Following extensive lobbying by the rural sector, the government has announced changes to the temporary work visa process. These changes are not a permanent solution to migrant labour issues but will help farmers to retain their migrant workforce through the upcoming busy period of calving and peak milk production. 

Key changes are:

• Extending temporary work visas due to expire by the end of 2020 by six months
• Delaying the start of the stand-down period by six months to February 2021 instead of August 2020, and
• Reducing the duration of all new low-skilled essential skills visas from twelve to six months for the next 18 months.

The temporary extension of existing visas and delay to the stand-down period is beneficial, but this is coupled with a reduced period for new low-skilled visas, meaning low-skilled staff will require a visa renewal every six months, including a labour market test.