Vol. 29 No. 11
A FREE PUBLICATION FROM YOUR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS 3WM AND MIXXFM
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
WELCOME: Men’s Sheds across the state are opening their doors during the annual Men’s Shed Week, which started Monday, welcoming men to call in and have a cuppa. Men’s Sheds are designed to create supportive environments unique to their own communities, where men can connect, share experiences and thrive. People can find their nearest Men’s Shed and its contact details at website vmsa.org.au/find-a-shed. Pictured are Horsham Men’s Shed president Noel Hopper, left, and shed members, displaying some of the shed’s items available for sale. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Harvest hold-up F
BY LAUREN HENRY
armers are warning the Federal Government’s deliberate slowing and restriction of visa approvals could leave the agricultural industry without critical workforce this grains harvest. With harvest season fast approaching, farmers and contractors are locking in experienced seasonal workers to operate machinery and support day-today operations during harvest. But workers who were previously granted rapid approval of a subclass 417 Working Holiday visa are being left waiting for weeks – some more than 40 days. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke
issued a ministerial direction on July 24, stating nomination and visa applications for certain skilled visas would be processed according to government policy priorities – with occupations supporting law-enforcement and defence interests afforded the highest priority, followed by those in construction, healthcare, and teaching. The change has resulted in approval times for skilled visas under industry labour agreements stretched to months or more, while working holiday-makers are also experiencing waits of six weeks or longer for approvals – whereas in previous years, approvals often took days or hours. Victorian Farmers Federation, VFF, officials said agriculture could not
afford for its seasonal workforce to become caught up in a broader political debate about migration. VFF president and Minyip farmer Ryan Milgate said farmers needed certainty and a skilled workforce they could rely on when crops and livestock required it. “We are already seeing the impacts of workforce uncertainty, and the timing could not be worse as Victorian agriculture heads into peak harvest and production periods,” he said. “If a crop is ready to harvest and the cattle are needing to be milked and the workers are not there, it will be a potential disaster.” Mr Milgate said while the VFF understood the government had broader
migration issues to manage, agriculture had ‘very specific skilled seasonal workforce needs’. “We are working with our national farming counterparts to make sure that message is heard, but we are also calling on decision-makers to talk to farmers before making uninformed decisions that will have serious consequences at the farm gate,” he said. “This isn’t a speculative issue. We’re already hearing real-world stories and concerns of workers and farmers trapped in limbo.” Mr Milgate said there were plenty of Wimmera grain growers who used overseas skilled workers. “ They’re bringing in people who know the machines, have got experi-
ence in Europe or wherever it might be, and they’re ready to go, so it’s a pretty major impact,” he said. Mr Milgate said while the Wimmera harvest would not start until November, hay contractors were also affected – and their work was starting in the next fortnight. “It’s going to put a lot of pressure on the existing skilled people around, and I’m assuming they’re going to have to go for the next best option, which will be people who don’t have the skills, and they’ll have to train them,” he said. “If you’ve got to start from scratch, and we’ve got a big harvest coming, there’s going to be a lot of pressure. Continued page 3
IN THIS ISSUE • Bird flu detected in Edenhope • Coalition commits to fixing roads • Hockey grand finals set Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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