I am extremely disappointed that National Cabinet could not reach a consensus today on the issue of allowing agriculture workers to cross borders.
I would like to thank NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for her advocacy in the meeting, and the Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall who have also championed this cause.
It’s heartening that Prime Minister Scott Morrison, along with the premiers of Victoria and South Australia, saw fit to work on a way forward however it is disappointing that the Queensland premier is holding our farmers and agriculture workers to ransom
We need free movement of agriculture workers, like we have with freight workers, to ensure that people employed in the industry can go where the work is, and farmers in our region can access workers ahead of what looks like being a bumper crop.
Our farmers have persevered through the worst drought on record, and for the first time in a long time things look positive. I would like to encourage the Queensland premier to stop thinking about her upcoming election and use some common sense.