Food, grog to entice pickers

The region’s housing crisis is causing even greater headaches for this year’s vintage, with backpacker numbers down at least 30 per cent and labour companies promising higher pay rates to lure workers. COVID-19 and the closure of Australia’s international borders was already predicted to undermine this year’s stellar grape harvest. Wine industry pundits questioned how many backpackers would return after Shire president Ian Earl famously asked travellers to leave before the South West was locked down last April. Instead, social media has been flooded with images of young internationals stuck on extended holiday in Australia and keen to work in vineyards — unlike residents, who took up few positions — but unable to find anywhere to stay. Gallop Estate owner and former Margaret River Wine Association president Nigel Gallop told the Times housing solutions were urgently needed before next year. “What if it (the workforce) was at 100 per cent? Where will they stay?” he asked. The law of supply and demand meant problems around low per-bucket pay rates aired by the Times last year were now being addressed, he said. Mr Gallop said it took the current crisis for “the kids” to get a fairer pay deal. “They are in demand, and suddenly they are being paid properly,” he said. MRWA chief executive Amanda Whiteland confirmed finding labour was a challenge. “The industry is doing everything it can to find innovative solutions,” she said. “Unfortunately, the labour shortages also mean more competition for the workers in the region, and labour costs have increased, putting further pressure on producers, following what has already been a difficult 12 months.” Machine harvesting was now on the rise, families and friends were being called in to help pick by hand, and some wineries had redeployed in-house staff to help with vintage, Ms Whiteland and other industry sources said. But accommodation was the biggest hurdle. Labour-hire companies told the Times they were working “24-hour shifts” as they scrambled to meet demand. Mr Gallop said higher pay rates were only one of the incentives now offered to lure workers. The Times understands camping and hosting backpacker vans, subsidised meals and alcohol were among other offers to secure more pickers. An Opposition push to boost the workforce late last year yielded few outcomes. But Ms Whiteland said South West provider Harvest Trail Services was filling the gap co-ordinating willing workers. She encouraged residents and travellers to register with rural enterprises.com.au/hts or visit margaret river.wine/work.