1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,200 Speaker 1: We know that the Northern Territory government have said that 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: they're working to bolster their international workforce pool in an 3 00:00:05,720 --> 00:00:10,799 Speaker 1: effort to maximize well agricultural opportunity opportunities as those mango 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: as the mango season opens really for twenty twenty two. 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: Now joining us on the line to tell us a 6 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: little bit more about how things are going NT Farmers CEO, 7 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: Paul Book, Good morning to you. 8 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 2: Paul, Good morning Katie, Good morning listeners. 9 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 1: Now Paul, we are very fast approaching mango season. How 10 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 1: much what are we expecting for this year? 11 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 2: So we certainly and what a dry season it's been. 12 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 2: It's been one of the best ones that I've experienced 13 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:41,360 Speaker 2: in North Australia in twenty years. So the mango season 14 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 2: is looking really good. The flowering has been really strong 15 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 2: and consistent throughout. We are expecting a pretty big crop 16 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 2: this year and certainly larger than last year. So everything 17 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 2: points to no shortages of mango dakeries for the season. 18 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: Well that is good to hear, so plenty of plenty 19 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: of mangoes. Are we going to be able to pick 20 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: them all? 21 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 2: Though we are still critically short, Cadie, and we've got 22 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 2: positions up on our jobs board on NT Farmers and 23 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 2: I think we've got three hundred and seventeen positions up. 24 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 2: Last week, I think we had thirteen or fifteen applicants 25 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 2: for those positions, So the jobs market is still really tight. 26 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 2: We are competing across the hospitality sector, the civil sector, 27 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:28,000 Speaker 2: the building industry, so we're all competing for a very 28 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:32,640 Speaker 2: small pool of workers. So we certainly are very aware 29 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 2: that growers are doing it tough trying to get a 30 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 2: workforce on property every day. 31 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: So how many, I mean, how many pickers and packers 32 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: are we short at this point in time. I've noted 33 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 1: in the media yesterday that you'd said there'd been a 34 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:46,199 Speaker 1: large number of advertisements go out. 35 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we've been promoting fairly heavily and trying to 36 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 2: attract people to the territory. And we're still doing all 37 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 2: of the normal things and trying to get local people 38 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 2: into work. And we've done a lot of work with 39 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,120 Speaker 2: the refuge centers, and we've done a lot of work 40 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 2: with sentenced to a job through low risk prisoners picking fruit. 41 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 2: So all of those things are in place and working. 42 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 2: It really comes down to now we need the bulk 43 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 2: of the workforce, which is always going to come I 44 00:02:15,919 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 2: think from international. So we are really focused on Team 45 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 2: or Less Day being such a short distance away from us, 46 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 2: and we think there's a real opportunity to strengthen our 47 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 2: partnership and bring people in and out as required. 48 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:30,639 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, So is that some of the work that's 49 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 1: going on at the moment. I understand that there is 50 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: a bit of a delegation away at this point. 51 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 2: That's right, there's a delegation which is a partnership between 52 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 2: the Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce and Northern Territory Farmers 53 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 2: and the Territory government. I think they're all walking through 54 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 2: customs at the moment and heading to Team or les 55 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 2: Day for three days to have a conversation about closer 56 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 2: links and how we actually free up some of that 57 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 2: visa processing capacity to be able to split to speedily 58 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 2: process visas to bring people into pick free. 59 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: So you're obviously hoping, you know, to speed up that process, 60 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: bring in a few more people from overseas, Like how 61 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:07,880 Speaker 1: many are you talking, Paul? 62 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:12,920 Speaker 2: So in the program that we're pitching at the moment, 63 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,320 Speaker 2: we would like to bring a thousand team or these 64 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 2: people in a year, and a large component of that 65 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:22,639 Speaker 2: is or what's different about that is we actually want 66 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 2: to go into country and do the training in country, 67 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 2: so bringing people's skills coming from team or left day 68 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:32,399 Speaker 2: out before they get to the territory. So really focusing 69 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 2: on a two way partnership that's mutually beneficial for both 70 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: of us. 71 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 1: And so how quickly do you think that you know 72 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: that you could see that kind of workforce in the 73 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 1: Northern Territory. 74 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 2: So we know that that historically a large portion of 75 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 2: our workforce did come from a team or left day Obviously, 76 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 2: for this project, it's not going to be good or 77 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 2: it's not going to make it for this Mango season, 78 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 2: so we'll be focusing on the next Mango season. But 79 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,760 Speaker 2: we do that and you and I've spoken on the 80 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 2: show nearly every year. At this time, we're short of workers. 81 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 2: We really just need to make some changes and get 82 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 2: on with it. 83 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 1: And we know obviously that Federal Job Summit was held 84 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: towards the end of last week and it was announced 85 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: that there'd be an increase in the cap of migrants 86 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: I believe it was or people able to work in Australia. 87 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 1: I mean, is that going to help in any way? 88 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 2: Again? It will help in a small way, but there 89 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 2: are so many jobs at the moment, it doesn't matter 90 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 2: what business I walk into or talk to, there is 91 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: every business owner is screaming out for staff, and that 92 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:41,680 Speaker 2: goes I was talking to a pool business not long ago, 93 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:46,040 Speaker 2: and they're short of pool cleaners. They're short of people 94 00:04:46,040 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 2: to work in their retail shops. So it was across 95 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 2: the board. So we go to need more than what 96 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,839 Speaker 2: was announced, But some of that could be late in 97 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,239 Speaker 2: capacity that's sitting in the Northern Territory for certain jobs, 98 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: but we need that in international workforce if we're going 99 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 2: to grow our business and grow our industries. 100 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, and my understanding is too, and you've actually touched 101 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 1: on this just a moment ago, is that it's not 102 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: just about the cap or the number of people that 103 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 1: are able to come in, but it's about making sure 104 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 1: the visas are processed quickly and about making sure the 105 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 1: paperwork goes through quickly. 106 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 2: That's right, and that's something we've been talking to government 107 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 2: about extensively, both at the Northern Territory government level but 108 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 2: also at the federal level for a very long period 109 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 2: of time, that we need more resources in that particular 110 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,599 Speaker 2: part of government to be able to speed up the 111 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 2: processing of visas. 112 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: Hey, just back on the mango. How many kilos are 113 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: we looking at? Do you have any idea at this 114 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 1: point for the season. 115 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 2: So we are talking over two and a half million 116 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 2: trays in the day and regional lione, so it is 117 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 2: going to be significant, So there will be plenty of 118 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,000 Speaker 2: mangoes to go around for everyone. 119 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: It sounds that way. That is a phenomenal amount. It 120 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: sounds like an awful lot. How does that compared to 121 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 1: other years? 122 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 2: So we think it's going to be between ten and 123 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 2: fifteen percent up on previous years. So we also know 124 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 2: that there has been significant new planning, so the mango 125 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 2: industry is going to continue to grow. So that comes 126 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 2: back to that workforce component again that you know, if 127 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 2: we're going to grow this sector and am we're selling 128 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 2: all the mangoes we can produce? Now, how are we 129 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 2: going to pick them in the future. So this is 130 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 2: a bit of a futuristic look at what the workforce 131 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 2: might look like in thirty three, five, ten years time. 132 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 1: And Paul, this is a real you know, a real 133 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: towny question. I certainly don't know what crops are growing 134 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: at the moment. But any other anything else, you know, 135 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: in terms of not just the mangos, but anything else 136 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 1: sort of on the on the horizon that we should 137 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:45,600 Speaker 1: be aware of. 138 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:51,839 Speaker 2: So we've managed to cobble a workforce industry or a 139 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 2: workforce together to get through the melon industry. So the 140 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 2: melon industry has grown and significantly over the last two 141 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 2: years and just been plugging away in the background. But 142 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 2: the melon industry now is worth over seventy million dollars 143 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 2: to the territory. So you know, we are growing each 144 00:07:07,080 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 2: individual part of the industry and all of that ties 145 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 2: into that workforce conversation. Yeah. 146 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: Well, Paul, it is always good to catch up with you. 147 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: I appreciate your time this morning as always. Thank you 148 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 1: very much for having a chat with us. 149 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 2: Thanks Katie, thank you.