COVID-19 red alert

Tasmania bars Tongan seasonal workers over COVID-19 red zone alert

Siona Vaka, who is Tonga's Seasonal Worker Liaison Officer, said they became aware of the problem when Australian companies were told they could no longer bring in workers from the Pacific island country.

“They were told they will not be able to recruit from Tonga because it's considered as a red zone,” he said.

Tonga is the second largest supplier of Pacific seasonal workers to Australia and sent over 300 to Tasmania last summer.