COVID restrictions preventing fruit pickers entering SA could have cost economy $900m

SA risked losing nearly $1bn if fruit was left to rot on trees, with COVID border restrictions preventing fruit pickers entering the state.

Failure to fill “serious” foreign fruit picker shortages due to COVID-19 border restrictions risked costing the economy more than $900m, leaked modelling shows.

Confidential government documents lay bare authorities’ “concerns around economic impacts” if fruit wasn't picked in SA’s citrus harvest.

Secret industry modelling showed if a special Riverland quarantine facility for seasonal workers was not established, it would cost the agriculture sector at least $900m.

The Australian Fresh Produce Alliance data, which has never been publicly disclosed, showed a 80 per cent harvest workforce cut across the country would reduce fresh produce output by at least $6.3 billion.

Transition Committee minutes, marked “confidential: not for further distribution”, reveal deputy chief public health Dr Evan Everest briefed members about issues on January 20.

“Dr Everest outlined seasonal picker shortages as a serious issue he is working on,” the minutes state.

“Concerns around economic impacts equals $900m if fruit isn’t picked, which is currently the case. Getting overseas pickers is underway but SA Health needs to work with stakeholders on (the) on-site quarantine arrangements,

“This facility would need to be controlled by SA Health / the state rather than the owner. Dr Everest to continue to work with stakeholders to resolve this.”

The first of 200 Pacific Islands-based workers were released from the Paringa Resort yesterday. A further 200 workers on Friday night began 14-days quarantine and daily testing.

The facility, near Renmark, will house up to 1200 workers from low-risk countries over the next three months.

Primary Industries Minister David Basham said the foreign workers would “ensure fruit isn’t left to rot on trees”.

“With citrus season upon us it was critical we delivered a safe solution to fill our seasonal worker shortages to ensure our state’s crops are harvested,” he said.

“Industry modelling shows if we weren’t able to secure these seasonal workers … there could have been nearly $1 billion wiped from our state economy. This would have been devastating for our local agriculture industry.”