Incentives for fruit pickers announced by the prime minister on Wednesday are helpful but only go “part of the way” in filling the gaping hole of fruit pickers needed for harvest, according to Growcom’s Richard Shannon.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday backpackers, Pacific Islanders, and seasonal workers will be able to extend their visas to stay longer in Australia, while welfare recipients will be offered incentives to pick fruit. Mr Shannon told Sky News the allowance given to those on JobKeeper to earn $300 a fortnight without losing payment is “not going to be quite enough”.
“We should start by raising that number significantly, then winding it back should we be inundated with people applying,” he said. “Were obviously also asking the federal government to give further thought to what additional incentives can be offered because we’re going to be short 26,00 workers over the next few months. “It’s a huge hole to fill, and the incentives announced already are only going part way to filling that hole.
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