Federal Govt Restores Priority Visa Processing for Agricultural Workers
Moyne Shire Council has welcomed the Federal Government's decision to restore agriculture as a priority sector for skilled visa processing. This change reverses Ministerial Direction 119, which altered visa processing priorities and left many employer-sponsored agricultural workers facing longer processing times.
The agriculture industry is crucial to the Moyne economy, generating over $1.1 billion in annual output and directly supporting more than 2,700 local jobs. Mayor Jordan Lockett said the decision was a positive outcome for farmers and regional communities, acknowledging that agriculture is 'simply too important to be treated as an afterthought'.
The updated visa processing priorities now include agriculture alongside other critical industries such as construction, healthcare, fisheries, and teaching. Council will continue to advocate on issues affecting local farmers and agricultural businesses, recognizing the significant role agriculture plays in supporting jobs, exports, and food production.