The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) has called for a renewed focus on a sustainable agricultural workforce, urging policymakers to ensure the needs of regional communities are properly addressed.
In a submission to the Value of Skilled Migration to Australia Inquiry, which closes today, the NFF said while skilled migrants played an important supporting role in the agricultural workforce, we shouldn't lose sight of the critical role unskilled and semi-skilled workers play.
NFF President Hamish McIntyre said agriculture's main workforce issue was sustainability, not simply the source of labour.
"The majority of farm labour shortages are in unskilled or semi-skilled roles," Mr McIntyre said.
"We are more worried about the long-term sustainability of the workforce supplying the agricultural sector, rather than where the workers come from.
"Rural industries rely on a mix of non-skilled and skilled labour, and policies should reflect that reality."
Mr McIntyre acknowledged that niche agribusinesses and technical roles benefited from targeted skilled migration.
"Skilled migration does play a role in jobs that are tech-forward, like agronomy, precision ag, machinery maintenance and operation, biosecurity, and compliance," Mr McIntyre said.
"We believe skilled migration should be flexible, targeted, and responsive to genuine regional demand."
The NFF recommended that programs to assist existing workers be given precedence to skilled migration changes.
"Initiatives like seasonal worker programs and domestic workforce development would be of more value to ag than tweaks to skilled migration parameters," Mr McIntyre said.
The NFF submission can be viewed here.
