@oldjoeschmo 2/ This was in the 80s & meant the middle man at the market paid bottom dollar to the farmer for produce & charged top dollar to retailers, restaurants, manufacturers. Coles/ Woolies saw opportunity to cut out middle man & dealed directly with farmers locking them in on low price
@oldjoeschmo 1/ Agree with all in the article & as a former small crop farmer who DIDN'T employ backpackers but did employ long term workers (not a seasonal crop but year round), the 1 thing the article left out was change in the markets from agents to merchants. 30-40% $$ drop for farmers.
@asherbub @mom22rs @atrupar Australian here. I can't speak for everyone but everyone I know is not surprised at what's going on over there given who's in charge. Your country is a clusterfuck.