FARMERS with urgent backpacker labour needs have to join state farming organisations to access a Working Holiday Maker fast-track visa initiative by the National Farmers Federation and the Albanese Government.
Although welcomed by SFO member farmers desperate to access backpackers for harvest work, many farmers are not members of the various state farming organisations and some did not know about the initiative until contacted by media.
One NSW farmer described the member-only initiative as “an ambush” and Farmers Fightback founder and former Victorian Farmers Federation livestock council member Ben Duxson said it is discriminatory.
“That’s just discrimination, they are basically trying to make people sign up to the SFOs.”
Mr Duxson said the initiative reflected poorly on the Federal Government.
“They are the ones making the rules, this is crazy, why hold people to ransom, they are still involved in agriculture?
“This is still an attack by the Federal Government on agriculture, 100 percent, a total attack on agriculture; this isn’t a compromise, it is just holding us to ransom.”
Only after being prompted yesterday following media releases by WA Farmers and the Victorian Farmers Federation, did the NFF disclose that it had established a “good faith” process with the Department of Home Affairs to address urgent workforce needs and submit eligible Working Holiday Makers visa applications with the Department of Home Affairs.
Earlier this week, the NFF has directed its state farming organisation member bodies and commodity groups to contact their farmer members direct via email, seeking details on WHM visa applications critical to their businesses to be passed on to the Department of Home Affairs.
NFF CEO Mike Guerin.
NFF chief executive officer Michael Guerin this morning told the ABC a list of critical need WHM visa applications from SFO farmer members had been forwarded to the Department of Home Affairs for processing.
Mr Guerin said the NFF will not be commenting on application numbers while the process is underway. He said the Department of Home Affairs is responsible for assessing applications and notifying applicants.
“The government has not advised the NFF of a limit.
“This is a good faith process for genuine, urgent workforce needs, and we expect it will be used accordingly,” he said.
Mr Guerin said the NFF is continuing to refer eligible, urgent cases submitted through its members and will continue to do so while the issue remains so critical and immediate for producers and communities.
“There is no specific timeline attached to this good faith agreement with government.”
Mr Guerin told Sheep Central the arrangement enables the NFF to submit eligible Working Holiday Maker visa applications where a worker has been engaged for a specific agricultural role and their timely arrival is critical to activities such as planting and harvest.
“This is not a special visa pathway, nor does it guarantee visa approval or expedited processing.
“All applications remain subject to the Department of Home Affairs’ normal assessment processes and eligibility requirements,” he said.
“The arrangement is intended only for genuine, urgent cases and relies on industry and government working together in good faith to support Australia’s food and fibre production.
“While this process may provide some short-term relief, it is not a long-term solution,” he said.
What about non-SFO members?
Sheep Central was told that as the NFF is a membership organisation, it had asked its members – SFOs and commodity groups – to communicate the process directly with their members and to help collate eligible cases. The NFF encouraged farmers who are not members of an SFO or commodity organisation to contact the relevant farming organisation in their state or sector. However, the NFF has not issued any proactive media release about the launch of the visa application initiative and only providing comment when contacted by media.
Only two SFOs issued media releases about the arrangement with the government – the Victorian Farmers Federation and WAFarmers, with both reinforcing that farmers would need to be members to access the visa application initiative.
In its advice to members, also distributed to media, the VFF urged members: ‘Don’t wait, VFF Members can apply for fast-tracked Working Holiday Maker visa applications.’
The advice said the process is open to current VFF members.
“If you’re not a current VFF member, you can click here (link to membership details) to join us. It’s fast, simple and fantastic value,” the VFF said.
WAFarmers president Steve McGuire said the current understanding that Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa processing times may extend to around three months is creating significant challenges for farm businesses preparing for harvest, planting and other time-critical activities.
“To help address urgent cases, the NFF has worked with the Department of Home Affairs to establish a process for identifying workers whose visa applications may be considered for priority processing.”
In a notice to members he said WAFarmers will collate eligible “genuine urgent” requests from members and provide them to the NFF, which will consolidate submissions from across the industry and forward them to the Department of Home Affairs.
He said the process is intended for genuine, urgent cases where the worker has already applied for a WHM visa; they have been identified for agricultural work on a specific farm, and; their timely arrival is critical to business operations.
“Submission through this process does not guarantee expedited processing or visa approval.
“All applications remain subject to the Department of Home Affairs’ assessment processes, visa requirements and processing capacity.”
Mr McGuire said at this stage the process is only available to WAFarmers members.
“There is going to be a big flood of them and we would prefer it was for our members at the moment.
“You can always pay your membership and join,” he said.
“As a membership organisation we are providing a service to our members, if you don’t like it then go and pay your membership.
“The NFF has been working for their members and we’ve been working for ours.”
Queensland’s AgForce said as the initiative is being managed through NFF member organisations, AgForce’s role is focused on supporting its members and collating eligible cases for submission through the established industry process. AgForce said members with an urgent workforce need are encouraged to reach out to discuss their circumstances and eligibility.
“Producers who are not currently AgForce members and would like AgForce to assist with their case are encouraged to join here (website link) to access this support.”
Tasfarmers and Livestock SA said they would be advising their members of the visa application support.
Willing to join, but no call back from NSW Farmers
Sheep Central spoke to a New South Wales farmer who has employed several overseas backpackers for annual harvest and crop processing, who are now waiting on visa approvals before travelling out. He said offering the visa fast-track service to only non-SFO members is ”a bit of an ambush,” but he was prepared to join the association, especially as NSW Farmers was offering a trial $1 membership until March next year.
When the farmer called NSW Farmers yesterday and said he was willing to join. He was told he would be called back, but up to this morning no call came.
“We had a quick chat about the visa thing and he said he had to go.”
The farmer expressed doubt about what difference the initiative would make.
“You are still in queue aren’t you?”
NSW Farmers president Rebecca Reardon said the temporary arrangement secured by the National Farmers Federation with the Federal Government provides a framework to address urgent seasonal workforce shortages facing farm businesses as a result of Working Holiday Maker visa delays.
“Our advocacy efforts on the delays to Working Holiday Maker processing was about making sure farmers could access the workers they need, when they need them – and in some cases had already recruited.
“As Australia’s largest state farming organisation, we are here for all farmers in NSW, but it’s on behalf of members that we work, advocating on the issues that matter to them,” Ms Reardon said.
“For farming businesses that employ people, membership also provides practical support through our Workplace Relations service.
“The pathway for priority consideration of urgent WHM visa applications is available to members and trial members who also subscribe to the Workplace Relations service, the cost of which depends on the level of service required,” she said.
“This is a great time for farmers to join NSW Farmers and make use of the services and benefits available, especially in the run up to the NSW state election next March,” Ms Reardon said.
“If we are to maximise our influence, then we must strengthen our collective voice.”
What is the Department of Home Affairs’ stance?
When asked what the government was doing to meet the needs of non-SFO member farmers who have an established critical WHM labour need and whose WHM worker might have already applied for a visa and paid for an airline ticket, a Department of Home Affairs spokesperson offered no option beyond the NFF and SFO process.
“There are a small group of WHMs who head straight to the regions and use their particular skills to support our agriculture sector.
“These are people who, for example, are contracted by farmers for skilled jobs like operating machinery to bring in the harvest and who need to come in inside three months,” the spokesperson said.
“Consistent with the balanced approach the government is taking to WHMs, the department will work with the National Farmers Federation on identifying and prioritising people with specific skills in the agricultural sector who have applied for a WHM visa, have contracted with an employer to provide their skills to undertake agricultural work and need to be here inside 3 months.”
The spokesperson said the government recognises the contribution of Working Holiday Makers to the tourism economy and to the labour market.
“The number of WHMs in Australia is at a historically high level.
“The government slowed down processing of first-year visas and prioritised second-year and third-year visas to better manage demand and ensure the sustainability of the program over the long term,” the spokesperson said.
“The government will now manage first-year WHMs processing to deliver an average processing time of approximately three months.
“This balanced approach will provide greater control over the impact of WHMs on NOM (net overseas migration), while supporting regional labour market needs.”
A complete mess – Coalition
The federal Coalition said Labor has made “a complete mess” of the Working Holiday Maker visa and Shadow Minister for Immigration, Senator Jonno Duniam, said the Albanese Government was forcing the NFF to fix the mess it had itself created and to effectively act as a migration agent.
“The Labor Government must provide immediate clarity about how farmers will get the workers they need and who will decide how – and how quickly – that happens.
“It is astounding that just one week after Immigration Minister Tony Burke’s address at the National Press Club, his immigration plan is already in disarray and falling to pieces,” Senator Dunniam said.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Darren Chester said the changes would add extra pressure on farmers during peak periods.
“Labor’s mess should not be up to our farmers to fix,” he said.
Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Sam Birrell, said Labor’s patch-up job would not provide a long-term solution.
“Farmers are telling me they are anxious and worried about the upcoming peak season, but to make matters worse, it will now be up to them to prove why they need extra workers,” Mr Birrell said.
“I have been working with harvesting contractors who are ready to start, but the experienced workers they rely on are stuck in limbo; they have been under enormous stress because of this mess.
“Labor owes it to our farming community to explain exactly how it will fix this mess and prioritise the workers that farmers need,” he said.
“Our farmers are there to grow the nation’s food and fibre – not be used as political pawns.”
Ben, you of all people should be a member of the VFF. Troubling times are ahead and all farmers need help to protect their businesses and joining a farmers organisation in their state is the essential first step.