The Agriculture Minister is blaming union interference for delays in finalising the agriculture visa.

Farmers are expressing their frustration because they still can’t bring foreign workers in under the scheme despite a previous claim it would be up and running by Christmas.

David Littleproud is accusing the Australian Workers Union of lobbying against the visa during efforts to finalise bilateral agreements.

“They actually went and met with ambassadors and lobbied embassies of these south-east Asian countries, asking them not to sign up to this visa, because they believed Australian farmers would simply exploit every worker that came through,” he told John Stanley.

“An absolutely abhorrent situation that’s cast doubt in the minds of some of these countries.”

He says while no countries have signed on for the visa yet, the Foreign Minister is making good progress.

“In January, she believes she’ll have a fair bit of that completed.”

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