Seasonal workers: First group of Pacific Island workers arrive in Victoria

The first new Pacific Island fruit pickers to Victoria in more than a year have finally arrived. Here’s where they’re headed.

The first fruit pickers bound for Victoria arriving in Hobart a fortnight ago. Picture: Chris Crerar/Agriculture Victoria

THE first group of Pacific Island seasonal workers have started work on Victorian farms after completing their two weeks’ quarantine in Tasmania.

More than 100 workers touched down last Friday, bound for farms in the Yarra Valley, Gippsland, Goulburn Valley and Sunraysia – making them the first new arrivals to Victoria under the seasonal worker program in more than a year.

Close to 100 more workers will follow this week, as part of the Victorian Government’s promise to bring 1500 Pacific Island workers into the state by the start by June, to assist with the ongoing farm worker shortages.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Mary Anne Thomas said the workers’ arrival was “a fantastic step to bolster the local workforce”.

“We have worked hard to secure these workers in partnership with other jurisdictions following the challenges faced by the coronavirus pandemic,” she said.

“This is a great example of what can be achieved when governments, industry and employers work together for the greater good of agriculture.”

Under the arrangement Tasmania is quarantining Victoria’s seasonal workers, while Victoria will quarantine Tasmanians returning from overseas.

Farmers pay $2000 per worker to help cover quarantine costs for their employees, on top of the usual costs of the seasonal worker program such as accommodation and flights. The Victorian Government is stumping up $7.8 million to cover the bulk of the quarantine costs.