Australianews.com.au

Hidden cost of immigration crackdown

Australian farmers are warning that the Albanese government's immigration crackdowns could worsen farm labour shortages and push up the price of fresh produce.

Australian farmers and industry experts have sounded the alarm on government immigration policy reforms in fear they will exacerbate workforce shortages and drive up the cost of fresh produce for consumers.

The Long Sip
What happened

Farmers and industry experts have raised alarm that new federal immigration reforms, including visa crackdowns and backpacker ballots, will deepen agricultural workforce shortages.

The detail

The reforms include tougher rules on visa overstayers, restrictions on international students bringing family, and a no-further-stay provision on future visas.

What it means

Experts warn reduced farm labour could drive up the cost of fresh produce for Australian consumers already under cost-of-living pressure.

Full story at news.com.au

What readers are saying

Philo
The bit about 30 per cent of apple harvest going to waste due to bruising really drives home why you can't just swap manual labour for machines in horticulture. Dr Candrawinata's right that tree shakers would wreck delicate fruit, so if you cut migrant workers without a plan B, you're not just looking at higher prices - you're looking at throwing perfectly good food in the bin.
col1957
One in four horticulture workers are temporary migrants. If the government cuts those numbers without replacing them, check your grocery receipts in twelve months.
wayne_narrandera
Turning the tap on and off creates bottlenecks, as the story notes. Short-term politics, long-term supply chain damage.

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