On The Land
18 September, 2026
Growers demand certainty on workers
QUEENSLAND fruit and vegetable growers is calling on Federal Immigration Minister Tony Burke to act on delays and uncertainty affecting the Working Holiday Maker visa program.
QUEENSLAND fruit and vegetable growers is calling on Federal Immigration Minister Tony Burke to act on delays and uncertainty affecting the Working Holiday Maker visa program.
The organisation representing the growers (QFVG) wrote to Minister Burke on 21 August to express concerns about recent developments affecting the visa program, including slower visa processing and uncertainty affecting applications from a number of partner countries.
QFVG chief executive officer Scott Kompo-Harms said growers needed certainty about access to workers ahead of critical harvest periods.
“Horticulture is a seasonal industry, and growers need access to workers when crops are ready to be harvested,” he said.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to recognise the important role Working Holiday Makers play in horticulture and ensure growers have the certainty they need to plan for harvest.”
Queensland’s horticulture industry is a significant contributor to the state’s economy, producing an estimated $4.61 billion in farm-gate value in 2024-25 and supporting 44,846 jobs across the supply chain.
The industry’s seasonal nature creates significant additional demand for labour, with up to 16,860 temporary full-time equivalent jobs becoming available each month during peak harvesting periods.
Recent workforce data released by FNQ Growers highlighted just how much labour demand could change across the year, with horticultural employment in the region increasing through spring and summer as harvesting activity ramped up, before easing during the cooler months.
The data also found that different horticulture businesses rely on different workforce models, with larger operations more likely to directly employ workers through programs such as PALM, while smaller growers often use labour hire providers alongside local workers and Working Holiday Makers.
