On Tuesday, April 26, Labor revealed it will roll the ag visa into a reformed Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, giving the cold shoulder to India and the 10 South-East Asian countries previously invited to join the ag visa scheme.
Labor’s version of the four-year ag visa will include higher standards on inductions, stricter rules around approved employers and will give employees the right to change employers.
Changes will also be made to PALM to reduce upfront travel costs and extend the stay of seasonal workers from nine to 11 months.
Labor made the policy announcement in Darwin alongside a promise to spend $525 million on developmental assistance for the Pacific over the next four years.
Labor spokesperson for the Pacific, Pat Conroy, said the changes would also allow seasonal workers to bring family members to live and work in Australia.
"We will be placing the agriculture visa within the Pacific labour schemes," Mr Conroy said.
The Australian Workers’ Union applauded the new policy, which it said would secure a workforce “without rolling out the welcome mat to more abuse and exploitation”.
AUSVEG, Australia’s peak industry body for the vegetable sector, said the Nationals’ ag visa was designed to be a long-term structural change and create a more effective workforce.
AUSVEG chief executive Michael Coote said while Labor’s policy would help reduce the burden of paying travel costs for workers under the Seasonal Worker Program, the changes would restrict the number of partner countries and result in fewer workers on farms.
“The ag visa should not be restricted to a small number of nations, but all countries that want to provide an avenue for their citizens to come to Australia, work on our farms and earn a decent wage,” Mr Coote said.
Federal Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud was instrumental in the introduction of the ag visa, which he has repeatedly described as the biggest shake up to agricultural employment in Australian history.
“What Labor has announced today is what is already in place with some tinkering at the edges of the Pacific Labour Mobility Program,” Mr Littleproud said.
“It does not address the skilled and semi-skilled agricultural worker need.”
Mr Littleproud described the move as a “diplomatic slap in the face” to Vietnam, which recently signed onto the ag visa and is close to sending citizens here.
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