The Australian Government has announced a planned scheme similar to New Zealand’s RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employer), will get underway in December, bringing in 100 workers from Kiribati, Tonga and Vanuatu to orchards in Griffith, New South Wales, and Swan Hill, Victoria.
The main programme will start in July, with 2500 visas given out over three years, with 830 Pacific Islanders able to work in horticulture at any one time.
The pilot will include a region in Queensland, as well as workers from Papua New Guinea.
However, industry groups are concerned that labour hire companies will be used to employ and monitor the workers.
Horticulture Australia CEO Kris Newton also says the trial is too small and workers are needed during harvest, not in July.
Source: PacNews/PIPSO
