Guest workers making up shortage, or fueling expansion?

August 22, 2008

The prospect of unskilled migrant workers coming to Tasmania might seem unfair and unnecessary after yesterday's announcement of job losses at the Cadbury chocolate factory but the fact is that farmers across Australia suffer from a chronic shortage of labour and have done for years.

In some areas, fruit has to be left to rot because not enough reliable pickers can be found. It is part of a wider labour shortage that is likely to get worse in the next few years as the workforce shrinks and the number of retirees swells...

Tasmania has bright prospects in this sector, developing niche markets in fruit and vegetables. Producers could take advantage of the guest workers scheme but only if they do it properly.

The article begins by discussing a labour shortage, and then ends with the tone of "bright prospects ... developing" i.e. a tone of expansion. The guest workers aren't even here yet and the program is already fueling ideas beyond it's purpose.