Fruit pickers could fly in

But jobs for Tasmanians top priority

THE state government has expressed interest in a federal seasonal worker program as a contingency to ensure fruit is picked and vegetables harvested, but insists jobs for Tasmanians are its priority.

Meanwhile, the state opposition has called for changes to the JobSeeker program to ensure Tasmanians are not penalised financially for coming forward to fill the roles.

There are fears that closed borders could devastate Tasmanian fruit growers this summer, with a gaping hole left in the workforce because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Primary Industries Minister Guy Barnett said there was planning for a scenario where workers would need to be flown in from other states. But he added there was a “Tasmanians first” strategy, with the government launching a campaign to lure locals into the seasonal jobs.

“We want the fruit picked, the vegetables harvested and get it to market so we can get the job done,’’ he said. “But we want Tasmanians in work and that’s our top priority.”

When asked how an expected shortfall would be addressed, Mr Barnett said that contingency arrangements were being discussed to ensure seasonal workers could come from the mainland as needed.

He said issues such as facilitating the safe movement of people from non-affected areas and who would pay for the workers’ hotel quarantine stays were being considered.

Franklin Labor MP David O’Byrne said it would take more than a marketing campaign to address the challenge for the fruit-growing industry.

Mr O’Byrne said discussions were needed between state and federal governments about ensuring that those on JobSeeker were not deterred from seeking the work.

“We need a workforce that’s going to pick the fruit, so clearly if we can do it from a localised workforce that absolutely has to be our priority,’’ he said.

He said if workers had to be flown from the mainland, the government had to intervene in terms of who paid for quarantine stays.