Australia begins preparation for first Pacific guest workers

[Stacey King]

AUSTRALIAN NETWORK NEWS
2 Feb 2009

The first temporary Pacific island fruit pickers under a new Australian scheme are now due to arrive towards the end of February, almost two months later than scheduled.

The Australian Government says two labour hire firms in the eastern Australian towns of Swan Hill and Griffith, where the first group of workers will be sent, have begun the process of choosing those workers.

They're now scheduled to arrive in Australia later in February.

They'll come from Vanuatu, Kiribati and Tonga.

The three countries have signed up to the trial scheme that will see a total of 2,500 seasonal workers travel to Australia.

Australian ministers say the delays are because authorities were determined to get the details of the arrangements right from the start.

Australia's Trade Minister, Simon Crean, has told Radio Australia that he'd like the scheme to be extended eventually to include training in Pacific countries and exchanges of workers across the region.