Around 6000 Tasmanians will take up fruit picking jobs this season

More Tasmanians will take up fruit picking this season, while the government supports internationals to enter the state. LATEST>>

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AROUND 700 Pacific Island seasonal workers will travel to Tasmania to help with this year’s fruit harvest.

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said a seasonal worker campaign to encourage Tasmanians to take up fruit picking had been successful.

The industry aims to double the local workforce to around 6000.

However Pacific Islander workers will also be needed to complete the harvest.

“We have worked with industry and Public Health to determine a safe pathway for the Seasonal Worker Programme and the Pacific Labour Scheme to ensure industry has confidence in a strong workforce,” Mr Barnett said.

“Under the agreement, Pacific Island workers, who must be approved by the Federal Government to enter Australia, will undertake two weeks’ mandatory hotel quarantine before commencing work on the farm, with appropriate support provided by Tasmania Police and the ADF.

“During quarantine the workers will need to have a COVID test on days 1, 5 and 10, and return a negative result prior to leaving the hotel and commencing work. The Tasmanian Government will cover the cost of quarantining these workers.”

Originally published as Around 6000 Tasmanians will take up fruit picking jobs this season