Page 20 - Tropic Magazine Issue 15

INDUSTRY • AGRICULTURE

“An Australian Bureau of Agricultural and automation in water and soil
Resource Economics study has shown that monitoring as well as looking at the MANGO FORECAST
productivity levels go up 30 per cent after myriad of apps and data technology on North Queensland region
seasonal workers have returned,” she said. offer,” she said.
It is not all roses, though. The program Among the benefits, she says, are
has proven controversial, amid an increase in productivity, produce Bowen/Burdekin:
concerns over exploitation and neglect. quality and the reduction of waste. 1.5-million trays
14 workers have died since it was Plus, contrary to popular belief, Ms
introduced in 2012, but Leanne Kruss Kruss says going digital can have a Mareeba/Dimbulah:
says Tropical North Queensland farms positive influence on labour hire in 3.5-million trays
have a good reputation. “Queensland is seasonal industries where it’s difficult Value: $80-$100-million
leading the way to join the dots between to recruit and retain local staff.
government departments to eradicate “Upskilling current workers in Source: Australian Mango Industry
the bad and enhance the good,” she automated and digitised systems Association (AMIA)
said. “Everything’s about the brand and reduces the need for low skilled
the story and far north Queensland gets positions but there’ll be an ability for
that. We make sure the image of FNQ is more locals who are middle to highly
squeaky clean.” skilled to be involved because they’ll
have a more permanent role,” she said.
Industries that service the agriculture
Digital drive to secure more sector are also being encouraged to
local jobs upskill. “For instance, electricians
need to cope with servicing the new,
integrated technology on farms,” Ms
A new training initiative on the Kruss said. “That’s a really big gap we
Atherton Tablelands is expected to are going to see.”
provide more farming sector jobs
for locals. Around 100 agricultural
operations on the Atherton Tablelands
will take part in a series of workshops
over the next 12 months to learn how
they can use technology to transform
family farms into smart food factories.
There has recently been an explosion
in agricultural technologies, including
robotic automation, drones, apps and
software.
Leanne Kruss says the initiative,
funded by the Department of Industry,
Innovation and Science, will cover
the whole gamut of opportunities.
“Everything from payroll processing
through the cloud, robotic picking and
planting, packing shed technology, Jim Kochi

How has the backpacker tax impacted farm labour?

In January 2017, the Federal The National Farmers’ Federation there and do their six hours or so hours
Government implemented a 15% tax says farm labour shortages across of work and they’re great kids.”
for people on Working Holiday Visas. the country are now ‘crippling’ and “Almost every hotel is a backpackers
It means that backpackers pay it is calling for the Government to hostel, you only have to go to the
15% tax on the first $37,000 they introduce a new agriculture visa to supermarkets of an evening, it’s all
earn and the balance is taxed at help source workers. backpackers.”
ordinary rates. Avocados Australia Chairman Jim “We’re lucky in that our farm is close
According to the Department of Kochi says the majority of pickers and to town so the backpackers choose to
Home Affairs’ Working Holiday Visa packers on his Atherton Tablelands come and work with us because it’s
report, a total of 152,622 visas were farm are backpackers. easier for them to get to.”
granted in 2017-18, which equated to “We get people from Japan and Korea “But it’ll get more difficult as more
a 3.3 per cent reduction compared who don’t speak a word of English and trees get planted because we won’t
to 2016-17. they’re neat and tidy and they get out have more backpackers.”

20 • Tropic • Issue 15