As we head towards our harvesting season the challenge of securing workers in the Robinvale area has become even harder, as I discovered after I questioned the Albanese Labor Government  on behalf of a local business.

I spoke with Nathan Falvo of Orchard Tech about his efforts to bring in workers under a former Coalition Government initiative, the Vietnam Labour Mobility Arrangement or ‘VLMA’ for short.  

Let me point out from the outset, Labor have shown their disinterest in regional Australia, that they do not believe in migrants picking horticultural crops.  Labor continues in their delusion that Australians will do the work. But the lived experience in Robinvale and other horticultural areas shows this is not the case.  Labor also forgets we are in near ‘full employment’ in Australia, there is not a large cohort of unemployed Australians ready and willing to come and pick fruit and vegetables, process them or otherwise add value in horticulture.

The first Vietnamese workers were meant to be here already, but Labor have kicked the can down the road citing compliance concerns.  Foreign Minister Penny Wong responded to my letter with a glib response, claiming frustrated local businesses like Orchard Tech can try to secure workers from elsewhere.  

The Albanese Labor Government are behaving poorly, previously signalling Vietnamese workers would be available, but now postponing the Arrangement leaving horticultural businesses scrambling to find workers.

In Government, the Nationals developed the Agricultural Visa building on the Pacific and Seasonal Worker programs to enter bilateral arrangements with nations to allow their workers into Australian agriculture.  The Vietnam Arrangement was a first major step in that direction.

Labor’s stymying approach typifies their mentality toward the regions – they simply don’t care and want to keep us invisible.  My role as your federal Member for Mallee is to ensure you are visible in the media and in Canberra, which is why I shared Orchard Tech’s story in Parliament last month.

I look forward to hearing your local stories and challenges as I visit Robinvale again this coming Thursday 2 October from 9am at the Top End Café – see you there.