WITH rental properties in Mildura scarce and labour hard to recruit, Citrus Australia has asked Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to appoint a Commissioner of Horticultural Labour and Accommodation to help solve the crisis.
Citrus Australia chief executive Nathan Hancock said extreme shortages in both labour – short-term and long-term, skilled and unskilled – as well as accommodation will get worse without direct intervention.
“In the Murray Valley region surrounding Mildura, Victoria’s largest citrus production area, the percentage of availability of rentals is in the negative,” he said.
“The lack of accommodation is the biggest barrier preventing skilled workers moving to these regions, and seasonal workers being able to stay safe and comfortable whilst working during seasonal harvest periods.”
The population move from Melbourne to regional areas and closure of backpacker hostels, both due to the pandemic, is further exacerbating the problem.
“A Commissioner could be the lead to work with the federal government in developing a stimulus package that enables private investment in a wide range of accommodation types, including large scale facilities for seasonal workers under the PALM scheme, hostels in towns and short-term rental properties.”
Nathan says there are more immediate solutions that can be enacted.
“In Mildura, for example, the permit (ancillary accommodation) required for growers to build accommodation on-farm does not allow portability between neighbouring farms (a necessity in seasonal work) or allow growers to recoup their costs through charging rent.
“The Victorian government has the opportunity to boost income in rural and regional Victoria, and help end potential worker exploitation, through directly addressing this accommodation crisis.
“A Commissioner of Horticultural Labour and Accommodation is required to direct and lead the government departments involved in necessary solutions.”
