Labour shortages in Murray Valley horticulture: a survey of growers' needs and attitudes

In recent years there has been extensive media reporting on the issue of rural labour shortages, particularly for seasonal work in horticulture. In these news stories, growers complain about lost export opportunities, about fruit left to rot on trees or vegetables ploughed back into the soil, and about the disruptive impact of sudden raids by government officials searching for illegal immigrants. The common refrain is that there is ‘good money’ to be made in fruit picking and other seasonal pursuits, but that Australians no longer want to take on these jobs because they are seen as too hot, too hard and too dirty. The growers’ difficulties in attracting labour have intensified calls for a new temporary work visa to allow overseas workers to enter Australia and take up seasonal employment. [Executive Summary]