GRAIN CENTRAL | Ag lobby amplifies call for visa approvals as harvest nears

Grain Central reported growing pressure on the Federal Government to prioritise seasonal worker visas, with GPA raising harvest workforce needs directly with Agriculture Minister Julie Collins.

Chair Matthew Madden and CEO Duncan Bremner discussed timely Working Holiday Maker visa processing alongside biosecurity, fertiliser supply and phosphine exposure limits.

“We had a very productive and positive meeting with the Minister and her staff,” Mr Bremner said.

The National Farmers’ Federation sought urgent clarification on proposed visa reforms, while the Victorian Farmers Federation warned that staffing uncertainty threatened growers’ ability to harvest crops after substantial investment in planting and inputs.

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