REVEALED: The six-figure jobs NO ONE wants to do - despite free accommodation, cars and more enticing benefits

Farming bosses have been crying out for workers to take on key roles as the industry finally looks set for a bumper season. 

But despite offering high paying jobs with sweet perks - such as free accommodation and cars - very few Australians are willing to take on those roles. 

Sam Heagney, a farm manager in Mungindi on the Queensland – New South Wales border, has been struggling to attract enough staff for this year's crop. 

He's hoping those affected by the coronavirus pandemic will start to look towards the industry, which he says can be 'very lucrative'.

'An entry level farm hand could be looking at $60,000-$80,000 a year. And it’s all upwards from there with a manager of a property on $100,000-$150,000,' he told news.com.au.

'On top of that you get housing, many get a vehicle, and we have high speed internet on the farm so we can watch Netflix quicker than the city; no problems there.' 

Farming bosses have been crying out for workers to take on key roles as the industry finally looks set for a bumper season (stock image pictured)

But despite offering high paying jobs with sweet perks - such as free accommodation and cars - very few Australians are willing to take on those roles (stock image pictured)

Workers don't need to be highly skilled, they simply need a good attitude, Mr Heagney said.

Farmers are predicting they will struggle to fill the estimated 40,000 harvest positions with less than 8,000 seasonal workers in the country and barely any backpacker arrivals since March. 

When the coronavirus pandemic struck in March, labour companies and farmers reported a rise in Australians contacting them for work - but that dropped off as soon as the government announced JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments. 

Many organisations have been working hard to find a solution to attract  more Australians into the industry after travel restrictions and border closures created major problems with sourcing workers.

Industry leaders have been looking outside the box to fill key roles with some turning to airline pilots who can operate the heavy machinery. 

A parliamentary inquiry has proposed 'Australia Needs You', a campaign which would offer school leavers discounts on university fees for doing farm work (stock image)

The coronavirus pandemic means Australia needs at least 70,000 foreign backpackers to work on regional farms during harvest season (stock image)

A parliamentary inquiry set up to replenish the casual workforce has suggested school leavers work as fruit pickers in exchange for a discount on university fees. 

Chair of the inquiry, New South Wales Liberal MP Julian Leeser, released an interim parliamentary report in September with the ambitious recommendations, which are supported by both sides of parliament. 

Mr Leeser said if the 40,000 young Australians who have a gap year in the UK, US and Canada worked on farms instead, it would fill the labour shortfall.  

'Young Australians love adventure, they want to meet other Australians,' he said. 

'They want to make some money at a time when a lot of jobs they would otherwise do in hospitality and retail aren't there.' 

The interim report recommends the government offer a discount on university HECS fees but has left the final figures up to the Treasurer and Education Minister.  

During the consultation, Mr Leeser heard concerns that travels costs would be to high so the committee suggested a travel and accommodation allowance as well.  

Mr Leeser warned action needs to be taken to support farmers who are facing the prospect of not being able to harvest fruit from their trees.   

WHAT ARE THE KEY 'GAP YEAR AT HOME' RECOMMENDATIONS? 

The Committee recommends 'Have a Gap Year at Home Campaign' to attract young Australians, particularly the current cohort of Year 12s and university graduates, to undertake regional work

For the next 12 months, workers should still receive JobSeeker payments while undertaking low paid agricultural and horticultural work

A one-off payment to help with the travel and accommodation costs incurred

Changes to the Working Holiday Maker visa for the next 12 months to allow extensions in exchange for regional work 

Offer incentive to international students who have completed their studies to stay longer in exchange for work in peri-urban, regional, rural and remote parts of Australia

Government recommended a review in 12 months