Industry leaders call for Bladin Point to be used as quarantine facility to alleviate ‘workforce crisis’

The NT Farmers Association and Hospitality NT are calling for the Bladin Point workers’ village to be used as a quarantine facility to help alleviate a ‘workforce crisis’ in their sectors.

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THE NT Farmers Association and Hospitality NT want the Bladin Point workers’ village used as a quarantine facility for their workforce requirements.

NT Farmers Association chief executive Paul Burke said the facility would be able to quarantine significant numbers of people “and greatly assist to alleviate our workforce crisis”.

The facility is currently used to quarantine arriving members of the US Rotational Force Darwin until the lease expires on July 15.

‘Farmers and the wider economy, critically need a facility that can quarantine international workers,” Mr Burke said.

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“With the Howard Springs facility reserved specifically for repatriation flights, industry is struggling to find suitable facilities to quarantine workers from overseas.’

‘It is essential that the Territory and Federal governments act to secure the Bladin Point facility for the benefit of the nation’s food security, our farmers and economy.

“Without additional workers, farmers will be forced to let produce go to waste and food prices will rise for all Australians.’

‘Farmers around the country are begging politicians for a solution to the massive seasonal workforce shortage that has arisen due to the COVID-19 border closures last year.

“The facility at Bladin Point provides the government with an opportunity to end the workforce crisis for industry.”

Bladin Village in Wickham, NT.

Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said securing the Bladin Point facility would be a game changer.

“This would allow our economic recovery to accelerate,” he said.

“Under our proposal various industries from around Australia will be able to use the facility to quarantine their own workers.

“The agricultural industry alone is facing a shortage of 20,000 workers.

‘If the Bladin Point Quarantine facility is secured, the Territory can lead Australia in delivering a pathway for workers to enter the country and contribute to the national economy.”