International airline pilots are being retrained to operate harvest machinery as COVID-19 grounds flights and keeps farm workers from where they are needed.
As the grain industry approaches harvest season, it says 1,000 workers are neededWestern Australia's grain growers are on track to produce 14.5 million tonnes this season.
"It's going to be very interesting and a little bit different to what we are used to doing," said Gavin, whose surname was withheld in keeping with airline policy.Ley Webster usually works with backpackers, but this season she's trained nine stood-down pilots.While the pilots are highly skilled and competent workers, they are still new to the risks and challenges that come with a busy harvest season.
"So I think that [providing exemptions] would be a much better option for the Government to head down."The Curwen family runs a mixed cropping property in South Sterling near Albany.
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