Australian government tries to pinch temporary kiwi workers, offering $ 2000 to work in Australia

The Australian government is trying to pinch our seasonal workers in an attempt to strengthen its agricultural harvest industry by offering New Zealanders $ 2000 to move through the ditch.

In an email to Kiwis, sent through a non-profit hostel, backpackers, and travel organization, the government is trying to attract New Zealanders by encouraging them to do their “big OE in OZ.”

The offer, which has been advertised on the Australian government’s job search website, promises Kiwis $ 2,000 if they complete six-week harvesting work (20 hours per week minimum) in Australia’s regional areas.

“From November 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021, relocation assistance will be available for individuals to move in and take jobs in agriculture, including harvest work,” the announcement reads.

“You may be eligible for financial assistance to help with travel and lodging costs when you move to take advantage of a short-term farm job opportunity.”

Kiwis who want to take advantage of the offer must be at least 18 years old.

One ad says that if he meets his allotted harvest commitments, “he could be enjoying a hefty Christmas bonus.”

Accommodation is also provided.

The news is likely to worry New Zealand’s agriculture sector, which is facing an alarming shortage of seasonal workers due to our border closures.

New Zealand is heading into peak harvest season and there are not enough workers to pull fruit from trees or vegetables from the ground.

Now there are calls for the government to ease restrictions on temporary visas to prevent many businesses from collapsing.

A Northland farmer is seeing his crops go to waste because his skilled and specialized workforce cannot enter the country.

“This could be my last crop,” says Northland zucchini grower Brett Heap, who grows zucchini near Waipapa in Northland. “I’m at a point where I won’t go through that again.

“I can accept losing a crop to weather, disease or water damage. I have a hard time accepting that I am about to leave the industry because the government does not care.”

Hort NZ CEO Mike Chapman said last week that it was amazing to be facing a harvest season with unresolved issues that were known about six months ago.

Chapman wrote in May about the need for recognized seasonal employer workers. Being now in November without a plan to solve the problems of the workforce was amazing.

“We have not slowed down our campaign to say that we need the borders to be opened.

“We are not even asking the government to pay for it.”

Law enforcement leader David Seymour has repeatedly called on the government to welcome CSR workers from Covid-free countries.

“This government is completely disconnected from the reality of the labor supply.”

Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said that “strict border controls” were a big part of limiting the community spread of Covid-19 and “New Zealanders have made it clear that they value careful management of our borders.”

Faafoi said the government continued to review the needs of the workforce and was considering visa changes for those already in New Zealand. The changes to date had allowed about 6,500 CSR workers to remain in New Zealand, and granted around 11,000 job vacation extensions to work in horticulture and viticulture through June 30, 2021.

He said that Covid-19 meant that “we cannot operate in a world where everything goes on as usual” and meant that sectors needed to find ways to avoid dependence on offshore workers.

He said it included “offering better working conditions” and finding other ways to “attract, train and retain workers.”