Agriculture worker visas a helping hand for Cowper farmers

The Government amended the Migration Regulations on 30 September 2021 to create the Australian Agriculture Worker Visa (Ag Visa) and continue along the pathway of providing a functional visa that will help secure the future of rural and regional Australia.

This historic announcement that the Ag Visa is now law ensures the visa will help secure the long- term labour force that farmers in the Macleay desperately need.

Pat Conaghan Federal Member for Cowper said the Agriculture Visa will also 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. The creation of the Ag visa under the Migration Regulations is a landmark moment for the sector and delivers on our promise to have it in place this year," Mr Conaghan said.

"The Ag Visa will be the biggest structural change to the agricultural workforce in our nation's history and producers across the Mid North Coast are poised to be able to grab the benefits with both hands."

Central New South Wales director of Avocados Australia, Ian Tolson, said the visas are needed for their work force.

" We just need something to come in because it's hard to get locals to pick and work in the pack house," Mr Tolson said.

"We get what locals we can but not many of them want to do it, so this will be good."

Mr Conaghan explained who will be eligible for these visas.

"The visa will be available to seasonal workers, skilled and semiskilled workers," Mr Conaghan said

"And it is 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.

"Worker restrictions have always been a problem, but it has been taken to the next level with COVID and the subsequent closure of international and internal borders.

"We now have a visa that will give the Mid North Coast a long term, reliable workforce for its crucial agricultural industries."

The new regulation provides a new Australian Agriculture Worker stream which will provide for the entry and temporary stay of workers across all industries sectors.

Any workers will also need to meet the necessary Federal and State quarantine requirements.

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