Farmers and primary producers across regional Victoria are a step closer to benefitting from the Morrison Government’s new Australian Agriculture Worker Visa, now made law.
Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson said Government amended the Migration Regulations on 30 September 2021 to create the Australian Agriculture Worker Visa (Ag Visa), set to secure the future of rural and regional Australia
“The establishment of the Australian Agriculture Worker Visa under the Migration Regulations is landmark moment for the sector and delivers on our promise to have it in place this year,” Senator Henderson said.
“This visa will be the biggest structural change to agricultural workforce in our nation’s history and producers across regional Victoria are now able to secure the long-term labour force our farmers need.
“The visa will be available to seasonal workers, skilled and semiskilled open to applicants from a range of countries and will include meat processing, fisheries and forestry sectors and provide a basis for the ongoing growth of our primary industries.
“The Agriculture Visa will also create a pathway to permanent residency for those workers who will help secure the future of our region and provide for the entry and temporary stay of workers across primary industries sectors.”
This provides the pathway for workers to arrive with first worker arrivals once partner country negotiations are complete. Any workers will also need to meet necessary Federal and State quarantine requirements.
Fast Facts:
- The Migration Amendment (Australian Agriculture Workers) Regulations 2021 amends the Migration Regulations 1994 and:
- Creates a new Australian Agriculture Worker Stream in the Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations)) visa;
- The new visa stream came into effect on 30 September 2021;
- Provides for the entry and temporary stay of workers across primary industries sectors; and
- Be available to workers from countries that where there is a bilateral agreement in place.
- An independent review of the program will be undertaken after two years.
1 October 2021