Daniel Andrews is slammed for planning to let international students into Victoria while shutting out stranded Aussies and desperately-needed farm workers
- Daniel Andrews said he wants to let international students enter Victoria
- But Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said he should focus on farm workers
- $38million worth of crop has been lost this harvest across the country
Daniel Andrews is facing criticism for planning to let international students into Victoria as desperate farmers are forced to leave crops to rot because they can’t get enough staff to pick them.
The premier on Thursday said he would consider ‘bespoke’ quarantine arrangements for international students as universities stand to lose billions in fees and rent because foreigners are banned from entering the country due to Covid-19.
But Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the premier should focus on plans to quarantine international crop pickers as Aussie farmers struggle to recruit enough staff.
International students are huge contributors to the economy. Pictured: Shoppers in Melbourne on Boxing Day
Farmers in Western Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, Queensland and the Northern Territory have recruited more than 2,000 workers under the government’s Pacific and Seasonal labour schemes – but Victoria hasn’t let in a single one.
‘In October last year, the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance presented the Andrews Government with a quarantine plan developed by Aspen Medical however so far Dan Andrews has failed to respond to the plan or discuss any alternative options with industry,’ Mr Littleproud said on Friday.
An estimated $38million worth of crop has been lost this harvest across the country due to labour shortages.
Farmers in the Greater Shepparton region of Victoria have put out a call for more fruit pickers amid fears of huge crop losses.
The area produces 86 per cent of Australia’s pears, 70 per cent of Australia’s peaches, 49 per cent of Australia’s plums, 80 per cent of Australia’s Kiwi Fruit and 38 per cent of Australia’s apples.
‘If Dan Andrews doesn’t act soon, all Australians will feel the pain through massive crop losses and higher grocery prices,’ Mr Littleproud warned.
A seasonal worker harvests Valencia oranges from a tree at an orchard near Griffith, New South Wales in October
The deputy Nationals leader said if a plan to quarantine 1,200 tennis players and staff for the Australian Open in Melbourne can be drawn up, then a plan to bring in farm workers should not be out of reach.
‘Dan Andrews has already done a special deal for tennis players from Covid hot spots and now wants a special deal to bring in international students, but he is stubbornly refusing to help his own farmers,’ Mr Littleproud said.
Last year Australia’s education exports surged by $5billion to a record high of $37.6billion.
But the sector is badly suffering from an absence of international students due to coronavirus border restrictions.
In November only 150 international students arrived in Australia, compared with 38,260 students in the same month the previous year.
Meanwhile, thousands of Victorians remain stranded away from home because they visited Sydney and Brisbane which suffered Covid-19 outbreaks.
The state reopened its border to regional NSW on Monday but many are still blocked out after visiting the major cities.
Health Minister Foley said the government is constantly reviewing the red zones, taking into account the number of active cases and mystery cases in both states.
In a press conference on Thursday, Premier Andrews said he was looking at ways to bring both farm workers and students in.
‘I can’t give you a date when we’ll finalise all of that work but it’s literally what’s dominating a fair bit of our time at the moment,’ Mr Andrews said.
‘All of those are critical to making sure that the economy is as strong as it can possibly be, but none of them are easy.
‘They all come with their own challenges, and when we have an announcements to make, we’ll be sure to do that.’
In a press conference on Thursday, Premier Andrews said he was looking at ways to bring both farm workers and students in
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