Legislation to change the Migration Act will be introduced into parliament next month by independent South Australian senator Nick Xenophon to create a visa which could allow an estimated 40,000 foreigners to work in special migration zones in regional Australia.

Specifically targeted at ‘economically challenged’ regions of Australia including South Australia and Tasmania, the proposal is supported by several industry groups, The groups say the measures will boost population growth, revive regional towns and create between ‘1.3 to 1.6 jobs for every job filled’ by a foreigner, according to a report in The Australian

 “This program will be a win-win for struggling areas of the nation — boosting the local economy and boosting jobs in the process,” said Senator Xenophon. He believes the program would particularly help address the jobs crisis facing South Australia, where unemployment is at a 15-year high.

National Farmers Federation manager of workplace relations Sarah McKinnon told The Australian that the 457 visa program and the seasonal worker program used by backpackers did not accommodate semi-skilled workers. Without an agriculture-related degree, foreign workers are ineligible for 457-visa sponsorship by a farm employer.

“Across industry there is a need for this particular level of skill that we can’t always find in the local labour market and there is no visa that provides for it,” she said.

Peak horticultural growers’ group Ausveg said the challenge would be to identify a migration zone that covered regional areas most in need. “Many farms struggle to find labour, it is a huge concern for industry that they don’t have access to that labour force to harvest the fruit and vegetables that we consume,” Ausveg deputy chief executive Andrew White said.

National Baking Industry of Australia’s business development manager Mark Dennien welcomed proposed changes provided workers met language and skills standards.

He said many regional bakeries struggled to attract and retain apprentices, with a dropout rate of up to 60 per cent.

“The industry is in a bit of a decline ... Bakers in small towns get to the point where they can’t grow and some of them die.”