Thursday, 16 September 2021
Constituency questions
Mildura electorate
Mildura electorate
My constituency question is for the Minister for Agriculture.
Could the minister provide information on the government’s plan to address accommodation shortages for seasonal workers in the coming harvest?
Harvest is an incredibly important time of year, and our international workforce is essential not just to our farmers, but to the fabric of our entire regional economy.
Of serious concern in my electorate is the severe shortage of suitable housing for seasonal workers, coupled with the COVID-safe obligations existing accommodation providers face.
The efforts being made by the state through both the Seasonal Workforce Accommodation Program, and the Seasonal Harvest Sign-on Bonus are commendable—but worker shortages will still remain.
While there are accommodation pilots in Robinvale, Mildura and Boundary Bend, there will continue to be a shortfall in living spaces unless further significant investments are made.
I understand arrangements are being finalised with the Tasmanian government regarding the quarantining of Pacific Island workers to help boost the Victorian seasonal workforce.
But the issue is what happens after quarantine, when our Pacific Islander workforce competes with a potential intake of workers from ASEAN countries as part of the federal government’s new ag visa scheme.
Our local table grape industry estimates the shortfall in worker beds to be between 7000 and 8000. We need a plan to address this. What is the Victorian government’s plan?