21 April 2020.

(Updated 18 August 2020, 20 January 2021 and 13 March 2021)

There is a looming food security issue in Australia but a solution might be far closer than we think, if only the relevant authorities could agree on how to implement it.

At the start of the pandemic, the Federal Government moved to reassure citizens who were panic-buying food that there was no need to worry; our country apparently produced three times what we consumed. What wasn’t mentioned is that getting food from paddock to plate relies on workers from overseas. Due to curtailed international arrivals, the people we depend upon for our fresh produce will not be available in the near future. In the farm sector, Australia normally needs about 50,000 international workers at any one time to take jobs that domestic workers have traditionally shied away from. Most of us have heard about backpackers picking our fruit, but we are less aware of the Pacific Islanders whose labour supports the agriculture sector. They come for months at a time under the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) and Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) taking up temporary residence across the country in the food bowls and agricultural areas. While many of us remain unaware of their importance, they are essential to Australia’s food supply.

As consumers, we demand produce at the lowest possible prices. That translates to very low (by national standards) wages for the fruit pickers. Harvesting jobs are unappealing to Australian workers, who won’t commit to three months living away from home in basic conditions for low income. The conditions are more appealing to backpackers with Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visas, who have factored the jobs into their travels and time schedules. Such visitors can plan their travels and work to earn their way around the country. For Pacific workers the key incentive is that the money from seasonal labour will provide for improved lifestyles back in their island nations. They can more easily commit to three, six or nine months work and are less troubled by basic living conditions given the long-term rewards. Many producers and farmers prefer long-term seasonal workers over backpackers, who are often keen to move on after a couple of weeks. Training up new arrivals slows down production dramatically. Regular visitors who stay for months and already have agricultural experience are a huge benefit.

The current version of the SWP for Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste has existed since 2012 (after a four-year pilot program). About 35,000 work positions have since been filled, with each participant sending home an average AUD$9000 per visit. In their home countries, the money greatly benefits the family and community of the worker and therefore the whole region. Benefits include improved lifestyles, education and support for children, business opportunities for young adults, care for elderly parents, safer housing and transportation and better healthcare. 

Australia is experiencing a severe shortfall in seasonal worker numbers due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Some Pacific Islanders already based in Australia have had their visas extended and are currently in high demand. Farmers, growers and other primary producers are struggling to find enough help. Without the necessary labour, crops are going to waste. The knock-on effects down the supply chain are significant. At stake is the agriculture sector’s ability to supply fresh produce for millions of consumers who rely on the industry to put food into shops.  

While a potential food security problem is clear, solutions are less so. Averting a crisis relies upon collaboration between federal and state authorities, as each is responsible for different parts of the process but they have been locked in a blame game for most of a year. Inadequate provisions have been made to increase worker numbers - a few thousand Pacific Islanders have been accommodated in Tasmania, the NT and Victoria - but it is widely acknowledged that the country is still about 25,000 workers short. There is little evidence of an adequate and timely resolution.


I took these concerns to Victorian Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas who said: “Last harvest, pre-pandemic, the work was completed by approximately 20,000 workers, consisting of 3000 workers under the Pacific Islander Worker scheme, 13,000 international backpackers and 4000 local workers.” She blames the Federal Government’s tardiness to approve Pacific workers for the shortfall.

“I now urge the Commonwealth to fast-track approvals under the Pacific Mobility Scheme so farmers can get workers on-site rapidly – a process we’re advised will take up to four weeks despite Minister Littleproud (Federal Minister for Agriculture) saying he has 22,000 Pacific workers rubber stamped and ready to go,”
she said.

Federal Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud responded, pointing in turn to failure of state governments: “The Federal Government over the last 12 months has established a number of programs to not only allow the free movement of workers across Australia but also bring workers in from Pacific nations which state governments have refused to participate in any meaningful way,” he said. 

Only about 2600 of the available 26,000 workers available under the Pacific Labour Mobility scheme have been brought to Australia because the states refuse to undertake a specific quarantine program for them.

“The premiers have stated they want to control quarantine for workers but have failed to do anything meaningful about it. South Australia is the only state to sign on to the new in-country quarantine pilot that National Cabinet announced on March 5 despite continued whining from states for the federal government to do more to bring in seasonal workers. Federation has failed our farmers during this pandemic but ultimately we will all pay the price at the checkout” Mr Littleproud said.

In a counter response, Minister Thomas told me: “These are disappointing comments from Minister Littleproud - advocating for a national solution impacting our farmers is hardly ‘whining’. Minister Littleproud continually spruiked that 26,000 workers were rubber-stamped and ready to go once states had sorted a quarantine pathway. We now have that pathway in our deal with the Tasmanian Government to quarantine workers - now it’s time for the Federal Government to follow through with its repeated promises.”


Australian consumers are relying upon state and federal leaders to cooperate and solve problems. However, solutions seem tied up in red tape and administrative buck-passing. Pacific countries have very low COVID case numbers, but are struggling economically due to the lack of tourism and other revenue sources. Many people are ready and willing to travel to Australia, where they are desperately needed.

Maurice and Rien Silverstein own and operate a large orchard near Shepparton, Victoria. They rely upon both Pacific seasonal workers - for many years they have employed a team of Samoan men - as well as backpackers with WHM Visas. They predicted the looming crisis early last year.

“We face the strong possibilities that there won’t be enough people to pick all the apples in late April, May across the country especially Victoria and other states where there is no agreement to quarantine the workers when they arrive. As Pacific Islanders have such low COVID infection rates, why would these islanders need to be quarantined anyway? It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to let the pacific islanders into Australia as they are ready to go to work.”

I asked where they felt action was needed. Maurice and Rien responded: “The Federal Government is responsible for the immigration status of workers and they should in the very near future set up policies to allow WHM workers who have been immunised and want to come here from reciprocal status countries to come.”

“Meanwhile, the states should understand that workers from Pacific islands are not a risk as they don’t have COVID. Let the Pacific Islanders into Australia as they are ready to go to work without fuss. Two consecutive negative test results should be enough to clear them ready to work. Any necessary quarantine can surely be managed, with federal and state cooperation, near or at harvest areas.”

As producers, their advice to the Commonwealth: “Ease up on the red tape and resolve the issue of lack of staff in the federal offices assessing the applications that are being sent ready for processing.”

Uncertain about who will harvest their produce, farmers are likely to reduce their crops and stock numbers. Produce will fall and rot in orchards. If this happens, and there is a shortage of pickers, farm hands and other workers, then Australia may face severe food shortages in 2021 and possibly beyond. The bureaucratic bungling of a perfect solution should be of national concern.