161 Vanuatu fruit-pickers fly into NT in time for mango season

Industry has welcomed the arrival of workers from the South Pacific to pick mangoes, but the government has been unable to say whether the arrivals take capacity away from repatriation flights.

SEASONAL fruit-pickers have arrived in Darwin from Vanuatu, in a major boost to the looming mango season.

A planeload of 161 workers flew in on Tuesday and will quarantine at Howard Springs for a fortnight before being sent to farms across the Northern Territory just in time for picking season.

A total of around 400 Pacific Islander workers will be sent to farms and facilities in Darwin, Katherine, Mataranka and Curtain Springs in coming weeks.

The NT is a major producer of the much-loved summer fruit, growing roughly half of Australia’s supply of mango.

Vanuatu workers arrive at Darwin Airport. Picture Julianne Osborne

Agribusiness and Aquaculture Minister Nicole Manison said the arrival would be a major boost to the industry.

“Mangoes contribute $110m into the Territory economy every year, and we want to grow this wonderful industry,” Ms Manison said.

“So we’ve worked really hard with NT farmers and local growers to be able to secure more seasonal workers for the Northern Territory.”

When asked whether the pickers would contribute to the international cap on arrivals into the NT, Ms Manison said the government had “negotiated to be able to use the Centre for National Resilience”.

“We’ve been working really hard, we’re secured two planeloads,” she said.

Deputy Chief Minister Nicole Manison was unable to say whether the arrivals would count against the NT’s international arrivals cap. Picture: Che Chorley

“We know it’s a very stressful time for some of our growers out there, but be assured we’ve been doing everything we can to get as many workers in as possible.”

News of the workers’ arrival was welcomed by industry groups, which last year saw their production of fresh fruit and vegetables threatened by a shortage of workers.

Chamber of Commerce NT chief executive Greg Ireland said the arrivals would greatly help the industry.

“Chamber of Commerce NT is proud to be part of this program, right now we’re helping local agricultural businesses owners get their mango crops picked, and hotels and hospitality venues increase their staff so that visitors can eat in their venues and have their rooms serviced,” Mr Ireland said.

The workers will quarantine at Howard Springs for two weeks. Picture Julianne Osborne

“The Ni-Vanuatu workers are pleased to be here and in turn gain experience, earn income and support their families at home – it works both ways.”

It’s not the first time the government has stepped in to boost NT growers attract workers to pick on farm.

In April, the NT government announced it would spend $745,000 to attract 200 southerners to travel to the Top End to fill a 73 per cent fall in worker numbers.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, many melon pickers were sourced from East Timor.