Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended changes to a labour hire initiative following criticism the government’s latest move could push up food prices.
The opposition on Wednesday slammed the new minimum hour requirements for temporary workers under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.
The scheme lets eligible businesses hire employees from nine Pacific island countries and Timor-Leste to plug labour gaps, in agriculture-related jobs.
Under changes which came into effect on Monday, short-term workers must be given a minimum 30 hours per week averaged over four-weeks during their placement.
That requirement runs through until June 30, when the rules impacting employers change again.
From July 1, each worker has to be given at least 30 hours per week, every week during their placement, which lasts up to nine months.
There are industry concerns the 30-hour rule will be “too difficult” to implement given the seasonal nature of the work on offer, and how it is also weather dependent.
“Every Australian understands seasonal availability in fruit and vegetables at the supermarket,” Approved Employers of Australia executive officer Steve Burdette said.
“Farmers need four weeks averaging to manage seasonality – if we go to 30 hours every week, farmers will walk away.
“Contracts are being cancelled already. People now want to reduce their reliance on PALM because the pendulum has swung too far.”
Shadow agriculture minister David Littleproud warned groceries could become more expensive as a result of the changes to the scheme.
“The Nationals are deeply concerned that food prices will rise even further in 2024, at a time when families can least afford it,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Labor is hindering agriculture by taking away the tools farmers need to grow the nation’s food and fibre. It shows Labor is completely out of touch with the industry.”
But Mr Albanese hit back at Mr Littleproud’s remarks during a press conference on Wednesday, saying workers had called for the ability to be able to work the 30 hours.
“The Nationals and the Liberals, no matter what you are talking about, have just one response. They have negativity, they have a failure to put forward any practical solutions,” the Prime Minister said.
“They just say what they’re against, never what they’re for. The changes to the PALM Scheme were as a result of a request, in part by the participants in the scheme as well, allowing for them to be able to work for 30 hours. This is a practical scheme.
“You can’t bring people to Australia on the basis of participating in a labour market program and then have them not paid. So this was a practical measure that was put forward.
“I met with the National Farmers’ Federation about it and we continue to engage cooperatively with both the users of the scheme, but also importantly, the participants in the scheme as well.”
(SKY NEWS)
