It says out-dated attitudes and misinformation are being used in a bid scuttle the plan, which the NFF says is a vital part of filling 22,000 job vacancies in horticulture.

NFF president David Crombie said that since 2005 agriculture has been completely transparent about the need to bring workers in from Pacific Island nations and that the terms and conditions of employment be "fundamentally premised on mutual benefit".

"The Coalition knows full well that over two years of discussion, debate and consultation on Pacific Island seasonal workers has already been undertaken," Mr Crombie said.

"The Government, the Australian Workers Union and the community have all moved on… it's a shame some in the Coalition have not."

The criticism comes as a result of Liberal MP Andrew Robb last week accusing the Government of trying to "sneak" through the scheme without public consultation.

"Does Australia want unskilled labour coming in from a number of Pacific Islands, given there are half-a-million unemployed people in our country already?" Mr Robb said.

But Mr Crombie says the program is designed to fill the chronic need for employees in the horticultural sector.

"It is founded on providing new skills and training to those employees coming to Australia temporarily – skills they take home," he said.

"Further, the remuneration they receive, at Australian market rates, far exceeds what they can earn at home – a boost for them, their families and their local economies.

"Of course, we must encourage more Australians into agricultural careers.

"But we also have to recognise a couple of home truths. Firstly, Australians are simply not taking up these labour-intensive positions.

"Secondly, that even if Australia’s record low unemployment fell to zero, we do not have the domestic manpower to meet the demand for labour."