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Fruit and veg growers at the pointy end of labour shortages as government incentives fall short of industry s needs
TueTuesday 19
updated
TueTuesday 19
February-April is the busiest season for picking on southern Queensland s Granite Belt.
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Shoppers are being warned to expect higher produce prices at the checkout in the coming months after government programs failed to attract enough workers to address the industry s ongoing farm labour shortages.
Key points:
A Federal Government program aimed at attracting more Australians to harvest work has been taken up by 453 people
A similar incentive offered by the Queensland government has attracted around 60 people
MacroBusiness
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Via the ABC:
As soon as it became clear COVID-19 was going to wreak havoc, most backpackers hastily left Australia and made their way back home.
Fearing the nation’s fresh produce would be left to rot, the Federal Government and agriculture bodies lobbied young Australians to take up farming jobs instead.
Some farmers flaunted attractive wage figures, saying it was possible to make $3,000 per week, while Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack told teens regional work might make for interesting Instagram content, and even lead to finding “the love of your life”.
These Australians gave it a go.
When backpackers went home, these Australians gave farm jobs a go. Here s how they went
WedWednesday 13
updated
ThuThursday 14
Chloe, 14, has just taken up her first ever job, folding cherry boxes.
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As soon as it became clear COVID-19 was going to wreak havoc, most backpackers hastily left Australia and made their way back home.
Fearing the nation s fresh produce would be left to rot, the Federal Government and agriculture bodies lobbied young Australians to take up farming jobs instead.
Some farmers flaunted attractive wage figures, saying it was possible to make $3,000 per week, while Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack told teens regional work might make for interesting Instagram content, and even lead to finding the love of your life .