DARWIN - 30 April 2021

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the Northern Territory faces a major challenge in getting its workforce up to size.

We already know we face unprecedented labour shortages in the Top End – we’ve seen fruit rotting on the ground over the past year as our farmers struggle to find workers to help, as Australia enters a second year of closed borders to seasonal overseas workers.

But while Scott Morrison considers options for bringing in foreign workers, we face a second problem, as Australians in India locked out of the country have been left to take their chances with COVID-19.

Professor Jane Houlton recommended last year that Australia beef up its quarantine capacity, but we’re still barely allowing a trickle of citizens back home.

Meanwhile, the Northern Territory offers up a perfect facility at Bladin Point, which stands empty and ready to complement Howard Springs to take thousands of repatriating Australians.

The Federal Coalition Government should be working with the owners of Bladin Point to make this a reality as soon as possible.

While Scott Morrison fails to act, Australians trapped overseas are at risk of dying.

While Scott Morrison fails to act, our primary industry continues to face acute worker shortages.

Both of these problems could be immediately addressed.