Government needs to represent the whole of Australia

Unfortunately, the agriculture sector has been on the wrong end of multiple government decisions over the last few years. 

So much so, the entire sector is now starting to question whether the government has simply turned its back on the sector as it does not align with its urban issues. 

The downward trend started several years back with changes to both the piece rate and overtime provisions in the Horticulture Award. Nobody is complaining about improving the conditions of agriculture workers; however, what upset the sector was the almost complete lack of understanding of how the agriculture sector works. Apples and pears do not just make themselves ready for picking Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm for 48 weeks of the year. It would be nice, but no. 

The next cab off the rank was exempting British backpackers from having to work in agriculture to renew their visa. Not to worry, this was to be replaced by the new Agriculture Visa to make up for any shortfalls, but that was then immediately torpedoed by the incoming government. 

Again, not to worry, a new and reinvigorated PALM scheme (Seasonal Worker Programme) would make amends. Complexity and bureaucracy, salted with a repeat of ‘no idea what happens on a farm’, has done everything possible to bury one of the most successful and productive labour schemes this country has seen. 

Then it was time for a new biosecurity tax on farmers. Just to be clear how biosecurity threats occur – they come from overseas and threaten Australian farmers’ very existence. Why growers are required to pay for this makes no sense when the focus should be on the importers who are risking our nation’s food security. 

Throw in uncertainty over water, changes to treatment of casuals under industrial relations law and, while not related to apples and pears, the recent banning of live sheep exports. One of the most disconcerting aspects of the live sheep exports announcement was the way it was announced – the media was briefed on a Friday and it was announced on a Saturday. This process implies that public debate is trying to be avoided.  

One area, thankfully, that has been supported is the scrutiny being placed on the supermarkets’ behaviours (but given the supermarkets’ form, it was almost impossible to ignore). But even then, it took one of its ultimate negotiating powers straight off the table – the threat of divestment. 

The next fear for the sector is the complete removal of the requirement of people on the Working Holiday Maker program having to work in the agriculture sector.  

At some point, the government needs to make decisions on behalf of all Australians. While we understand the votes are in the cities, food and fibre is kind of important. As we have stated: ‘It is hard to value food security, until you have to’. 

Supermarkets should be forced to include wage increases into prices paid to growers 

The national wage case will be announced in June this year, with an expectation that wages will increase by approximately 5 per cent from 1 July. Given labour represents approximately 60 per cent of growers’ costs, it would be expected that the supermarkets will automatically factor this in to the prices they offer growers.  

This article was first published in the Winter 2024 edition of AFG.