AN additional 1500 Pacific Island seasonal workers will be on hand for Victoria’s fruit and vegetable picking season under the extension of a quarantine deal with Tasmania.
The island state will quarantine the workers in exchange for Victoria taking about 350 returning Australians on Tasmania’s behalf.
The two states in January brokered the quarantine swap deal that saw an initial 1500 workers from the Pacific arrive in Tasmania before heading to Victoria.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said a flight schedule for the new workers is being organised for the coming months.
“These Pacific workers are an important part of the seasonal harvest, bringing skill and experience to bolster the local workforce during agriculture’s busiest periods,” she said.
Industry will chip in $2000 per worker to cover quarantine costs, while the Victorian government will provide $5300 per person.
Tasmania has quarantined more than 2300 international seasonal workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Federal Member for Mallee Anne Webster said while she welcomed the announcement, “this measure is not enough by country mile”.
“The nature of the harvest season is that all workers need to start at the same time,” she said.
“The Victorian government needs to address the big picture and genuine need, rather than be satisfied with this token gesture.”
The Federal Government recently announced a dedicated agriculture visa to fast-track the arrival of workers to Australian farms, with State and Territory governments to continue to be responsible for quarantine arrangements.
But Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews hit back, claiming the states were not consulted before the announcement.
The Victorian Government says more than 3100 people have received the first $810 of a bonus designed to attract workers to the state’s $3.6 billion horticulture industry.
Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano
said the announcement was a “small, positive step in the right direction”.
“It’s a drop in the ocean compared to what we need, but they will be very
welcome for the growers who take them on,” she said.
State Member for Mallee Ali Cupper said the situation in the food bowl was urgent.
“Fruit doesn’t pick itself, and seasonal labourers remain a critical element in meeting the demands of harvest,” she said.
“The more workers we can get on our farms in a safe manner, the better.”
