Far North Queensland

Vanuatu seasonal worker missing at sea, Far North Queensland police scale back search

The group of four men - three from Tonga and one from Vanuatu - set off near Mission Beach more than a week ago.

A 36-year-old Tongan man is the only survivor who was rescued after spending up to 30 hours in the ocean and has since been released from hospital.

Three of the seasonal workers were employed on a banana farm.

In a statement, Far North Queensland Police acting inspector Brett Jenkins said authorities couldn't find the remaining three missing fishermen or any items of theirs.

 

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Pinata Farms welcomes 4th intake of Vanuatu seasonal workers

Piñata Farms is among Australia’s approved agricultural industry employers recruiting workers from the Pacific Islands under the Federal Government’s Seasonal Worker Program (SWP).

North Queensland operations manager Stephen Scurr said eight workers from Vanuatu were currently harvesting pineapples at the company’s Mareeba farm, double last year’s intake.

He said they had decided to recruit workers from Vanuatu, which was one of nine participating Pacific Island countries, as Piñata Farms managed a sandalwood and lime plantation there.