Australia cuts tax to ensure juicy pickings for fruit harvesters

Sydney

A TAX faced by visitors picking fruit in Australia will be more than halved under a deal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull struck late on Thursday with political parties across the spectrum, just in time for the harvest.

The issue threatened Australia's fruit exports, set to hit a record A$2.27 billion (S$2.40 billion) next season, as farm groups warned a lack of workers would mean items such as cherries and stone fruit would be left to rot. "What this has done is provide security and assurance to farmers," Mr Turnbull told reporters in the Australian capital of Canberra, announcing a cut in the tax rate to 15 per cent, from 32.5 per cent.