Workforce issues dominate production horticulture’s list of requirements for the new Federal Government following the Saturday, July 2 election.
This week Growcom launched its political wishlist, Healthy Horticulture for a Healthy Australia, with the endorsement of the Queensland Horticulture Council.
It calls on all sides of federal politics for their commitment towards:
- Building a strong horticultural workforce
- Creating the conditions for a competitive horticulture industry
- Investing in information and research for the future
- Strengthening Australia’s biosecurity system
- Supporting on-going efforts towards environmental sustainability and
- Promoting healthy eating to all Australians.
Top of the list is our agenda for a strong horticultural workforce that would see the immediate scrapping of the 32.5 per cent tax rate for backpackers, due to be introduced in January.
We call on all parties to follow the lead of Independent Nick Xenophon and the Greens in opposing this new tax which will see backpacker numbers decline in regional areas of Australia where they are vitally needed for seasonal work in horticulture.
A comprehensive review of the labour needs of the horticulture industry needs to be undertaken by the new Federal Government encompassing such issues as:
- Attraction strategies
- Skills development
- Regulation of labour hire companies
- Business and risk management
- Succession planning and
- Identifying the best mechanisms for utilising overseas workers.
The recent recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s Review of the Workplace Relations Framework need to be put in place urgently, including:
- An end to the four-yearly modern award review
- A revised modern awards objective that accommodates individual sector needs
- New incentives to encourage enterprise bargaining, and
- Changes to protected industrial action rules.
Growcom will distribute its election document to all political candidates in horticultural regions this week and call for their policy agenda to bolster horticultural production in Australia.
Growcom’s federal election statement can be read at www.growcom.com.au
