Job seekers are being urged under a new Morrison government scheme to take up work on farms or face losing their welfare payments for up to a month.
Under the arrangements, farmers can register their job requirements, pay and conditions with the National Harvest Labour Information Service and job providers will try to find local unemployed to fill the positions.
If job seekers don't have a reasonable excuse for not accepting the work they can have their income support benefits reduced or withdrawn for up to four weeks.
"While we're tackling the labour shortage this also ensures job seekers on taxpayer support have no excuse to refuse opportunities," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said of the scheme.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is seen with Aquasun Director Keith Webb during a visit to Aquasun Produce in Murray Bridge, South Australia, Saturday, October 13 Source: AAP
However National Farmers' Federation President Fiona Simson has slammed the government's "carrot and stick" push to fill farm work as a "shallow approach to a deep problem" and says industry has long called for a dedicated agricultural visa.
"Many agricultural tasks are short-term or seasonal. Often these arrangements aren't attractive to local workers, who have ongoing financial commitments and longer term career aspirations," Ms Simson said.
National Farmers Federation President Fiona Simson at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra Source: AAP
The Prime Minister said Assistant Minister for International Development Anne Ruston would be working over the next couple of weeks to ensure any relevant changes were made to the Pacific Islander scheme.
Mr Morrison also said he would be working with the Immigration Minister David Coleman on possible changes to the working holiday visa program.
Labor was also critical of the announcement with Agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon calling it a stunt to distract from broken visa promises.
"The last thing growers need is people who don't want to be there," he said.
"This is from the bloke who introduced a backpacker tax."
