SOLUTIONS to the looming labour shortage for the Sunraysia horticulture industry need to be found and implemented now.

Member for Mildura Ali Cupper will meet with representatives from Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes office and Agriculture Victoria on Thursday to implore the Victorian Government to work with the horticulture industry to find a way to address the looming crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic had led to an exodus of backpackers out of Australia while accessing international workers through initiatives such as the Pacific Labour Scheme have been complicated by closed international border and quarantine issues.

“This is a matter of urgency and we need the Victorian Government to fast-track solutions to the quarantine issue so farmers can access Pacific Island workers,” Ms Cupper said.

“I have been discussing these issues at length with representatives from the table grape and citrus industries, who fear they will not have the labour they need for harvesting which will start very soon.

“Other States have introduced quarantine arrangements, but the Victorian Government has yet to do so. This needs to happen as a matter or urgency. We don’t have weeks or months, it has to happen now.”

Ms Cupper said the labour shortage issue, couple with growing tensions around trade with China, were hugely worrying issues for the Sunraysia horticulture industry.

“Given the year we have had, the last thing our growers – and associated industries – need is a season decimated by issues such as labour shortages or China trade sanctions,” she said.

“I will be imploring the Victorian Government to do what it can to ensure certainty for our horticulture industries.”