Borders push East Kimberley businesses to brink as survey finds at least 1000 workers needed for dry season

New survey results have revealed the depth of the East Kimberley’s worker crisis, with businesses pushed to the brink as they scramble to fill at least 1000 local vacancies to operate at full capacity this dry season. The East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry surveyed 55 local businesses in late January, with respondents reporting 1085 open positions, mainly from within the hospitality and tourism, agriculture, and trades and services sectors. Just three of the 55 respondents did not require extra staff. The survey found more than 650 of the positions, or 60 per cent, were typically filled by interstate workers, while 296 employees were stuck out of WA without an exemption to return at the time of the survey. The alarming vacancy volumes are likely to be much higher, with just 40 per cent of EKCCI’s membership taking part in the survey. EKCCI president Amanda McLean said the State Government’s border backflip had caused major headaches for East Kimberley operators, pushing many to consider their viability into the upcoming season and beyond. “The staffing crisis that the closed border continues to create is causing businesses to be incredibly stretched and stressed,” she said. “They have been flexible and complied with everything thrown their way and unfortunately feel like they are being forgotten about. “There is a really high risk that businesses who have operated in the East Kimberley for years will have to shut their doors.” Ms McLean said the EKCCI was calling for borders to open as soon as possible to ensure East Kimberley businesses could survive the upcoming tourist influx and avoid a third consecutive year of operating under a cloud of uncertainty. “We believe the borders can be open and the 600 businesses in our region can trade safely while also balancing various health measures to ensure the health and safety of all our residents,” she said. It comes as opposition leader Mia Davies met with Kununurra’s tourism operators at the weekend after calling on the State Government to commit to a March 5 reopening date. She said North West businesses were experiencing “enormous frustration” and urgently needed more flexible border arrangements locked in. “They are looking for clarity, they want a date, and they need it soon otherwise they won’t be able to prepare for the season ahead; it is very, very serious,” she said.