160 more seasonal workers to arrive from Vanuatu tomorrow

A SECOND plane load of fruit pickers from Vanuatu will arrive in Darwin tomorrow

A second plane load of about 160 fruit pickers from Vanuatu will arrive in Darwin on Tuesday. Pictured are the first lot of workers arriving from Vanuatu last month. Picture: Che Chorley

• Senator Sam McMahon lashes out at Chief Minister over NT seasonal worker woes
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A SECOND plane load of about 160 fruit pickers from Vanuatu will arrive in Darwin tomorrow, as short-staffed farmers call on the NT Government to let the workers quarantine on farm.

NT Farmers chief executive Paul Burke said 162 workers from Vanuatu were due to touch down at Darwin International Airport on a charter flight at about 9.15am on Tuesday.

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The workers were originally due to arrive last week, but that date was pushed back due to delays with the Vanuatu government.

It comes after the first lot of about 160 Vanuatu workers got to work after finishing mandatory quarantine about three weeks ago.

Seasonal workers Annie Kintor, Charline Lolting and Bill Frazer Alling started working at Arnhem Mangoes last month. Picture: Che Chorley

Mr Burke said upon arrival on Tuesday; the new workers would immediately be taken to the Howard Springs facility to undergo 14 days in quarantine and be released on October 27.

“We are a bit worried about the timing, the mango season is in full swing at the moment, and farmers are still desperately short on workers, especially in Katherine,” he said.

“We have been asking the NT Government to allow workers to quarantine on farm instead but have been told Howard Springs is the only option at the moment.

“We understand Queensland is now looking to quarantine seasonal workers on farm and now we risk falling behind. DFAT (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) have told us it’s a matter for state and territory governments to decide.”

Chief Minister Michael Gunner claims the quarantine arrangements of overseas seasonal workers are not his decision to make. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

It comes after Senator Sam McMahon recently lashed out at Chief Minister Michael Gunner for not allowing Vanuatu workers quarantine on farm.

However, the Chief Minister has previously claimed the quarantine arrangements of overseas seasonal workers were not his decision to make.

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Mr Gunner said the responsibility lay with the federal government, national cabinet and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.

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