1 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:03,960 Speaker 1: Hello, katiewoll Van three point sixty online at Mix one 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: O four nine dot com. 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 2: It is just after ten twenty eight nine four one 4 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,120 Speaker 2: one O four nine if you'd like to call through 5 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 2: today now. If you listen to this show regularly, you'd 6 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:17,080 Speaker 2: know that we've spoken on numerous occasions about the very 7 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,440 Speaker 2: serious situation that our farmers are in at the moment, 8 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 2: particularly those in the mango industry who really need to 9 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 2: get a workforce across to the territory to be able 10 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 2: to pick and pack our mangoes. And joining us on 11 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 2: the line to give us a bit of an update 12 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 2: on where this situation is at is nt Farmer's CEO 13 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 2: Paul Burke, Good morning, Paul. 14 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: Good morning, Katie, Good morning listeners. 15 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 2: Mat Are we any closer to being able to see 16 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 2: some of these workers come across and quarantine in the territory. 17 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: Sadly, we are no closer. It's getting to the critical 18 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: stage now where we need a decision out of all 19 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,160 Speaker 1: levels of government of where we're going to quarantine people. 20 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: We heard in estimates earlier in the week at Blaydon 21 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 1: Point is highly unlikely, So we are struggling to understand 22 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: where we're going to be able to quarantine people and 23 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 1: we're back to having discussions about trying to get into 24 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:15,120 Speaker 1: Howard Springs. Now we know that facility is gold standard 25 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: and we're utilized that facility in the past, so we're 26 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,200 Speaker 1: really calling on all levels of government now to make 27 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: better reality. 28 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, we look, we spoke about it on Friday during 29 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:25,959 Speaker 2: the week that was this is what the Health Minister 30 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 2: Natasha Files had to say. Take a listen. 31 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:31,919 Speaker 3: The criteria from the Commonwealth government for the Howard Springs 32 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 3: facility is humanitarian for vulnerable Australians to get home, so 33 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 3: they don't fit that technical category. But I'm certainly happy 34 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 3: to work with the Commonwealth. 35 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 2: I've got to say, Paul. At the moment, I feel 36 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 2: like everybody's sort of, you know, from all levels of 37 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: government is sort of saying the right thing, but there 38 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 2: doesn't seem to be a lot of movement in terms 39 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 2: of making sure that you guys have got the workforce 40 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 2: you need that's exactly right. 41 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 1: At the moment, industry feels like it's on a hamster will. 42 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: We feel like we've been running around in circles better 43 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: part of eighteen months and really we are into the 44 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: second season under COVID restrictions, and we would expect that 45 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:11,120 Speaker 1: the government would be more organized and give us a 46 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: pathway to make this reality, but it just hasn't been forthcoming. 47 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: You are right, go all levels of government are making 48 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: the right noises. We just need a decision. 49 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 2: So right now, you've managed to recruit ant farmers, have 50 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 2: managed to recruit a group of one hundred and sixty 51 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 2: six workers from Vanawatu. They're needed obviously to fill those 52 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 2: fruit picker shortages for the upcoming season, but there's nowhere 53 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 2: for them to quarantine at the moment. Is that on 54 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 2: farm option an option for these one hundred and sixty 55 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 2: six workers. 56 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,520 Speaker 1: At the moment, we've only got one farm in the 57 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: Northern Territory accredited for on farm quarantining. The criteria for 58 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 1: on farm quarantine is exceptionally strict and difficult for many 59 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: producers to be able to satisfy. So we need as 60 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 1: many options as we can in the toolbox. At the moment, 61 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: the only option that looks like being a viable one 62 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 1: is how it springs. That's currently sitting with Prime Minister 63 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: and Cabinet, and we're needing some direction from the federal 64 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 1: government back to the territory government. To say, yes, we 65 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: can do this, and then we can start to submit 66 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: our recruitment plans and get our visas and starting to 67 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 1: make this happen. 68 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 2: Okay, So the reality here probably is at this point, 69 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 2: if there's only one farm that where they can actually 70 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 2: suitably quarantine people, how many can they even quarantine on 71 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 2: that one farm? 72 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: It's in the handfuls. Yeah, it's not going to resolve 73 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 1: our problem. It will assist that particular grower, but from 74 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: an industry wide perspective, it really will have no bearing 75 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 1: at all. 76 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 2: All right, So it does from what you're saying to 77 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 2: me this morning, it seems as though blatant points kind 78 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 2: of been taken out of the equation right. 79 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: Now, that's correct, and we saw that as a really 80 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: viable option for multiple industries and also for trying to 81 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: get our university sector and get their international students back. 82 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: The economy is really hurting at the moment right across 83 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: the board. On a daily basis, we're hearing pee wee 84 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,560 Speaker 1: are back to five days a week. There's a story 85 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 1: today online around a business that is actually closed up 86 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: to week for a week to do some training with staff. 87 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 1: So you know, we're all starting to really fill the 88 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: bite of not having enough workforce, and it just goes 89 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 1: to show the amount we rely on the international travelers 90 00:04:29,200 --> 00:04:32,200 Speaker 1: and the international workers coming in to fulfill jobs that 91 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: Australians simply don't want to do. 92 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: Now we know that there are obviously three and a 93 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 2: half thousand beds at Howard Springs, so then well there 94 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 2: was the Health Minister had told us yesterday those numbers 95 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 2: around the international arrivals that are there and also the 96 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 2: interstate arrivals. From what I can gather, there is room 97 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 2: at Howard Springs, but that funding that the territory government's 98 00:04:56,279 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 2: got is related to those international repatriation flows. So somehow 99 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 2: we've got to work something out here. I mean, we're 100 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 2: talking about one hundred and sixty six workers. 101 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: We're talking about one hundred and sixty six at a time. 102 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 1: We actually need about seven hundred over the next few months. 103 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: But we can bring them in in a staggered approach. 104 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 1: I mean, we've put Olive Branch out after Olive Branch 105 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 1: to work with levels of government to try and facilitate 106 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: this that has the minimum disruption for the Howards Rings facility. 107 00:05:28,839 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: And we do know that they're over a thousand beds 108 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,279 Speaker 1: out there at the moment that are not got someone 109 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: with their head on the pillow tonight that we could 110 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: potentially utilize. So we just need government to say yes, 111 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:43,000 Speaker 1: we can do it, formalize that to us so we 112 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: can get the recruitment and the visa is happening. 113 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 2: Paul, do you reckon that the reason that they're holding 114 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 2: back is because it's a funding thing and is like 115 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:55,159 Speaker 2: our farmers prepared to pay some kind of amount to 116 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:56,919 Speaker 2: be able to have them quarantine there. 117 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 1: We've always said that that we're happy to make more 118 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: quarantine costs, which we did last year. Growers also subsidized 119 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:10,880 Speaker 1: the air travel over as an industry organization, we will 120 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: underwrite that, so we will pay upfront and then we 121 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:17,119 Speaker 1: will chase the farmer's for payment. So from a government 122 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:21,160 Speaker 1: risk point of view, it's very low. From a perspective 123 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: of safety, going through how it springs, there is no 124 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:26,720 Speaker 1: better facility in Australia and that's been proven over and 125 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: over again. So I think from a safety aspect, from 126 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: an industry perspective, we're prepared to commit funds to make 127 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:38,360 Speaker 1: this reality. Yeah, I think that we've been completely reasonable, Paul. 128 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 2: Honestly, you and I have spoken about this on so 129 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 2: many occasions. I know that you guys are working so 130 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 2: incredibly hard to try to sort this out. For those 131 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,920 Speaker 2: listening this morning who've really not heard us have this 132 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 2: discussion in the past, what is it going to mean 133 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 2: If you're not able to get these workers across. 134 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 1: Here, we simply won't be able to get the full 135 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:01,680 Speaker 1: crop off this year. And it's as simple as that. 136 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,280 Speaker 1: And the mango industry is worth one hundred and forty 137 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,360 Speaker 1: million dollars. They're about territory economy and that's a hit 138 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: we can't afford to take. And from an individual grower's 139 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 1: point of view, they spend all year growing a mango 140 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: and if they can't get it off the tree, it's heartbreaking. 141 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: So it's having a massive mental health toll on each 142 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,119 Speaker 1: individual grower that's just going, well, where's my workforce coming. 143 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:29,239 Speaker 1: We had an example a few weeks back where we've 144 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: managed to secure fifteen workers out of Victoria and then 145 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: the internal border is closed, So we've got a lot 146 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: of challenges in front of us. And COVID's not going 147 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: anywhere in the short period and vaccination levels are quite low, 148 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: so we need to have this in place. Probably for 149 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:47,119 Speaker 1: next year as well. 150 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, Anti Pharmac CEO Paul Burke, Mate, we'll try 151 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 2: our best to stay onto it and no doubt we'll 152 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 2: talk to you again in the very near future. I 153 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 2: really hope that something's able to be sorted very quickly. 154 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: The great work, Kadie, and we really thank you for 155 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: getting our message out there to everyone. It's really appreciated well. 156 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 2: And you know, Mate, at the end of the day, 157 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 2: I think it's about us supporting territorians here at MIX 158 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 2: because our farmers, our mango farmers, you know, do a 159 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 2: phenomenal job. They employ plenty of people. I know that 160 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,160 Speaker 2: there's some people listening to the show who keep saying 161 00:08:19,480 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 2: why can't they employ locals, But the fact is if 162 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:24,520 Speaker 2: they could employ locals at this point, they'd be doing 163 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 2: that absolutely. 164 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:28,920 Speaker 1: That's dead right. And Mix are doing a great job 165 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: getting a message out there. 166 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 2: Paul. We'll talk to you again very soon. Thank you 167 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 2: for your time.