He’s calling for greater certainty around visa processing as the peak harvest season fast approaches and access to seasonal staff appears to dry up.
The Federal Government has paused working holiday visa applications from 24 countries, resulting in those visas being processed more slowly.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Darren Chester says that will have far-reaching, negative impacts in the industry.
Mr Crisera said the decision “simply doesn’t make sense”.
Working holiday visas played a critical role in the horticultural industry, particularly for smaller operators, he said.
This is especially the case for work in packing sheds.
Mr Crisera believes the timing of this decision could not be worse, with harvest season looming.
“In horticulture, timing is everything,” he said.
“When fruit and vegetables are ready, they need to be picked.
“You cannot put a crop on hold while you wait for workers to arrive.
“A shortage of workers at the wrong time can mean produce is left in the field, quality is lost and growers lose income.
“We need confidence that the workforce will be available when the crop is ready.”
He called on governments to consult more widely and get as much data as possible before making decisions impacting the agriculture industry.
Mr Chester has called on the government to resume normal processing of working holiday visas.
He also wants agricultural workforce visas prioritised in any future migration policy changes.
“If growers cannot access workers when crops are ready, food production falls, supply chains are disrupted, and Australian families end up paying more at the checkout,” he said.
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