Australian Lamb Company, which bought the meatworks in October, is aiming to improve its work culture by directly recruiting workers from the local region, but will still use some temporary international visa holders as a “top-up”.

“We want to bring people in to be part of the AMLC family,” plant manager Mick Bird told The Standard.

“Rather than go through a third-party hire company we’ve decided to go direct. We are looking for good staff who have skills and abilities we need.

“They will apply for work and we’ll take them on a site tour to give them a feel for the job before they decide.

“The company will still use international workers under the working visa scheme as a top-up, but we are committed to hiring local people.”

He said working visa staff comprised about five to 10 per cent of the total workforce, which ranges from 400 to 550 people.

The abattoir exports about 95 per cent of its lamb and mutton throughput to the Middle East, China, the US and other markets.

pcollins@fairfaxmedia.com.au