The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Horticulture Group will be visiting the Sunraysia irrigation district next week to survey growers on labour challenges in Australia’s horticulture industry.
“Despite years of lobbying, there have been no meaningful improvements to the labour challenges that undermine the horticulture industry,” said VFF Horticulture Group President Ms Emma Germano. “Both sides of government continue to claim there is insufficient evidence to support an agriculture visa or other effective solutions. We hope to use the first-hand accounts and data we gather from Sunraysia growers as a case-study to take to Government.”
The VFF is seeking growers of all commodities and sizes from the Mildura, Robinvale, Red Cliff and Merbein irrigation districts to complete the survey. Growers do not need to be a member of the VFF to participate.
Ms Germano, along with Alana Pittard, VFF Horticulture Manager, and the VFF Industrial Relations team will be meeting growers on farm to complete the survey from Tuesday 5 February to Monday 11 February 2019.
“We have chosen the Sunraysia region for the survey because it is experiencing some of the greatest challenges in labour in Victoria. Once the survey is complete, we believe Sunraysia should be used as a pilot region for an agriculture visa,” Ms Germano said. “We know growers are frustrated by the lack of options to improve the horticulture labour force, so we hope growers in Sunraysia will come forward to participate in the survey and support our efforts to change the system."
Growers can arrange a time to complete the anonymous survey by contacting Ms Alana Pittard, VFF Horticulture Manager, on 0400 813 770 or apittard@vff.org.au.