In a vexing trend, Farmers across the country appear to be continually fighting government policies, while they should be simply continuing on with the work of feeding the nation.

Changes to Australia’s migration settings as of 1 July could push food prices higher as farmers struggle to access workers to harvest produce.

The National Farmers Federation has come out swinging in its condemnation of the new government changes while local farmers struggle to understand why the government would choose now to make it harder to recruit overseas workers.

Fiona Simson, NFF President, said an urgent reversal by the Government is the only way to assist a deteriorating workforce environment for farmers to let them get on with their jobs.

“On Saturday 1st of July the starting gun fired on a swag of harmful changes coming to Australia’s migration system,” Ms Simson said.

The NFF says the following five milestones will restrict a broad range of visa programs:

• a 25% increase in visa charges for Working Holiday Makers (making Australia up to 5 times more expensive than countries like Canada, New Zealand and Germany).
• Inflexible-hours, ‘Same Job Same Pay’ rules, and higher costs under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme (forcing farmers out of the scheme).
• a new wage threshold for temporary skilled migration which rules out 84% of agriculture workers without an alternative pathway.
• reintroduction of the cap on student visa working hours; and,
• the arrival of the first British backpackers who won’t be required to undertake specified regional work come 1 July 2024.

NFF President Fiona Simson

“It’s a recipe for deeper worker shortages. Every one of these measures makes it harder for people to come to Australia and contribute to our regions,” Ms Simson explained.

“Many of these proposals have been cheered on by a union movement desperate to halt temporary migration to regional Australia.

“The reality is every advanced economy relies on migrant workers for farm work. Australians just aren’t available and willing in sufficient numbers.

“The local workforce wasn’t there when unemployment was at 7.5%, and it’s certainly not there now we’re at 3.5%. By closing our doors to the world, all we’re doing is fuelling food prices.”

According to the NFF the Government cannot afford to sit back and watch the ACTU put Australia’s visa arrangements to the torch.

“At this point we’re begging the Government to do something. We’re witnessing a death by a thousand cuts to our workforce options, and there’s just no plan to make up the shortfall.

“It’s a shambles and every policy misstep is just making it worse. Someone in the Government needs to step up and take some ownership. Work with industry to give us a visa pathway we can use.”

Harvest time at Stu and Sue Barclay's property near Nyngan 

With rural communities already struggling with rising prices due to fuel hikes and transport costs, a lack of workers in the farming sector is going to boost the cost of food to, for some, unaffordable levels.

Farmers Stuart and Susan Barclay run a 10,000-acre farming operation out of Nyngan and rely on backpackers at busy times to get them through and without them would struggle to be able to produce their crops.

“In the peak periods when more staff are required our backpackers and overseas helpers fit in well, do the long hours required for planting and harvesting which in turn gives them money to spend to keep travelling and spending their money in our country.”

“We have always found them not only keen to learn about our way of doing things, but they in turn share their travel stories and home culture with our family, which we love, it’s a win-win situation,” said Mrs. Barclay.

“Many families in the Nyngan area employ migrants or backpackers,” according to a Nyngan Business local, who wished to remain anonymous. “From local businesses to farming operations, skilled and unskilled workers are employed to help with an obvious shortfall of workers in the bush.”

“By making Visa programs more difficult and unobtainable, we are shooting ourselves in the foot, and Government shows a complete lack of understanding of the needs of communities in the bush,” he said. “As prices rise in consequence the Government will only need to look at its own actions for the cause.”

"While I understand the need to continually update and reform policies, actions such as these only harm our nation not enhance it, it doesn't make sense."

Meanwhile the NFF has pointed to a languishing agreement with Vietnam as an easy win for the Government.

“Australia signed an agreement with Vietnam to send workers under the Ag Visa – an agreement this Government committed to honour despite axing that visa.

“Honouring that commitment to our partners in Vietnam, if it’s done quickly, might help mitigate some of this damage,” Ms Simson concluded.