FARMERS and primary producers are a step closer to benefitting from the Federal Government’s new Australian Agriculture Worker Visa (Ag Visa) according to Baker MP Tony Pasin.
Mr Pasin said the Federal Government amended the migration regulations last month to create the Ag Visa.
He claims the announcement the Ag Visa will help secure the long-term labour force our farmers and create a pathway to permanent residency for those workers who will help secure the future of our region.
“We promised this Visa and here it is,” Mr Pasin said.
“The creation of the Ag visa under the migration regulations is landmark moment for the sector and delivers on our promise to have it in place this year.
“The Ag Visa will be the biggest structural change to agricultural workforce in our nation’s history and producers in Barker are poised to be able to grab the benefits with both hands.
“The visa will be available to seasonal workers, skilled and semiskilled workers and not just those on the farm that benefit, the fisheries, forestry and agricultural processing sectors and will also get access to workers under this visa.”
He said worker restrictions have always been a problem, but it has been taken to the next level with Covid and the subsequent international and internal borders.
“We now have a visa that will give Barker a long term, reliable workforce for our agricultural industries,” Mr Pasin said.
He said regulation provides a new Australian agriculture worker stream which will provide for the entry and temporary stay of workers across primary industries sectors.
According to Mr Pasin the visa provides the pathway for workers to arrive with first worker arrivals once partner country negotiations are complete.
Any workers will also need to meet necessary Federal and State quarantine requirements.
