Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 1:54:26 to 2:00:42
A comparison is drawn between current labor policy and COVID-era shortages, highlighting risks to harvests for producers who rely heavily on backpacker labor.
Topics: Employment, Food security
Speakers: Senator Vanessa Bleyer, Hon Anthony Chisholm, Unknown Speaker
>> Thank you. I'm not sure how long you've had that position um Mr. below. But um you may in any event um recall the co days and the impact that it had on the production of um fruit and vegetables across Australia and the significant price increase um that followed from that. And that was in circumstances where there was plenty of produce rotting in the ground because we simply did not have the necessary number of people to undertake harvests. So do you agree that that the co days and the impact that it had on the agricultural industry is a good comparison to the situation that we will soon be in following the cuts to the rates of backpackers?
>> I I I don't think that's accurate, >> I don't think that's accurate, Senator. And when you look at the numbers that we uh are aiming to get to in the working holiday makers, it is actually back to where we were pre-COVID. Um so there's been a 64% increase since that time. Uh so I think in terms of the numbers that we're looking at uh as part of our projections, it is getting back to that precoid level. uh and we understand there's obviously uh ongoing discussion with industry as the department have talked about which uh is going to be really important about how uh we manage these uh issues. Uh we also recognize the important role the palm scheme plays uh and there's been uh great success about how that scheme has worked in recent years in terms of the number of people coming in uh working in agriculture and the meat industry as well. uh and we are in ongoing discussion with uh Minister Burke's office and so is industry about how these changes are implemented uh to ensure that we can manage this as best as possible.
>> Now, Senator Chisum, can you please repeat your answer in respect of comparing what the situation will be following the the cut to backpackers to what the situation was for our agricultural sector at the time of
COVID? And the point the point I was making Senator was that uh the numbers that we want to get to on working holiday makers uh is where the country was at pre-COVID. Uh so before CO hit, we want to get back to those numbers. There's been a 64% increase since uh we want to get back to those numbers that
And so isn't it doesn't it follow though that if our agricultural industry is not going to be able to achieve harvest at its ordinary rate following the cuts to backpackers that we simply are producing more food and we simply need to maintain the number of backpackers so we can meet our current
think that's accurate, Senator. And what I talked through is the numbers that we want to get to. We understand the importance of working holiday makers uh for our agriculture sector. Uh we're engaging uh with those representatives from those industries. I know that there's ongoing conversations with Minister Burke's office as well about how these issues are handled uh to ensure that we have the workforce uh where we need it, when we need it.
Well, Senator, what will you do to support farmers who are negatively affected by the cuts to the rates of backpackers? Because I'll give you an example. Most recently, I was talking to one of the largest producers of potatoes in Tasmania. He produces 25,000 tons of potatoes every year. 90% of the people who harvest those potatoes are backpackers. He can't fill those jobs with Aussies. He needs backpackers. He assures me that he will not be able to fulfill his harvest and there will be more than half of his potential potato crop left rotting in the ground. What are you going to do to help farmers who are ending up in a position like that because of the rates of cuts to backpackers?
uh what we are doing is uh managing uh the nom to get down to uh the levels that we indicated. Uh we've also said that we want to have uh the working holiday maker numbers um back to where they were pre-COVID where we've seen uh a 64% increase. Uh we are committed to working with industry to ensure that we get the workers where they are needed for harvest. Um that's our commitment. That's what we're working with industry to achieve. uh and the ongoing engagement with Minister Burke is an
>> Well, I put it to you, Senator, that if we want to work with industry to give them the workers that they need to do their job and provide us with the food that we need, it will involve not cutting the rates to backpackers. Will you consider doing everything within your power to ensure that we do not follow through on a cut to the rates of backpackers because of the significant adverse impact that it is going to have on our agricultural industry across this
country. Uh what we are committed to is uh getting to uh the norm of 225,000 people uh managing the working holiday makers so that we can get down to those pre-COVID levels and ensuring that we can get the workers where they need to be for harvest. Um that's what we're working to achieve.
>> So you're working to an archaic target, a precoid target where times have changed and what our farmers need now differs to what they needed then. Is that what your evidence is today, Senator? Uh,
>> no. I don't think that's an accurate reflection, uh, Senator. And I think that the other thing that you need to consider is, um, the work that we've been doing around palm scheme, the 28,000 Australians that have enrolled in fe free TA in the agricultural area as well. So, there's a range of other measures that we've been putting in place uh, to ensure that we can be well placed uh, to have the workforce where we need it, when we need it.
>> Chair, there are my questions on that subject. I wonder if any of my colleagues here have any questions on the same or similar topic. I have two other lines of questions and I'll take my turn when you tell me it is my time.