The government’s focus on attracting casual workers, particularly school leavers, to modern agricultural jobs meant $25 million of that would be allocated over four years to bring workers to agricultural areas.
Murray Valley Groundwater Irrigators Association member Greg Sandford said a lack of casual workers was an ‘‘industry wide problem’’.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t help the situation, but farmers were struggling long before that to find staff willing to help.
‘‘It’s getting worse every year – it’s a long term trend,’’ Mr Sandford said.
He believes the trend coincides with the closure of agricultural colleges across the region, while Senator Perin Davey believes financial incentives are the solution.
‘‘Workforce shortages are an issue across regional Australia and across industries.
‘‘As well as investigating short-term opportunities for Pacific travel bubbles and potential temporary changes to existing visa programs, we realise that we need to encourage more school leavers to pursue careers in agriculture,’’ Senator Davey said.
The Commonwealth hopes an additional $1.6 million to its Take Up A Job program, and a $4.6 million injection for agricultural businesses to plan for workers, will increase numbers.
People as young as 17 will be able to access Take Up A Job, receiving $2000 for a minimum of 40 hours of work if they relocate regionally.
The strategy aims to ‘‘stimulate local community spending, use local resources, businesses and suppliers, and provide long-lasting benefits to communities and the agricultural industries’’, according to budget papers.
Disaster resilience
Bushfire recovery and tackling drought were both a focus of last week’s budget.
The disaster resilience package focuses on rebuilding communities affected by the 2019-20 fires.
Totalling $600 million, it will also set up an agency to oversee a response to natural disasters and will provide disaster proofing funds for homes against floods, fires and cyclones.
In addition, the Drought Communities Program will be extended in to 2022, with an additional $23.1 million added to its $103.3 million allocation in 2021.
A drought resilience strategy will receive $78 million over four years, with $41 million of that going to regional drought resilience planning.
Primary producers and horticulture farmers can access an on-farm emergency water infrastructure rebate to ‘‘purchase and install water infrastructure that addresses animal welfare and permanent
planning needs’’.
