COST OF LIVING CRISIS

Labour shortages driving the price of food up, the looming fuel excise increase and continued strain on the housing market is escalating a cost of living crisis which is forcing more locals into increased debt to cover essentials or onto the street.

Federal member for Dawson Andrew Willcox warns that without hands to work the harvests, farmers will be reluctant to plant crops for fear the food will end up rotting on the ground and in trees with no workforce to pick and pack produce.

Willcox Warns Of Food Shortage Crisis

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox warns labour shortages are driving the price of groceries up and escalating the cost-of-living crisis.

“We’re on the verge of a food shortage crisis,” Mr Willcox said.

“This is the time when farmers start to buy seed and plan for their next year’s crop and they’re very concerned about the labour shortages…which means food is rotting on the ground, rotting on the vine, not being picked, which means, for the average person, they’re paying a lot more in the supermarket.”

The Greater Whitsunday Region is home to the largest horticultural winter produce growing region in the country, valued at $450 million annually, and Mr Willcox says the agriculture and food processing sectors estimate the current workforce shortage at over 170,000 workers.

He has called on the Australian Government to reinstate the Ag Visa, saying the Government’s reliance on the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme will fall short of the industry’s current needs.

“It can also be a pathway, if successful, to be able to stay in Australia,” he said.

“That way we have the farmers train the people, get the benefit out of their workforce, but then actually have some longevity in that so they can actually keep a trained workforce going forward.”

Mr Willcox says there should also be a plan to allow veterans and pensioners to be able to work on farms without it affecting their payments.

“There are a lot of lighter duties…you don’t have to necessarily have a lot of physical dexterity to be able to work on farms,” he said.

In response to cost-of-living pressures and soaring fuel costs, the previous Australian Government temporarily halved the fuel excise in March which is set to run out this month.

Mr Willcox is calling on the Government to continue the fuel excise cut.

“We’ve got the cost-of-living crisis right now, so let’s see what we can do to help the average mum and dad now and then we can have a look at other options as we go further,” he said.

“If we don’t get this sorted out, it’s going to be a lot more expensive for the average mum and dad…and they’re going to feel it in their hip pocket.”

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox says we are on the verge of a food shortage crisis which will escalate the cost of living. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

‍Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox says reinstating the Ag Visa and continuing to half the fuel excise will relieve cost-of-living pressures for the families of Dawson

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