Queensland farmers seek wage subsidies

Queensland farmers seek wage subsidies

While they're counting the losses and cleaning up the mess, Queensland's fruit and vegetable growers hit by floods and Cyclone Yasi are also looking to the future.

One of the things they say that will help them rebuild and replant is to keep their workers in the regions where they're needed.

Alex Livingstone, from Growcom, is putting forward a case to government for a wage subsidy, something that was offered after Cyclone Larry hit the far north in 2006.






Australia, Queensland, Fraser Coast, Maryborough, Koala Crossing Sign on the Bruce Highway


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"That enables growers to keep labour on farm to help with the clean up and any replanting work that needs to be done," he said.

"It's also a major stimulus to the local town because people are continuing to earn.

"It keeps skilled labour in the area, because what we've found in the past is that if there's a major dislocation and a long time without paid employment, then the skilled labour tends to leave the area."

Queensland farmers seek wage subsidies