Advocacy success as Federal Government restores farm worker visa prior

Published on 01 October 2026

Moyne Shire Council has welcomed the Federal Government's decision to restore agriculture as a priority sector for skilled visa processing, following strong advocacy from regional communities, industry groups and local government.

The announcement reverses changes introduced under Ministerial Direction 119, which altered visa processing priorities and left many employer-sponsored agricultural workers facing longer processing times.

Under the new arrangements, agriculture has been reinstated as a priority sector alongside other critical industries.

In recent weeks, Moyne Shire Council wrote to the Minister and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, the Minister and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, local Federal Member Dan Tehan MP and Senator for Victoria Raff Ciccone, calling for the restoration of priority processing for agricultural workers.

Mayor Cr Jordan Lockett said the announcement was a positive outcome for farmers, regional communities and the broader agricultural sector.

"This is a welcome acknowledgement that agriculture is simply too important to be treated as an afterthought in Australia's skilled migration system," Cr Lockett said.

"When Ministerial Direction 119 was introduced, local farmers raised concerns that agriculture had effectively been pushed to the back of the queue. Council shared those concerns and took them directly to Federal decision-makers."

Cr Lockett said agriculture is the backbone of the Moyne economy, generating more than $1.1 billion in annual output and directly supporting more than 2,700 local jobs. It also underpins a major food manufacturing sector across south-west Victoria.

He said the decision demonstrated the value of advocacy and the importance of regional voices being heard.

"This is exactly why advocacy matters. Council heard concerns from local producers and worked alongside industry and government representatives to make the case that agriculture deserved to be recognised as a priority industry,” Cr Lockett said.

"We're pleased the Government has listened to regional communities and recognised the critical role agriculture plays in supporting jobs, exports and food production."

The updated visa processing priorities now include agriculture, as well as construction, healthcare, fisheries and teaching.

Cr Lockett said Council would continue to advocate on issues affecting local farmers and agricultural businesses.

"Agriculture supports nearly one-third of all local jobs. When our agricultural sector succeeds, our whole community benefits,” he said.

"We welcome this decision and thank everyone who worked together to ensure the voice of regional Australia was heard."