Plans for influx of NZ shearers to WA snipped after COVID-19 surge

New Zealand’s shock second wave of COVID-19 cases has dashed hopes of an influx of shearers and farm workers from across the ditch to bolster WA’s agricultural sector. Agricultural Minister Alannah MacTiernan had initially been “optimistic” and “strongly encouraged” sourcing labour from New Zealand, according to correspondence between herself and her Nationals WA counterpart, Colin de Grussa. Despite the Labor MP publicly ruling out bringing in foreign workers for the sector, Ms MacTiernan emailed Mr de Grussa on August 12 indicating she supported the move. That was the day after Auckland suffered its August 11 coronavirus outbreak. “It will likely prove challenging for workers to be sourced from Europe,” Ms MacTiernan said in the email. “However, I am optimistic about the prospects of sourcing labour from New Zealand, which we have strongly encouraged. “I pointed out (to Federal Agricultural Minister David Littleproud) that as our harvest was two months ahead of New Zealand’s, that this recruitment would not be detrimental to New Zealand’s interests. “There are processes in place that allow for skilled, critical workers to enter and work in WA while protecting the health of the community during this pandemic.” However, Ms MacTiernan said optimism for Kiwi shearers to be brought into WA was now gone. “The New Zealand outbreak is a timely reminder that we need to remain vigilant against COVID-19,” she said. “Our hard border remains our greatest protection against a second wave. “While there may have been some optimism about a work-travel bubble when New Zealand was free of cases, that’s now gone.” When pressed in WA Parliament last week on the sector’s labour shortfall, Premier Mark McGowan pointed to his Government’s “job-matching program”, described by him as a promotional campaign to link workers with regional jobs. Nationals WA Leader Mia Davies has welcomed long-term plans, including training programs, to fill the labour shortage. But the Central Wheatbelt MP suggested Labor was disconnected from the short-term reality agriculture businesses were facing to secure skilled and unskilled labour.