Australia agrees priority visa processing for farm workers

GPA stated that the government, which has announced plans to reduce annual immigration, has agreed to allow farm industry bodies to submit urgent farm worker cases for priority processing. GPA Chair Matthew Madden expressed gratitude for the government's action, though he noted uncertainty about the mechanism's effectiveness, processing capacity, and speed of approvals. He expressed hope that growers now have a pathway to secure critical workers for the harvest.

Government measures include a three-month processing target and limitations on visa extensions. Farm groups have reported that processing for working holiday maker visas, heavily utilized by farms and rural businesses, has already stretched from days to months. A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs confirmed to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the department will collaborate with the National Farmers Federation to identify and prioritize skilled agricultural workers on working holiday visas who have secured employment and require arrival within three months.