The fruit pickers saving SA’s citrus – and the huge cost to the industry to get them here

Without Funa, our oranges would likely rot on the trees – and we’d lose millions from SA’s economy. But getting him and his mates here during COVID is another problem.

His family is 4700km away in Tonga, but Tameifuna Vi, or “Funa”, as he’s known in the fruit-packing shed, says his work in South Australia is securing their future.

The 41-year-old began work on Tuesday driving a forklift – but his was already a familiar face to those at Costa Group’s bustling Renmark business.

Funa has returned to Renmark for his seventh year to work and send money home to support his parents, wife Kaloni and their three children. He is among about 200 Tongans who finished their quarantine at Paringa Resort last week in time for the citrus harvest.

“Most of the boys come back every year because they have no work at home,” he says. “It’s a blessing for us to have this opportunity to come and help at the farm, help them pick their fruit and help in the shed.

Long time Costa employee Tameifuna Vi from Tonga, in the company’s Renmark warehouse. Picture: Tom Huntley

“I’m saving some money so when my kids grow up I have enough money to pay for their school. I have a piece of land and I will try to build a new home.”

Costa Group spokesman Kelvin Burgemeister says the Pacific Islanders are critical to the harvest – and that it is rewarding to see how the opportunity is affecting their lives back home.

“The first year when we started getting sent photos of the houses being built, it showed the impact it was having,” he says.

“It’s life-changing for these people. They’re buying cars for their families, educating their children or siblings and setting up their own businesses.”

They also bring vibrancy, Mr Burgemeister says, recalling the first group of Pacific Islanders who arrived to work at Costa Group 11 years ago. “These guys were singing and dancing, just so happy to have a job,” he says.

“It changed the atmosphere in the workplace just because of their joy to be able to work.”

Fewer fruit-pickers than expected

About 400 fewer Pacific Islands harvest workers will arrive in South Australia than expected, after a lack of industry uptake for some of the planned flights.

The State Government had flagged up to 1200 people would arrive on chartered flights under the program, between April and June.

Employers must contribute $2500 each towards the scheme’s cost, which includes quarantine at the Paringa Resort in the Riverland.

But it this week confirmed the last two planned flights would not happen and 800 were now expected. This is in addition to another 100 who arrived from Vanuatu in January before the seasonal workers’ quarantine facility was set up at Paringa Resort.

Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister David Basham said the quarantine program was a partnership with industry, SA Police and SA Health, ensuring “fruit isn’t left to rot on trees”.

“Four flights have been confirmed under the program but industry take up hasn’t been enough to justify the final two flights,” he said.

Costa fruit pickers Sione Luasau Fakahua Moimoi (up the ladder), Sionela Peteli Lui and Tevita Eteaki, in the company's Murtho citrus orchard. Picture: Tom Huntley

“Industry modelling shows if we weren’t able to secure these seasonal workers from the Pacific Islands there could have been nearly $1bn wiped from our state economy.

The horticulture sector, including citrus growers who recently began their harvest, had pleaded for help to ensure crops could be picked, amid a backpacker labour force shortage created by COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Fruit and vegetable producer Costa Group, one of the Riverland’s largest employers, is among companies contributing to the scheme to help fill its labour force.

Citrus SA chairman Mark Doecke said there could be various reasons for the lack of uptake from other businesses, including growers finding pickers elsewhere, including interstate.

The scheme was expensive, Mr Doecke said, but he doubted growers would decide not to harvest fruit because of its cost.

“It’s a lot – that’s why we were calling for a travel bubble,” he said.

“We’re putting in $2500 (per worker) and the government is doing the same so the actual cost is $5000 and that’s just ridiculous but what do you do?

“(But) the cost of these guys is not much per tonne to get picked. It’s a minor thing compared to what your return could be.”

Among the Riverland’s citrus orchards and in its packing sheds, activity is increasing, as about 200 workers, all from Tonga, began work this week. Another 160 from Vanuatu are now in quarantine, and more workers will fly in as the harvest picks up pace.

Tongan Tevita Eteaki returned to Australia for his eighth harvest stint.

He works as a carpenter at home and also farms his family’s property, but says he’s able to make much more money in Costa’s Murtho orchard.

“Here, if I work for a week I get $1000 but in Tonga it’s around $300,” Mr Eteaki said.

Government incentives to encourage more Australians to take up the work, including relocation cost reimbursements, fell short of the labour required, making arrangements to fly in Pacific Islands residents vital to ensure crops were picked.

The seasonal worker program operates yearly, but it was shut down last year amid the pandemic.

Costa Group’s workplace health, safety and HR manager Kelvin Burgemeister said Islanders would make up about 685 of the 1100-1200 workers the company would need for this year’s harvest.

Costa fruit picker Tevita Eteaki in the company's Murtho citrus orchard. Picture: Tom Huntley

They could earn $1200-$1300 a week before tax, but the work’s tough physical nature deterred a lot of South Australians from taking up the jobs. “I think a lot of people also want a permanent job. This is seasonal, and what do you do afterwards,” Mr Burgemeister said.

Renmark Paringa Mayor Neil Martinson said apart from providing much-needed labour, the seasonal worker scheme boosted local businesses, which provided food and services for the program.

“The economic benefit is not just for Renmark and Paringa but the whole of Australia because we just can’t get enough pickers in Australia to do the citrus picking,” Mr Martinson said.

He said some locals were worried about the potential for international travellers to bring COVID-19 into the area, and for it to escape the quarantine system.

“I appreciate that there’s concerns out there in the community, however (without them) the economic loss to the community would be significant,” he said.

World Health Organisation data shows there have been just three COVID-19 cases in Vanuatu during the pandemic, and none in Tonga.

Among businesses benefiting from the Pacific Islands workers program is Riverland Country Style Meats, which supplies food for those quarantining at Paringa Resort.

“It helps the business and other people like the fruit and veg guys,” owner Brett Gebhardt said at his Renmark shopfront.

“The Tongans also come here and spend quite well – they’re definitely helping people push along, like the supermarkets.

“As much as people criticise it, there’s a lot of people that could be doing the job that won’t.”

Unemployed should get picky when it comes to finding a job

More South Australians on JobSeeker payments should roll up their sleeves and harvest fruit, federal Social Services Minister Anne Ruston says.

Her comments come after the horticultural sector and government departments committed up to $7m towards a program to fly hundreds of Pacific Islanders to Adelaide and connect them with seasonal work. That cost will now reduce as the program’s capacity will not be reached.

Most workers will start by picking citrus, but some are expected to move on to other seasonal work around the state.

“Anybody who doesn’t have a job should be taking up the opportunity of a job where a job exists,” said Senator Ruston, who has an office in Renmark, where she grew up. Incentives included a Federal Government-funded relocation allowance of up to $6000.

However, Senator Ruston said while people’s JobSeeker payments could be cut off if they refused a job, “you can’t force someone to move”.

“Having a job is a game-changer in anybody’s life and if the job is somewhere not in your immediate vicinity, you should still consider it,” she said.

“Staying on unemployment benefits and not looking outside your horizon is, in many instances, not sensible, particularly for single people with no children who have greater mobility.”

Employers across the state reported difficulties hiring workers during the pandemic, amid increased JobSeeker payments, among them Melissa Sandford, owner of The Lakes Cafe, at Barmera. “I’ve never had so many people apply for a job and not rock up to an interview,” she said.

Barmera Bakery co-owner Tammie Boase said it was “terrific” that workers from the Pac­ific Islands were helping fill hort­iculture roles, but “sad” that res­idents were not taking them up.