1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,280 Speaker 1: It is just seventeen minutes after ten o'clock and we 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: know that there are landmark talks underway for Indonesia to 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: become a participating country in the Australian agriculture work of visa. 4 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: So joining me on the line to talk a little 5 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: bit more about this is the Minister for Agriculture and 6 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: Northern Australia, David little Proud. 7 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 2: Good morning to you, good morning, good to be with 8 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 2: you now. 9 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: David, tell us a little bit more about the situation 10 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:28,080 Speaker 1: with these work of visas, but all the Australian agriculture 11 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: work of visas, but indeed when it comes to Indonesia 12 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:33,559 Speaker 1: and how it may impact the Northern territory. 13 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, look, obviously we announced the ag visa and 14 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 2: we've been in discussions with four countries across Southeast Asia. 15 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 2: Indonesia are the first country that prepared to be publicly 16 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 2: named as one of those and that's about them showing 17 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 2: intent that they're getting closer and closely getting more comfort 18 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 2: with what we're providing. Now, they're a sovereign government and 19 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 2: they will have to make their own decision, but that 20 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 2: obviously so is a very strong intent that they see 21 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 2: what we're providing to them is an opportunity for us 22 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 2: to enrich that relationship and provide agricultural workers not just 23 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 2: for seasonal but also for skilled and semi skilled. So 24 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,559 Speaker 2: the opportunity is there for their workers to come into 25 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 2: the territory and run across, which is an exciting development. 26 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,760 Speaker 2: We're hoping that the other three countries will also show 27 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 2: that intent, but we're not there yet. They haven't signed up, 28 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 2: but we are very close. What we've also been doing 29 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 2: to make sure that as soon as any of these 30 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: countries do sign up, we've already been working with labor 31 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 2: higher companies and approved employers to actually go and start 32 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 2: this immediately. So if a country was to sign up, 33 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 2: then those labor high companies and improved employers are ready 34 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,759 Speaker 2: to start to bring people in. So we're basically at 35 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 2: the starting gate, just waiting for the gun to go 36 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 2: now and everything's in place for us to have a 37 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 2: quick run. 38 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 1: So, as one of our closest neighbors, why wasn't Indonesia 39 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: part of the work of visa scheme before or why 40 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 1: weren't we sort of considering them previously? 41 00:01:57,960 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 2: Oh, this is brand new, So this is a brand 42 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: new visa system. So Previously we were relying a lot 43 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 2: on the Pacific schemes. Yeah, but the ag visa was 44 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 2: what the National Party was able to secure out of 45 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 2: the UK Free Trade Agreements negotiations of the LIBS. So 46 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: they are the first ones and that's I think that's 47 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 2: the most encouraging thing is that one of our closest 48 00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 2: neighbors is prepared to sign up to that. I think 49 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 2: just says that we do have a strong relationship, and 50 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,679 Speaker 2: particularly the territory. Understand, you guys really have done a 51 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 2: lot of work in building that relationship between the territory 52 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 2: on behalf of Australia and much of the and then 53 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 2: also with the Indonesians themselves. So that'll be pivotal I 54 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 2: think for the territory, and I think you guys have 55 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:40,079 Speaker 2: played the leading role in that over the years, over decades, 56 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,919 Speaker 2: and I think it's starting to pay dividends. Now. 57 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: How soon could this become a reality in terms of 58 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: some of those workforce shortages that we're seeing here in 59 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: the territory basically within. 60 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: A matter of weeks as soon as Indonesia or any 61 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 2: other of these countries sign up. So that's why we've 62 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 2: been doing a lot of the back end work with 63 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 2: labor high companies and with approved deployers to make sure 64 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 2: that if they get the green tick, if the country 65 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 2: signs up to it, then we are ready to move immediately. 66 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 2: And so we've got to understand sovereign governments they get 67 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 2: to make their own minds up and they don't. Just 68 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 2: because Australia's created doesn't mean they'll take it. But it's 69 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 2: encouraging to see Indonesia show this intent and we're hoping 70 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 2: soon that we'll be able to get people. 71 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: On the ground and with those negotiations or with the talks, 72 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,799 Speaker 1: I should say that you've clearly and I'm sure been 73 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: having at different times with the Northern Territory farmers. How 74 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: many I mean like, how many workers could we potentially 75 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: see enter the Northern Territory. 76 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 2: We think we can get well into the hundreds, possibly 77 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: into the one thousands for Christmas if they were to 78 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 2: sign up. So we've been working through that and there's 79 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 2: been a lot of body work that the Home Affairs 80 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 2: have been working with state and territories because the big 81 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 2: limitation will be quarantining. Each state has their own health 82 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 2: order that's determined by the Chief Minister and our Chief 83 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 2: Health Officer, so the commonwewthul stamp to ESUS once they've 84 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 2: decided how they want to do that. Now in the territory, 85 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,200 Speaker 2: you've got Howard Springs. In other states though in New 86 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 2: South Wales now if they're double jab they can come in. 87 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 2: So each state's a little bit different. And if if 88 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:16,840 Speaker 2: there's an eating of some of those restrictions that can 89 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 2: be done safely and there's company in that will be 90 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 2: trying to find as many as we can to meet 91 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 2: that demand. 92 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:24,919 Speaker 1: Well, that's sort of been a bit of a lynchpin 93 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: for us in the territory at different times though, hasn't 94 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: it that there hasn't been that potential to sort of 95 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: have some of these workers quarantine out there at Howard Springs. 96 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:35,559 Speaker 1: I know at different times who've spoken about blade point, 97 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: But do you do you think that we're really sort 98 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:39,600 Speaker 1: of going to be able to make this a little 99 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 1: bit easier. 100 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 2: Well, that's what we're trying to hope that our state 101 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 2: and territory counterparts will be collaborative on this and understand 102 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:48,840 Speaker 2: that they can bring these people in. You've got to 103 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 2: appreciate too, there are already over twenty five thousand men 104 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 2: and women ready to come in from ten Pacific nations 105 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 2: to do the work. They've been there since September last 106 00:04:57,040 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 2: year and the only impediment to that has been whether 107 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 2: the states in two to let them in. So they 108 00:05:01,720 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 2: prebetted they're ready to come and they can be in tomorrow. 109 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 2: This is just an additional scheme that complements and supplements. 110 00:05:08,920 --> 00:05:11,159 Speaker 2: There's no impediment to bring in any of those workers 111 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,160 Speaker 2: in the Pacific scheme now. So this is the frustrating thing. 112 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 2: We've only brought in around twelve and a half thousand, 113 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,920 Speaker 2: when just in horticulture alone, a Bear's is telling us 114 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,920 Speaker 2: we need thirty thousand by February, and then when you 115 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 2: start a look at the rest of the agricultural landscape 116 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 2: outside horticulture, there's thousands more that are required. And that's 117 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 2: why we're just saying that the states, please, you've got 118 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 2: to try and find a courageous way to bring these 119 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:35,880 Speaker 2: people in safely. Work with industry. Anti farmers have been 120 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 2: so forward leaning on this and we just need state 121 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 2: and territories to work with our peak bodies and industry 122 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:43,680 Speaker 2: bodies to find this solution to bring them in. In 123 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 2: New South Wales, it's going to be sorted South Australia 124 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 2: create their own facility, and they're actually trying to undertake 125 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 2: in country quarantining in Vanawatu. So there's a whole lot 126 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 2: of work that's been done. Some states have really excelled, 127 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 2: others haven't. 128 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, hasn't been quite frustrating to see the way that 129 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: different states moving in different states and territories are sort 130 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,919 Speaker 1: of moving, not only when it comes to bringing in workers, 131 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 1: but also when it comes to some of the border 132 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 1: restrictions that we've got. It seems very dislocated at this point. 133 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 2: Well, and that's the limitation of federation. And I think 134 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:15,800 Speaker 2: everyone for many years have thought that we have all 135 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 2: the power and authority in Canberra. Our constitution clearly has 136 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 2: given much of this authority to the states and territories 137 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,119 Speaker 2: and I think as Australians are getting a real lesson 138 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 2: in our constitution and federation. And unfortunately what we're getting 139 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 2: a lesson in is that they don't want to work 140 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 2: together enough to have some continuity and consistency across state borders. 141 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 2: I mean, they all screamed to us they want a 142 00:06:35,839 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 2: national leadership on an agg workers Code, which meant you 143 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 2: could send workers from one state to the other. But 144 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 2: when we put it together and put it to them, Queensland, 145 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 2: West Australia and Tasmania wouldn't sign up. And so if 146 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,359 Speaker 2: you're a farmer out there, you just go, well, you 147 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 2: shake your head, you go lines put it on ap 148 00:06:50,680 --> 00:06:53,359 Speaker 2: one hundred and twenty years ago, a dictating whether I 149 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: can get a worker that already is in Australia here 150 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 2: and then to bring one in. I've got a different 151 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 2: set of circumstances in my state or territories than my 152 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 2: neighbor over the other side of that line. I mean, 153 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 2: it's just in a modern Australia, it's just it hasn't worked. 154 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 2: And unless the premiers and Chief Ministers want to work 155 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 2: with one another and trust one another, I think as 156 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,360 Speaker 2: a nation we have to have a mature conversation with 157 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,120 Speaker 2: what a modern federation looks like into the future once 158 00:07:18,160 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 2: we get through this pandemic. 159 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 1: Well, David little Proud obviously the Minister for Northern Australia 160 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:25,960 Speaker 1: but also the Deputy Leader of the Nationals, and I 161 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 1: know that right now the federal governments obviously trying to 162 00:07:28,800 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: finalize this policy for the Glasgow Climate Summit later this month, 163 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: where are things that from the National Party's perspective. 164 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:42,240 Speaker 2: From the National Party's perspective, we've finalized the mitigans that 165 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,280 Speaker 2: we believe will protect regional rual Australia. We are the 166 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 2: only ones they're detecting region rual Australia where their last 167 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:50,240 Speaker 2: line defense down here in Canberra, so we take that 168 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 2: job seriously. We'd handed that to the Prime Minister. Obviously 169 00:07:54,200 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 2: he'll work through that with us over the coming couple 170 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: of days. We're meeting again on Sunday and we hope 171 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 2: that the Minister will be able to detail how he 172 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 2: can respond to those concerns. But the midigans that we 173 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 2: put forward to achieve this plan that he put forward 174 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 2: to us, so we'd be very constructive. It's been very 175 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:15,080 Speaker 2: collegiate and we're now just in the final stages that 176 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 2: hopefully we can get some comfort for regional rule Australia 177 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: and make a global commitment if it's able to be achieved. 178 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 3: What do some of those mitigants include, Well, they'll become 179 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 3: public at some point very very near in the future, 180 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 3: but at this juncture that this is a policy discussion 181 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 3: between ourselves and the Liberal Party and once that's completed 182 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 3: then obviously we'll be making them very publican and that's 183 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 3: obviously a matter. 184 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 2: Of days away. 185 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: Has it been pretty heated in the Nationals party room. 186 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: I know that Matt Canavan certainly had very differing views to. 187 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 3: Some of you. 188 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 2: I know it hasn't and you understand the culture of 189 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 2: the National Party. We're different to other political parties. We 190 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 2: actually celebrate the difference of opinions on issues. That's actually 191 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 2: a culture that we're fiercely protective of. While Matt may 192 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 2: not agree and some don't agree with Mate on this one, 193 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 2: on others they will. And I'd rather be standing next 194 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 2: to somebody that is a conviction politician than somebody that's 195 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:11,319 Speaker 2: just saying for the sake of saying it and because 196 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 2: their parties told them to. And I think that's what 197 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 2: differentiates the National Party to the other parties is that 198 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:19,439 Speaker 2: we're prepared to wear our heart and our sleeve and 199 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 2: if our mb be getting hurt that we represented our 200 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 2: own electorates will stand up. And that means that the 201 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 2: rest of the party room isn't necessary with us, that's okay, 202 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 2: and we don't find that anything that should be objected 203 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 2: against we simply we simply shake it off, have a 204 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 2: beer and a feed, and we're back to it well. 205 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: David little Proud, the Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia 206 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:42,199 Speaker 1: and also the Deputy Leader of the Nationals, we appreciate 207 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: your time this morning. 208 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 2: Anytime, good to be with you. 209 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:45,439 Speaker 1: Thank you.