NFF WARNS AGAINST RISING FOOD PRODUCTION COSTS

By Jessica Dempster

The National Farmers’ Federation says Monday’s interest rate decision should be a warning to governments against introducing policies that increase the cost of producing Australian food.

Annual inflation has reached 4.3%, with fruit prices rising 10.2%, beef and veal 5.8%, and milk 5.4% in the year to September.

NFF chief executive Michael Guerin says proposed caps on second and third-year Working Holiday Maker visas could leave agriculture with up to 38,000 fewer experienced seasonal workers.

The federation estimates the changes could remove at least 5.7 million days of regional labour, with horticulture particularly exposed as workers account for up to 60% of production costs.

Mr Guerin says the impact is compounded by Working Holiday Maker visa processing times increasing to around three months, potentially leaving growers short of labour during harvest.

The NFF is calling for the proposed visa caps to be reversed and faster processing restored, warning reduced workforce availability could increase production costs and leave crops unpicked.