Australia's federal opposition leader, Brendan Nelson, has attacked the government's new guest worker trial, arguing that Australians can fill labour shortages in regional areas.

The government plans to allow workers from four Pacific nations to take temporary work in horticultural industries.

Dr Nelson says the government should be encouraging unemployed Australians to take the work.

"Is it not beyond the wit of Australia to take the half a million Australian's that are unemployed and get them into these fruit growing areas to actually get fruit and crops picked on a seasonal basis."

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