The Hodgman Liberal Government will provide funding for a targeted online campaign to encourage backpackers to Tasmania for the upcoming harvest seasons.
The campaign, which will be developed by industry, comes after discussions with industry about ensuring the demand for pickers locally could be met.
The Tasmanian Government will provide $10,000 funding to Fruit Growers Tasmania (FGT) to coordinate an industry run online campaign, including targeted social media, to promote harvest jobs in Tasmania.
It will encourage backpackers who may wish to take up this type of work and to increase the number of locals signing up for fruit picking and other seasonal harvest jobs as well.
We recognise that backpackers and travellers are an important component of the workforce that the industry utilises during peak season and we want to ensure we are working with industry to ensure they have the pickers needed.
Anecdotally, there are also reports of some pickers who have already arranged to visit Tasmania and work for particular growers.
We will work with industry to identify opportunities to target these pickers as well to identify opportunities to encourage them to extend their say and work with other industries and growers.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water
