Citrus industry urges commissioner to tackle housing, jobs crisis as farming regions face 'welfare risk'

Australia's citrus industry's leading body calls for greater coordination between government departments to address extreme labor shortages and housing issues that are hampering horticultural businesses of Victoria.

Highlights: Citrus Australia wants horticulture workforce and accommodation commissionerCEO Nathan Hancock says housing and labor shortages are limiting industry Victorian Agriculture Gayle Tierney says government has invested $84m in support scheme

Citrus Australia chief executive Nathan Hancock says growers are struggling with a number of years, but the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated shortages.

"The tripartite agreement signed by government, industry and unions at the recent summit on the jobs and skills highlights these issues, representing an opportunity for Victoria to lead the way in appointing a Horticultural Labor and Housing Commissioner to address the e These housing and labor shortages in our state he said.

Mr. Hancock said the commissioners were being used to harness the knowledge and expertise of different government departments for bushfire and flood control.

"The current agricultural crisis poses a similar financial and social risk to our businesses and communities," he said.

Victoria's citrus industry is valued at $230 million, but growers table grapes, stone fruits and almonds also faced similar labor challenges.

The industry where there are six vacancies per university graduate

A report found that the number of students graduating from university agriculture courses is far below what is needed to address labor shortages. work in the area.

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Mr. Hancock said the economic prosperity of towns such as Mildura, Robinvale, Shepparton and Cobram was at risk.

"It is not a priority for the Minister for Housing, who is having probably more on their plate with bigger urban environments," he said.

"And it's also a job issue, and we'd like to attract people in the regions to work.

"But all these people who come here need a place to live...so we have this circular problem that we don't get on no traction.

< p class="_1g_Rg">"So our view is that we need to have a commissioner to deliberately work through these different problems and solutions that have been proposed and why they can't be implemented and really bring progress to this w hole debate.

"This is an opportunity to break through and o get some traction and get results on the board."