The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) is calling for urgent reform of Australia’s regional workforce and migration settings, warning the recent emergency process for critical farm worker applications is only a short-term pressure valve.
NFF President Hamish McIntyre said the Federal Government’s cooperation on urgent Working Holiday Maker cases was welcome, but it did not address the deeper workforce pressures affecting agriculture and regional communities.
“The Government has given agriculture a pressure valve and that is helping some farm businesses facing genuine and urgent workforce shortages, but we need a long term solution” Mr McIntyre said.
“Farmers had the rug pulled out from under them when Working Holiday Maker processing changed without consultation, just as they were heading into peak planting and harvest periods.
“We cannot rely on emergency measures to harvest crops, care for livestock, and keep food and fibre moving through the supply chains.”
The current process allows the NFF to refer eligible cases from its members where a worker has been identified for a specific agricultural role and their timely arrival is critical.
Mr McIntyre said the disruption extended well beyond farm gates, with tourism, hospitality, accommodation and small businesses also relying on Working Holiday Makers.
“When farms, pubs, cafés, accommodation businesses and tourism operators cannot find workers, it impacts the whole community,” he said.
“These pressures are hitting at the same time as record-high diesel prices and rising business costs. Regional businesses cannot continue absorbing one shock after another.”
Mr McIntyre rejected suggestions that PALM Scheme could simply replace Working Holiday Makers.
“PALM is valuable and important, but it is not a like-for-like substitute for Working Holiday Makers. Each program meets different needs and they must be treated as complementary, not interchangeable.
“Backpackers provide a mobile workforce for short and intensive seasonal windows.
“Farmers cannot be told simply to switch programs when those programs have different purposes, requirements and operating models.”
The NFF is calling for the Government to:
- Revert back to regular processing under the Working Holiday Maker program;
- Improve PALM while recognising it is not suitable for every business;
- Make skilled migration pathways more practical and accessible for regional employers;
- Work with industry on a purpose-built agricultural visa that complements existing workforce programs;
- Ensure strong worker protections through employer accreditation, compliance and enforcement; and
- Consult agriculture, tourism, hospitality, small business and regional communities from the beginning of the reform process.
The NFF’s longstanding policy supports a dedicated agricultural visa that is purpose-built, responsive to industry needs, fair to workers and employers, and flexible enough to meet seasonal demand.
“We are not asking the Government to announce a model tomorrow,” Mr McIntyre said.
“We are asking it to begin genuine, urgent work with the people who understand how regional labour markets operate.
“Australia needs a workforce system that gets the right workers to the right places at the right time, while protecting workers and maintaining public confidence.
“The Government opened a pressure valve. Now it needs to work with us on a lasting solution.”