But Mr Littleproud said that, while farmers in Western Australia, NSW, Tasmania, Queensland and the Northern Territory had so far recruited more than 2000 workers, Victoria was “yet to even develop a quarantine protocol”.“The time for excuses is over. Victorian farmers deserve to be given the same access to workers as their interstate counterparts,” he said. “If Dan Andrews doesn’t act soon, all Australians will feel the pain through massive crop losses and higher grocery prices.”The university sector has been hit hard by the international border closure, and senior figures fear that, without urgent plans for students to return, any recovery will be delayed until at least the second half of this year.Education Minister James Merlino said the state government was in ongoing discussions with education providers and the federal government about getting international students back to Victoria.“One of our greatest service exports in the state is international education, so it’s incredibly important for our economy, for our society,” he said. “We’re working with education providers, we’re working with the Australian government to ensure we can have international students returning when it is safe.”
As thousands of students overseas signed a petition to be allowed to travel to Australia, Mr Merlino said it was too early to reveal details of how they would be able to return.But Mr Littleproud warned against a “special deal” for students if farmers were not helped first to bring in workers.“Dan Andrews has already done a special deal for tennis players from COVID hot spots and now wants a special deal to bring in international students, but he is stubbornly refusing to help his own farmers,” he said.
tom.minear@news.com.au
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