The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is to manage a new working visa introduced to attract workers from nearby countries to fill workforce shortages in Australia’s agricultural and primary industries.
The Department said the Australian Agriculture visa would be available to workers across the agricultural (including meat processing), fisheries and forestry sectors and provide a basis for the continuing growth of the country’s primary industries as they strived to reach $100 billion in value by 2030.
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke said DFAT, along with the Departments of Home Affairs and Agriculture, Water and the Environment, would design the visa to ensure a high degree of integrity and safeguards for workers.
“We will work closely with partner Governments also, including our Pacific family, to ensure their interests are protected,” Mr Hawke said.
“Regulations to enable the creation of the Australian Agriculture visa will be in place by the end of September,” he said.
“Operation of the visa will depend on negotiations with partner countries.”
Mr Hawke said the new visa would be open to applicants from a range of countries negotiated through bilateral agreements.
He said full conditions would be developed and implemented over the next three years as the visa became operational.
“During this implementation period, we will work to achieve a demand-driven approach and consider permanent residency pathways and regional settlement,” Mr Hawke said.
“Quarantine places remain the biggest constraint to bringing in overseas workers where there are no Australians to fill workforce shortages,” he said.
“The Government is working closely with States and Territories to ensure we can meet future workforce needs across all sectors,” Mr Hawke said.
