A TEAM of 22,000 Pacific Island workers are pre-vetted and ready to take up farm jobs in Australia.
Labour shortages in the agriculture sector are again in the spotlight after the latest national cabinet meeting on Friday.
Federal Agricutlure Minister David Littleproud said national cabinet had agreed to reaffirm and streamline processes to bring in workers under the Pacific Labor Scheme and Seasonal Worker Program.
"The decision for states to formalise bilateral arrangements with the commonwealth on Pacific workers delivers hope for Australian farmers as the peak harvest period approaches," Mr Littleproud said.
"I am pleased that all first ministers recognise the importance of the agriculture sector and the need to make sure we have the workers here and ready to pick the fruit.
"We know there are 22,000 pre-vetted workers from the Pacific available to help with harvest."
Mr Littleproud said since the programs recommenced in August, more than 1000 workers had arrived in Queensland, the Northern Territory, NSW and Tasmania.
It comes as the Queensland government extends its seasonal worker trial until March 4, 2021, which allows on-farm quarantine arrangements for staff from Pacific Island nations with the lowest risk of COVID-19.
However, farmers are required to foot the bill for flights and on-farm quarantine, with a portion of the airfares able to be recovered from workers under limits set by the federal government.
State Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said 151 workers from Tonga became the first seasonal workers to successfully complete on-farm quarantine in November.
"With no significant issues identified, it is appropriate to extend the trial and keep assessing it to determine if permanently resuming the PLS/SWP program is feasible," Mr Furner said.
He said about 650 workers would be flown into Queensland to help address labour shortages in North Queensland, Central Queensland and the Wide Bay-Burnett in the trial's initial phase.
"To date, 458 workers have arrived from Tonga and the Solomon Islands to pick grapes, citrus, sweet potatoes, bananas, apples and berries, or work in major food processing facilities," he said.
"Extending the trial will help address industry requests for additional flights as employer interest has, understandably, far exceeded the available seats on the first flights."
Senator Susan McDonald said more workers were urgently needed.
"We're in the peak summer picking season for North Queensland mangoes, lychees, bananas and limes, and it's imperative we get these Pacific Islanders approved quickly," she said.
State LNP rural affairs spokesman Dale Last said fruit and vegetable prices would skyrocket next year unless more workers were on the ground.
