Victorian Farmers Federation has welcomed reports the Federal Government will introduce an agriculture specific visa.

The visa will provide Australian farms access to workers from the UK in addition to the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, nations.

VFF president Emma Germano said farmers had called for and been promised such a visa for too long.

“This has been a long time coming and is a huge breakthrough for the industry,” she said.

“The labour shortages we have faced in the past 18 months are well known, but broader issues with labour supply and quality have been ongoing without a solution for years.”

The Federal Government is yet to release details on how the visa will work.

Ms Germano said industry must be consulted to ensure it was fit-for-purpose.

She said the visa would need to address labour shortages in the horticulture industry and skilled and unskilled shortages across the agricultural industry.

“Right now, we need smart policy solutions for a wicked human capital problem and I hope this decision opens the door to a resolution,” she said.

The entire June 30, 2021 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire June 30,, 2021 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!