NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria Published since 1984
OCTOBER, 2016
37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677
Henty Wrap Up
Livestock
Hay and Silage
PAGE 13
PAGE 20
PAGES 22-23
Orchardists relieved as backpacker tax slashed Agricultural industry welcomes 19 per cent tax rate for working holiday makers
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BY JODIE FLEMING
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“For us, in particular, we have a unique labour requirement and it needs to be timely as the work is spasmodic, so we really need a source of flexible labour that these backpackers offer us.” The 54-year-old farmer – who grows apples, pears, plums and peaches supplying local markets, chain stores, SPC Ardmona and overseas markets – said that for as long as he could remember his family had used the working holidaymakers to help with harvest. “The backpacker component of our labour force is considerable…it’s not a small number,” he said. Continued page 4
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DAIRY QUEEN: Katie Anderson from Yarroweyah took out the coveted Dairy Youth Travel Scholarship worth $10,000 at this year’s Royal Melbourne Show. See page 15 for full details.
FARMERS across Victoria’s North East and the Goulburn Valley are breathing a sigh of relief after the Federal Government scrapped its proposed 32.5 per cent tax on backpackers replacing it with a 19 per cent rate. Third generation Mooroopna orchardist Peter Hall said the tax cut was “an improvement” – putting Australia on equal footing with other countries that use holidaymakers as a main source of horticultural labour. “It brings it (the rate) into line with other comparable countries that backpackers would find attractive to visit,” he said. “We need as many options for harvest labour as possible and any reduction in the availability of workers or any impediment to workers coming to our area is a challenge.