Young job seekers to get incentives to go work on farms | CroweDM
Younger Australians will be offered new incentives to fill a growing jobs gap in the regions as part of a budget package that aims to boost farm production to $100 billion within a decade.
A separate plan to help the regions "bounce back" from the pandemic will include $135 million for regional services, to be announced on Wednesday by Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Michael McCormack.Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said farmers would gain more help after keeping production at about $61 billion this year despite floods, drought, bushfires and the coronavirus crisis.
The new budget measures are likely to add to a $300 "income free area" that allows recipients to earn up to that amount without losing any of their JobSeeker payment. "I don't think you're going to see [a] rush to the regions, I think you'll see a small but orderly transition of some people in metro areas who see the opportunities."Mr Littleproud embraced an industry goal to expand agricultural output to $100 billion by 2030, promising government measures to "bust congestion" that holds back exporters.
"They can stay in Australia and work if they work in agriculture, but what are the some of the ways that we might incentivise them to do more in agriculture, stay in agriculture and stay in Australia a bit longer?" Mr Littleproud said. Labor agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon has called for faster action on the worker shortage and the country's dependence on seasonal workers from overseas.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Government offering incentives to Australians to assist on farms amid labour shortage | Sky News AustraliaThe Morrison government will offer new incentives to Australians on JobSeeker and Youth Allowance payments to assist with fruit picking and farm duties as the agriculture sector struggles through a major labour shortage.\n\nNew incentives will be revealed during next Tuesday's budget announcement, including earnings of up to $300 a fortnight before welfare payments are reduced.\n\nAgriculture Minister David Littleproud said the government would 'throw everything but the kitchen sink' at the issue but said it shouldn't be expected the problem would be solved unless 'Australians were prepared to have a crack'.\n\nA separate pool of $135 million in the budget to help regional recovery will be detailed by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack in a pre-budget speech.\n\nA sharp downturn in foreign workers due to international border closures brought about by the coronavirus pandemic saw the sector struggling to find temporary workers.\n\n
Read more »
Boy's terrifying encounter with magpie goes viralA young Aussie boy has become the inadvertent face of swooping season after a video of him fleeing a territorial magpie went viral. 9News
Read more »
Germany names hydrogen the hero of its post-coal futureExclusive: Australian wind and solar farms could help Germany phase out its use of coal under a major export deal that promises to create thousands of new jobs | BevanShields
Read more »
Perrottet's staffer hired under a 'sham arrangement'A former US Republican political staffer hired to work for NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet cost government insurer icare at least $700,000 in wages despite barely working for the agency.
Read more »
'A bargain... in time': McCormack says $33m airport land buy will pay offDeputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack believes taxpayers got a bargain in spending $33 million to buy part of a dairy farm near the western Sydney airport that was later valued at $3 million | katinacurtis
Read more »
Tragic farm accident kills 15-year-old and injures her sisterA tragic farm accident has killed a 15-year-old in Queensland and injured her sister, sending shockwaves through the community.
Read more »