A starting date for the Federal Government scheme, which was expected to see scores of workers flood into the district as early as this month, is still pending and concerns linger that the Government may be going cold on the idea.

Member for Riverina Kay Hull said the economic crisis and the looming job market squeeze may mean the scheme could be delayed or shelved completely.

“It was on a fast-track and now it seems to have stopped completely,” Mrs Hull said.

“My concern is that the Government may be going cold on it because of the possibility of job losses in the current climate.

“It would be a major blow to Griffith if it were.”

Representatives from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) were in Griffith late last month to discuss the details of the seasonal labour scheme with a number of key figures.

Summit Personnel Griffith’s Anna Berry, a Vanuatu-native who has worked feverishly to get the scheme to Griffith, said she left the meeting fearing the scheme might drown in paperwork.

“I still think it will probably happen but it’s been delayed because all the paperwork is not in place,” she said.

“They are still trying to work out the areas where it’s needed most and work out some of the logistics.

“It’s extremely frustrating, especially when we have melons, pumpkins, onions and Valencias coming on at this time of year.

“It’s very simple and we should just do it. We want our farmers to get help and these Pacific countries to get help with their economies.”

She said rather than adopt the proposed pilot scheme, the Government may opt for a “pilot of a pilot”, with just 25 workers from each of the four Pacific Rim countries participating.

Australian Workers’ Union south-west organiser Harry Goring also attended the meeting and said he felt “an announcement was imminent”.

A spokesman for DEEWR said it would take “a few days” until the department could respond to The Area News’ request.