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Category: Agricultural Crops / Tourism / Tax

Horror season looms for Tasmanian fruit producers, lobby group warns

Thursday, 22 Sep 2016 04:18:00 | Richard Baines

Tasmanian fruit growers are facing a labour shortage. (Sharon Kennedy)

Tasmanian fruit growers are facing a serious labour shortage ahead of harvesting season, with ongoing uncertainty around the backpacker tax being blamed.

The Federal Government has delayed its initial plan for a six-month 32.5 per cent backpacker tax, with speculation a 19 per cent compromise will be reached.

It is unclear exactly when a decision will be made, but Fruit Growers Tasmania's (FGT) Phil Pyke said he was fearful the delays would hit growers hard.

"Any decision from government now is too late, these people have made their plans a year ago, to travel, to work to move around our country."

Mr Pyke said he was worried that New Zealand will capitalise on the seasonal work-force.

"We know that New Zealand has been actively advertising in our source countries in Asia," he said.

FGT estimates about 6,000 backpackers work in Tasmania during harvest.

Mr Pyke said inquiries for work were down dramatically.

"We estimate that inquiries are down 40 per cent, so there's no certainty around this at all," he said.

Fruit picker Photo: New Zealand is already targeting Australia's backpacker workforce, Tasmanian fruit growers say. (ABC)

The tax has been the subject of robust debate since it was first announced in 2015.

Liberal Tasmania Senator Jonathon Duniam is one of a number of backbenchers lobbying against the tax.

The new Senator recently joined the state Primary Producers in a meeting to express concerns.

Despite receiving no firm assurances about the future of the tax, he said he had taken his concerns right to the top.

"The Prime Minister has been very receptive to the concerns that have been raised with him which encourages him greatly," he said.

Senator Duniam said he did not believe it was too late for a deal to be reached.

"I don't think it's too late to act, we must act now and that's why I've raised it to the level of the Prime Minister and as I say I will keep working hard until we have a resolution," he said.

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