Michael Anderson, who speaks for the 16 clans of the Gumilaroi Nation in northwest NSW and southwest Queensland, has slammed the Federal Government's plans to fly in Pacific Islanders to fill the labour shortage on farms.

Mr Anderson said the pilot program, due to start later this year, was "a total farce".

"We have 90pc unemployment in the rural areas of NSW and southwest Queensland and they want to fly people across the waters to work in the industries that are within driving time for the people out here in the bush - what a sick joke," Mr Anderson said.

"If the federal government are prepared to arrange transport from the Pacific islands, then surely they can arrange for buses for our local workers."

Mr Anderson said mining companies were prepared to provide transport for their workers, and questioned why agricultural industries did not follow suit.

"There are two reasons why Aboriginal people are not going to work in these industries," he said.

"First, there is the question of accommodation.

"History shows that the white farmers will not accommodate Aboriginal people on their properties or provide other accommodation facilities.

"The second reason is lack of transport to and from the farms.

"If there is money to fly international workers into this country then let's spend that money on making transport and accommodation available for our unemployed to work."

Mr Anderson also claimed the Pacific workers proposal would encourage unemployed people to continue "to sit on their butts and continue to collect the sit down money at the expense of a rural industry desperate to have their produce picked and put onto the shopping shelves around the country".

He said helping Aborigines to do the farm work could lower the prices of domestic food produce for everyone in Australia.