Speaker
The cuts surprised the service providers with all four confirming there was no consultation. MADEC, the contractor responsible for facilitating the employment of approximately 5,000 people on the harvest trail this financial year, will make 40 staff redundant and close six offices in Renmark, Shepparton, Coffs Harbour, Sale, Griffith and Caboolture. Best employment will cut four staff and close its Stanthorpe and Gatton offices While Rural Enterprises Australia, the sole provider in WA, will cut one job and one office. Despite the government referring to the HTS website as the best place to find harvest jobs in Australia, the budget stated the cuts were about redirecting spending to higher quality areas. In a statement, a Department of Employment and Workplace Relations spokesperson said there had been a sustained and significant decline in the use of the harvest trial services by both employers and job seekers.