‘Backpackers not coming back soon’: Growers face harvest workforce challenges

Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas has warned Victoria’s agricultural industry “backpackers are not coming back any time soon” as growers struggle to find a new seasonal harvesting workforce. Ms Thomas noted the pandemic had revealed the horticulture industry was “over-reliant on overseas” workers and said the Andrews government had adopted a multipronged approach to dealing with the problem. More than $76 million has been diverted to programs designed to aid growers, attract a local workforce and bring some overseas workers into the country.