Queensland quarantine facilities to accept seasonal workers

The use of Queensland’s dedicated quarantine facilities will see an increased number of workers enter the state under the Pacific Labour Scheme and Seasonal Workers Program. The accommodations will let workers from Pacific nations with low or no COVID-19 numbers to come into the country to work in agricultural fields.

The quarantine sites at Grantham, Dimbulah and Claredale have capacities ranging from 80 to 240 and will increase seasonal workers in the state, which relies heavily on agriculture for its economy. Workers will be held at the facilities for 14 days and will be tested as per hotel quarantine procedure, which itself will benefit from the shifting priorities of the quarantine system.

Queensland has already brought in over 3800 workers from Pacific nations to assist in the state’s agriculture sectors. The first guests at the Claredale facility will arrive in October, with the Grantham site accepting arrivals prior to December.

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