Gippsland South electorate
Mr D O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (14:47): (5349) My question is to the Minister for Agriculture in the other place. When can businesses in my electorate expect the government to act to support them with seasonal labour issues? I know my colleague Melina Bath in the other place and the Leader of The Nationals here have been pursuing the government over how and when it will assist our agriculture and horticulture sectors with labour, given the usual sources such as backpackers and others are severely limited. GBP Australia at Poowong in my electorate is also waiting for these answers, as its usual supply of workers has been severely constrained and it has recently taken on workers under the Pacific Islander labour scheme. Despite its best efforts, the abattoir cannot attract enough local workers to meet its needs. It has arranged for further workers to come in from the Pacific, but they are unable to enter Victoria under the current quarantine arrangements. Minister, the abattoir at Poowong is having to throw product out, a situation that is criminal, because of the labour shortage. I urge the government to act immediately to address this labour shortage.