Important discussions: Adrian Conti with Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum, who was part of a visit to Mr Conti’s business on March 2.
Photo by
Isabelle Harris
Local fruit grower Adrian Conti has welcomed the long-awaited agriculture visa, saying it would solve the labour problems he has been experiencing for the past two years.
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He met with Nationals politicians, including Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum, Agriculture and Northern Australia Minister David Littleproud and Nicholls candidate Nicholls Sam Birrell on March 2 to discuss the visa and labour issues in his business.
“We need some more workforce because obviously we’ve got a massive hole and a big void and we’re looking for anyone regardless of which nation or even Australian people for that matter to fill that job,” he said.
“It’s unsustainable to continue as we have this year, so we need more.
“More people here, (means) more people locally spending money, working and helping our family businesses grow.”
Mr Conti said some growers had experienced a 40 to 20 per cent workforce reduction.
And he personally needs between 20 and 25 per cent more workers this year.
He said the industry had been reliant on backpackers and while the opening of international travel means they are now able to return, they need a mechanism to fill the gap.
“That’s what it comes down to, (working) more hours and that comes at a cost to our business,” Mr Conti said.
“I don’t know how we can recoup that, it’s unsustainable to continue as we have this year.
“We won’t give up, but the issue is something has to change.”
Mr Littleproud said the Labor Party had not yet given a clear indication of whether the party supported an agriculture visa and if the visa would stay if the party was elected.
“What that means is that while we’re trying to negotiate leading up to an election, these countries are concerned that there could be a shift in policy after the election,” he said.
“Farmers are making investment decisions now about whether they’re going to plant or not because they won’t plant if they can’t pick it.
“It’s farming families that are paying the price, it’s regional towns that are paying the price, but ultimately, you will pay the price when you go to the checkout.”
Sample time: Joe Conti with Damian Drum and David Littleproud discussing the planned agriculture visa. It is hoped the visa to alleviate worker shortages.
Photo by
Isabelle Harris
The Australian Workers Union has previously voiced concerns about the visa on the basis that it opened workers up to exploitation.
Mr Littleproud said the unions could play a constructive role in ensuring workers were not exploited while working, which had reportedly been an issue in the past.
Mr Drum said accusations of widespread mistreatment and exploitation in agriculture and horticulture were not supported by facts.
“If you do use statistics, or look for the truth in this issue, horticulture and agriculture are ranked around seven or nine when it comes to complaints by the Fair Work Commission,” he said.
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