WA grain harvest: Overseas workers could quarantine at Christmas Island in new plan

Hundreds of skilled agricultural workers from Europe would quarantine at Christmas Island to save WA’s predicted 20 million tonne grain harvest, under a proposal submitted to the Federal Government. WA desperately needs about 1000 experienced heavy farm machinery operators in preparation for the upcoming harvest season, which begins in October and is expected to be a record after heavy rains. Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said Perth’s hotel quarantine system, which had its capacity slashed to 250 arrivals a week, could not safely accommodate the workers from Europe that the industry had called for. Last month, the State Government asked the Federal Government to make an existing Commonwealth facility, such as the Christmas Island detention centre, available for the seasonal workforce to get the bumper harvest in. Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud requested a formal proposal to use Christmas Island and the State on Wednesday provided his office details on how the option could work. “It would involve industry chartering two or three flights to Christmas Island targeting 300 to 900 vaccinated workers ahead of the harvest,” Ms MacTiernan said. “The Commonwealth would be required to operate the quarantine facilities on Christmas Island – as is their constitutional responsibility, and as they did at the start of the pandemic.” Under the plan, the Commonwealth would be required to operate the quarantine facilities on Christmas Island. The State Government would take responsibility for working with industry to source the workers and organise the charter flights, which would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. WA already accepts about two planes a month carrying fruit pickers from Vanuatu and Tonga who quarantine at the Novotel Langley. “We know that bringing in the predicted 20 million tonne grain harvest will be tough,” Ms MacTiernan added. “We hope the Federal Government will work with us to progress this proposal and provide our farmers with a real solution to this looming problem.”