CANBERRA, 20 SEPTEMBER 2018 (ABC) – A bitter battle between National Party politicians and staff is undermining the authority and threatening the leadership of Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister.
The tension has reached the point where senior figures in the party are openly calling on Michael McCormack to “muscle up” amid frustrations he has been unable to deliver policies his colleagues want the government to adopt.
The latest flare-up surrounds calls for a special agricultural visa for farm workers, which the government was expected to unveil this week but has since shelved.
The proposed visa would allow for foreign workers to come to Australia to overcome farm labour shortages.
Supporters of McCormack have slammed those within their ranks who they allege have led an effort to undermine his authority ever since he unexpectedly became leader.
The internal dispute over the agricultural visa goes to the heart of the problems engulfing the party.
Party room demands action on farm worker visa
During the week of the Liberal leadership saga, National Party MPs and senators met on numerous occasions.
Multiple sources have confirmed the party room pressured McCormack to make an agricultural visa a top priority in his discussions with whoever was to lead the Liberal Party.
McCormack has repeatedly refused to say what was in the Coalition agreement he struck with Morrison.
In an interview recorded just days after the Liberal leadership change, McCormack was asked if “an ag-specific work visa was part of the Coalition agreement” he struck with Morrison.
Less than a week later, Agriculture Minister David Littleproud told a rural press function in Brisbane that an agricultural visa would be announced soon.
The expectations grew further following a report on RN Breakfast that forecasted the possibility of an announcement this week.
Those expectations hit fever pitch late last week when reporters were told an announcement would happen on Tuesday.
The prospect of an imminent announcement of an agricultural visa sent ripples of alarm through the Pacific.
At the moment, thousands of workers from Pacific Island countries come to Australia every year under the Seasonal Worker Programme and the Pacific Labour Scheme.
The programs draw mixed reviews from growers — some heap praise on them, while others complain they are too rigid and haven’t delivered enough workers for the industry.
But they remain hugely popular in Pacific nations, partly because they offer workers there an invaluable source of income.
Experts have estimated that the Seasonal Workers Program has injected almost $150 million (US$108 million) into the pockets of pickers from across the region.
So it’s not surprising that Pacific Island officials and leaders were aghast at the prospect of a new agriculture visa.
They feared that both programs would be sidelined — and ultimately destroyed — if Australia liberalised its visa regime and welcomed thousands more workers from far more populous nations.
Worse than that, they were angry that the Australian Government was apparently on the brink of making an announcement on a new visa without bothering to consult them.
One labour official in a Pacific Island country — who didn’t want to be identified — didn’t mince his words.
“Yes, this is a big deal for us, of course it is. It’s been a big success and [my country] wants to see more people going to Australia, not less. This could be very bad.”
Economists who have championed the Seasonal Workers Programs warned that Australia would also face serious strategic consequences if it pressed ahead with the visa.
“The one thing we can offer Pacific nations that China can’t is labour mobility,” wrote Stephen Howes from the Development Policy Centre.
“If they were partly or largely replaced by workers from countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam, it would greatly antagonise our Pacific Island neighbours, shred our credibility in the Pacific, and it would drive Pacific countries towards China.”
Sources the ABC have spoken with deny there was any intervention by the Prime Minister or Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne to prevent the planned visa announcement from proceeding.
However, that message — and the angry response from Pacific Island nations — got through to the Morrison Government.
The National Farmers Federation has long talked about the need for an agricultural visa.
Littleproud has repeatedly spoken of his support for the visa and said he hoped it would be implemented before the end of this year.
The 2018-19 budget released in May included $4.7 million (US$3.4 million) for the next four years “to improve the collection and analysis of agricultural labour force data to better inform and target policy responses”.
But late last week the government appeared unwilling to wait for those results and insisted a visa would be unveiled this week.
Recriminations for a lack of announcement this week were swift, with blame immediately levelled at McCormack.
But multiple sources the ABC spoke with insisted policy development for the visa rested with the Agriculture Minister and the Liberal-held Immigration and Employment portfolios.
Almost all the politicians the ABC has spoken with about the planned visa announcement said they were shocked at reports it was set to be unveiled.
They said the visa, in its current state, lacked details including the duration of the visa, how it would interact with other visas, and the types of work that could be carried out on it.
Discussions on those details are ongoing within the government.
McCormack and Littleproud have been at odds on a number of policies in recent weeks, particularly Littleproud’s refusal to endorse giving environmental water to farmers in drought.
Those against McCormack say he lacks cut-through in the media and has been unable to stand up to senior Liberals.
Littleproud’s opponents within the party criticise the first-term MP as being inexperienced, ambitious and having been delivered a ministry on a silver platter.
There is no suggestionLittleproud is actively seeking to undermine McCormack.
He has advocated his support for McCormack and the need for stable leadership within the party.
But there are supporters of Littleproud who are actively seeking him to become the leader.
The person wants stronger, decisive leadership that brings with it results the party room wants and gives the National Party a clear distinction from its Coalition partner.
When asked if the person thought it would happen, they responded, “we’ll see”.
