Farmers’ report offers cure for most 457 visa rural ills

Australia's National Farmers' Federation (NFF) claims the nation's farm sector could be spared rigid, costly red tape if the Federal Government adopts the final report of the Deegan Review into the subclass 457 visa.

The NFF says the recommendations reflect the practical overhaul needed by farmers who employ a growing number of migrant workers.

"While our farm sector directly employs almost 300,000 Australians, increasingly we're looking to overseas workers to fill the chronic labour shortage in rural and regional areas," NFF president David Crombie says.

"The NFF urged major, but pragmatic, changes to the skilled migration program, especially as it applies to agricultural occupations."

"With skills shortages a drain on farm production and growth, and red tape strangling farmers needing migration options, the review is timely."

The final report of the integrity review makes numerous recommendations, including the abolition of the artificial minimum salary level.

"This is an overdue and sensible approach," Mr. Crombie said.

"Our input into the Deegan Review highlighted the importance of regional concessions to agriculture - that is, allowing tradespeople and semi-skilled workers to access the 457 visa.

"The majority of the occupations farmers are crying out for fall into this category.

"A broad range of migration solutions is essential to meet labour and skills needs across farm workforces - the challenge before the Government is to put in place appropriate incentives, infrastructure and training resources to encourage Australians to seize these opportunities.

"In the meantime, the skilled migration program provides the skilled employees needed in agriculture now.

"Migration is one of the many solutions to labour and skills shortages that the NFF has developed, interlinking with local solutions to develop a national strategy set out in our 2008 Labour Shortage Action Plan."