to ensure Australian jobs go to Australian workers.However, we have a big problem in that many farmers, in my region and others, struggle year in and year out to find the workers they need to pick and pack fruit and vegies. Farmers currently have to rely on foreign workers to get the jobs done.The paradox is that we also have high levels of youth unemployment in some rural communities.My belief is that if you live in an area where there are jobs available doing unskilled farm work, then there should be no dole available in that area until those jobs are filled.I hear stories that Australians don’t work hard enough, but a lack of productivity is an issue that any employer must manage and it should not be an excuse to bring in cheap foreign labour.I’ve spoken with the head of Bowen Gumlu Growers Association, Carl Walker, in my electorate, who represents the nation’s biggest winter vegetable crop region.  Mr Walker has repeatedly shared his concerns with me about the exploitation of foreign workers, particularly those from developing countries.These foreign workers are easily exploitable ­ – Reports of exploitation are rife throughout the horticultural sector, including:

• undocumented foreign workers,
• under-payment of workers
• non-payment of super
• non-payment of appropriate PAYG tax
• Foreign workers being charged spurious transport fees
• operators cramming too many people into substandard accommodation

These issues need to be more adequately addressed before you even consider doing something like introducing another visa for foreign workers, an agricultural visa, and the industry should play a bigger role in achieving this.Most foreign workers from developing countries send all of their money back home and don’t spend it in Australia thus negating any economic stimulus.Creating a disincentive for job seekers to simply stay on the dole is one good solution to the farm worker issue, but another solution which could also be of benefit to our tourism sector would be to liberalise our working holiday visa arrangements for genuine backpackers from developed countries like the UK and Canada.Firstly we could increase the age limit from 30 to 35, as will be the case for Canadians from November 1, and have that apply for every eligible country. Secondly, the working holiday visa, which currently allows stays of up to two years, could be extended to up to five years.Currently the second year is contingent on doing 88 days’ work in a job like picking fruit and vegetables. We could extend stays to up to five years as long as visa holders spend 88 days a year picking fruit and vegetables.The benefit for tourism is that the money earned picking fruit and vegetables in places like Bowen will be spent sightseeing, going on adventure tours and partying in tourism spots like Airlie Beach. That spending supports further jobs in the tourism sector.