High praise for Paringa quarantine program

THE success of a program aimed at filling horticultural labour shortages in the Riverland has been highlighted by a senior federal minister, and provided a framework for the rest of Australia to follow.

The final flight of Pacific Island seasonal workers – who all spent two weeks quarantining at Paringa under the Commonwealth Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme – arrived in the Riverland last week.

Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone said Pacific Islanders were eager to return to Riverland horticulture work after last year’s international border closures.

“I had been working on this with Federal Minister for Agriculture (David) Littleproud when I was a minister myself, and it was clear we had a workforce shortage gaining momentum,” Mr Whetstone said.

“The borders were shut last year, and that didn’t allow our Pacific Islander friends to go home. They suffered quite a bit of anxiety and they were pretty much burnt out.

“They suffered a productivity loss because they were tired and burnt out… and productivity was down by 20 to 25 per cent.

This year we’ve seen them come back fresh, they’re out there working hard and they’re happy to be here.

“That gives employers good results, and they’re telling me productivity is up by 25 to 30 per cent. That justifies the very expensive cost the preferred employers have had to incur.”

Mr Littleproud last week told The Advertiser that following the program’s completion, Riverland citrus growers were in a “far better position” than those in other states.

“(SA’s) producers are going to make money this year because their government has actually moved and evolved as Covid has evolved,” Mr Littleproud said.

“The Paringa facility represents a regional and tailored approach that recognised the lower-risk posed by Pacific workers. 

“If we get the settings right, it actually is a pathway to prove to the country we can do this with our Pacific family”.

Mr Whetstone said the program also had economic and cultural benefits for participating workers.

“It gives them quite a sense of prestige back in their home country, that they had the capacity to come over here and work hard,” he said.

Through the initiative, groups of workers were flown into South Australia every two weeks from Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati and Fiji.

Mr Whetstone said co-ordination between police and government departments quickly eased any concerns among Riverlanders regarding potential Covid-19 risks.

“There needs to be a sense of gratitude for SA Health, SAPOL and PIRSA,” he said.

“I’ve worked with all those agencies for a long period of time. My role was not only to co-ordinate within those departments, but it was also to relay a level of transparency to the community.

“People in the local community asked questions about safety… and I think by and large we’ve been able to demonstrate the Paringa Resort has been an outstanding success.

“This demonstrates the Riverland can show the nation how well they can handle a delicate issue.”

Mr Whetstone said the Costa Group allowing the hostel to be used for quarantine was also vital to the program’s success.

“They forewent the Paringa facility, which they normally have booked out as accommodation, to allow the region to benefit from having a quarantine facility,” he said.

“I say good on them, and the region has been the beneficiary for their sacrifice.”