A PLAN to allow seasonal workers from Pacific nations such as Vanuatu and Fiji to enter Australia after quarantining in their own country, has been wholeheartedly received.
Travel restrictions due to COVID-19 have crippled Australia's fresh produce industry because it relies heavily on people from overseas to take the roles.
The cost of paying for quarantine for prospective workers has also proven too much for many farmers.
"It costs $3000 per worker, now we get 4 cents per orange so we bring in 10 workers then that's $30,000 before we start and we work on very slim margins in this industry" Gunnedah orange farmer Robert Hoddle said.
"Putting someone in quarantine in Sydney hotels who have come from countries that don't have COVID and have been vaccinated is clearly ridiculous."
While the trial has been approved at a federal level, it is up to each state to sign up to the program, however South Australia is the only one to have confirmed their participation so far.
NSW has been described as uncooperative on these types of matters however, so there is some hesitation to celebrate despite the pilot program gaining support from the local agriculture industry.
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Federal Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud stated there was no reason not to sign up to the initiative.
"The other states need to recognise that the nation's farmers need these workers urgently," he said.
"There is no excuse for them not to sign up and ensure their farmers will have the workers when they need them.
"They could be part of this win-win pilot which is good for Australian farmers and for Pacific nations who are able to earn vital income during this challenging period."
His NSW counterpart, Adam Marshall MP, is the subject of a plea from Mr Hoddle to reveal their plan moving forward.
He said that farmers wanted to see a clear direction or policy that will help them moving forward, and are sick of waiting around after months of promises.
If the final decision is that the state does in fact join the seasonal workers pre-quarantine travel program, he said he would absolutely support that, because without pickers there would be "no hope" of a successful harvest.
He believes a case of bad timing has contributed to what had already been a shocking few years for produce farmers, and said any skilled workers they can get will be a bonus.
"Right through the whole economy there is labour and skill shortages, whether it's people in town or on farms or wherever," he continued.
"I think what's happened is the farms have come out of the drought when they put everyone off, and now they've started rehiring and everyone is gone."
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