Closed Borders Pose Worker Shortage Threat to Australian Harvest
- Virus lockdowns have effectively shut state, national borders
- Country’s winter grain harvest due to start within weeks
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Australia’s grappling with a farm labor shortage just weeks from the start of the country’s winter grain harvest, which is tipped to be the biggest in years following several drought-affected seasons.
Restrictions imposed on state and international borders to stem the spread of coronavirus have left a shortfall of thousands of workers across the agriculture sector, which relies on backpackers and temporary visa holders to fill seasonal roles.