DAIRY INDUSTRY CALLS FOR VISA PRIORITY TO BE RESTORED

Australian Dairy Farmers is calling on the Federal Government to urgently reverse a change to visa processing which has pushed many skilled dairy workers to the back of the queue.

Ministerial Direction 119 took effect on July 25, removing the previous high-priority processing arrangements for many employer-sponsored regional positions.

Australian Dairy Farmers President Ben Bennett says the change was made without consultation and has left some workers, already waiting up to six months, facing further delays.

He says some farmers have spent up to $12,000 recruiting and sponsoring skilled workers because those skills cannot be found locally.

Mr Bennett says the timing is particularly damaging during spring calving, with delays placing additional pressure on farmers, families and existing staff.

The industry is warning of longer hours, increased fatigue, safety risks and lower productivity, and is calling on the Government to immediately return dairy-related visas to high-priority processing.