❓ Hon Brian Ellis raises concerns about rural labour shortages and seeks information on the WA government's awareness and planned actions regarding the National Farmers' Federation plan and the temporary work visa scheme review. The Minister, Hon Jon Ford, defers answering, citing dissatisfaction with the provided response.
AnsweredQoN 370Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
RURAL LABOUR SHORTAGE
I refer to the chronic shortage of labour in rural areas, both on farms and in associated businesses, such as abattoirs and dealerships. (1) Is the minister aware that the National Farmers’ Federation has submitted a labour shortage action plan, comprising 42 recommendations, to the federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry? (2) Is the minister aware that a key member of the federal government’s reference group to review the temporary work visa scheme is reported to have stated that chronic labour shortage is a bigger issue in Western Australia than is the case in the rest of Australia? (3) Will the Western Australian government encourage the federal government to support the National Farmers’ Federation plan; if not, why not; and, what support will be provided by the Western Australian government? (4) Given that the temporary work visa reference group is due to report in April, what commitment has the Western Australian government given to work with the federal government to implement the recommendations? Hon JON FORD
I refer to the chronic shortage of labour in rural areas, both on farms and in associated businesses, such as abattoirs and dealerships. (1) Is the minister aware that the National Farmers’ Federation has submitted a labour shortage action plan, comprising 42 recommendations, to the federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry? (2) Is the minister aware that a key member of the federal government’s reference group to review the temporary work visa scheme is reported to have stated that chronic labour shortage is a bigger issue in Western Australia than is the case in the rest of Australia? (3) Will the Western Australian government encourage the federal government to support the National Farmers’ Federation plan; if not, why not; and, what support will be provided by the Western Australian government? (4) Given that the temporary work visa reference group is due to report in April, what commitment has the Western Australian government given to work with the federal government to implement the recommendations? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
(1) Is the minister aware that the National Farmers’ Federation has submitted a labour shortage action plan, comprising 42 recommendations, to the federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry? (2) Is the minister aware that a key member of the federal government’s reference group to review the temporary work visa scheme is reported to have stated that chronic labour shortage is a bigger issue in Western Australia than is the case in the rest of Australia? (3) Will the Western Australian government encourage the federal government to support the National Farmers’ Federation plan; if not, why not; and, what support will be provided by the Western Australian government? (4) Given that the temporary work visa reference group is due to report in April, what commitment has the Western Australian government given to work with the federal government to implement the recommendations? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
(2) Is the minister aware that a key member of the federal government’s reference group to review the temporary work visa scheme is reported to have stated that chronic labour shortage is a bigger issue in Western Australia than is the case in the rest of Australia? (3) Will the Western Australian government encourage the federal government to support the National Farmers’ Federation plan; if not, why not; and, what support will be provided by the Western Australian government? (4) Given that the temporary work visa reference group is due to report in April, what commitment has the Western Australian government given to work with the federal government to implement the recommendations? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
(3) Will the Western Australian government encourage the federal government to support the National Farmers’ Federation plan; if not, why not; and, what support will be provided by the Western Australian government? (4) Given that the temporary work visa reference group is due to report in April, what commitment has the Western Australian government given to work with the federal government to implement the recommendations? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
(4) Given that the temporary work visa reference group is due to report in April, what commitment has the Western Australian government given to work with the federal government to implement the recommendations? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
(1) Is the minister aware that the National Farmers’ Federation has submitted a labour shortage action plan, comprising 42 recommendations, to the federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry? (2) Is the minister aware that a key member of the federal government’s reference group to review the temporary work visa scheme is reported to have stated that chronic labour shortage is a bigger issue in Western Australia than is the case in the rest of Australia? (3) Will the Western Australian government encourage the federal government to support the National Farmers’ Federation plan; if not, why not; and, what support will be provided by the Western Australian government? (4) Given that the temporary work visa reference group is due to report in April, what commitment has the Western Australian government given to work with the federal government to implement the recommendations? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
(2) Is the minister aware that a key member of the federal government’s reference group to review the temporary work visa scheme is reported to have stated that chronic labour shortage is a bigger issue in Western Australia than is the case in the rest of Australia? (3) Will the Western Australian government encourage the federal government to support the National Farmers’ Federation plan; if not, why not; and, what support will be provided by the Western Australian government? (4) Given that the temporary work visa reference group is due to report in April, what commitment has the Western Australian government given to work with the federal government to implement the recommendations? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
(3) Will the Western Australian government encourage the federal government to support the National Farmers’ Federation plan; if not, why not; and, what support will be provided by the Western Australian government? (4) Given that the temporary work visa reference group is due to report in April, what commitment has the Western Australian government given to work with the federal government to implement the recommendations? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
(4) Given that the temporary work visa reference group is due to report in April, what commitment has the Western Australian government given to work with the federal government to implement the recommendations? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
I thank Hon Brian Ellis for the question. Unfortunately, in the time I have been reviewing this answer—going backwards and forwards to the department—I could not understand the answer that was presented to me. In the end, it came over as a lot of waffle. On the basis that I was not happy with the answer, I ask the member to put the question on notice and we will come up with a much better response.
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