Farmers criticize PM's plan to use job seekers instead of foreign workers on farms

Job seekers are encouraged by a new Morrison government to look for work on farms or lose their welfare benefits for up to a month.

Under the schemes, farmers can register their job requirements, wages and conditions with the National Harvest Labor Information Service and work providers try to find local unemployed people to fill the positions.

If job seekers do not have a reasonable excuse not to accept the work, they can shorten or withdraw their income support benefits up to four weeks.

"While tackling the labor shortage, this also ensures that job seekers on taxpayer support have no excuse to refuse opportunities," said Prime Minister Scott Morrison of the plan.

Premier Scott Morrison is seen with Aquasun director Keith Webb during a visit to Aquasun Produce in Murray Bridge, South Australia, Saturday, October 13

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Fiona Simson, president of the national farmers' federation, however, has taken the "root and stick" approach of the government to close the work on the farm as a "superficial approach to a major problem", and says that the industry has long insisted on a special agricultural visa.

"Many agricultural tasks are short-term or seasonal, often these schemes are not attractive to local employees, who have financial obligations and pursue long-term ambitions," Simson said.

National Farmers Federation President Fiona Simson at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra

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The Prime Minister said that assistant minister for international development Anne Ruston would work in the coming weeks to ensure that relevant changes were made to the Pacific Islander plan.

Mr Morrison also said that he would work with the Minister of Immigration, David Coleman, on possible changes to the visa program for working holidays.

Labor was also critical of the announcement with agricultural spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon, who called it a stunt to distract from promised visa bottlenecks.

"The last thing growers need is people who do not want to be there," he said.

"This is from the guy who introduced a backpacker tax."