Australia
NT mango farmers warn visa cuts could devastate the industry
Northern Territory growers warn that federal government cuts to working holiday visas could have a devastating impact on the local mango industry.
Northern Territory mango growers have expressed deep concern over the federal government's planned cuts to the working holiday visa program, warning that the changes could have a devastating impact on the sector.
According to a wire report, agricultural producers in the north are raising the alarm as they face the prospect of a significantly reduced seasonal workforce. The working holiday visa program has historically been a critical source of labour for regional farms, particularly during the intense harvesting seasons.
The exact details of the federal visa policy adjustments, including the specific number of visa places to be reduced and the timeline for implementation, have not been fully detailed in the initial reports. It also remains unconfirmed how many local farms will be affected or if any transitional support will be offered to the sector.
Mango farming in the Northern Territory is highly reliant on seasonal workers to pick and pack fruit within tight weather windows. Industry representatives argue that any reduction in visa holders will directly affect their ability to get produce to market, potentially leading to unharvested crops and financial losses.
While federal authorities have previously flagged changes to migration settings to focus on different visa categories, regional agricultural bodies argue that the specific needs of remote horticultural farms are being overlooked. Further details on how the government plans to address the regional labour shortage are yet to be clarified.
It is not yet known whether the federal government will negotiate exemptions or specific pathways for agricultural workers to ease the transition for northern growers.
We will watch to see how the federal government responds to the concerns raised by the Northern Territory agricultural sector in the coming weeks.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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