NFF slams workforce report for lacking facts

AUSTRALIA’S peak farming body says a new report has failed to provide critical work force data to underpin policy decisions. 

The National Farmers’ Federation has received the final report from Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) into the future of the food supply chain workforce. 

NFF President David Jochinke said the report had failed to provide the workforce data which was the problem the Federal Government had intended to solve. 

Mr Jochinke said in the absence of meaningful new data and insights, the report had largely just restated old problems. However, despite not delivering on industry’s aspirations, (PALM) scheme will need to the NFF acknowledged that some of the report’s recommendations were encouraging. 

“Employers in the sector will be relieved the report rightly warns against adjusting specified work provisions within the Working Holiday Maker program, noting its significance to the agricultural workforce in addressing labour market failures and ultimately our national food security,” Mr Jochinke said. 

“It unsurprisingly finds that a national approach to labour hire licensing is urgently needed, something all stake holders have agreed on for years.” 

Mr Jochinke said the report also says that the costs of placing workers through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility come down if it is to remain a viable proposition for business and maximise benefits flowing back to the Pacific. 

Thousands of workers are employed in Tasmania each year through the PALM scheme which has become an essential source of labour for some of the state’s major horticulture industries including berries. 

“Most significantly, JSA makes the case for a targeted, capped visa pathway to respond to the genuine short term surge workforce needs in parts of the horticulture sector,’ Mr Jochinke said. 

“Perhaps the biggest redeeming feature of the report is that no stakeholder, industry, union or other, are going to be altogether thrilled by its findings.”