Staff shortages force Kimberley businesses to offer baristas $90,000 a year

Baristas are being offered an extraordinary $92,000-a-year pay-packet to make coffees in a take-away restaurant in Broome — a sign staffing woes in the famous tourist town have reached desperation levels. Drive-thru takeaway venue Good Cartel recently advertised six vacant positions across their kitchen and front-of-house, including offering a pay package worth $92,030 to work as a barista. The barista package includes superannuation and would involve working 47 hours over five days a week, including the weekend. However, if the successful candidate wanted to keep their weekends free in the tropical Kimberley town, they could earn a $83,001-a-year pay cheque. Kitchen staff are being offered an annual pay of $112,464 a year to work 55 hours a week over five days, including weekends. Even if they did not want to work weekends, a $102,000 pay packet was still on the table. Drive-thru attendants are being offered up to almost $80,000 a year. Good Cartel owner Jack Kain said while paying their staff higher than industry rates had always been a strategy of the business, it had become a necessity in recent times. “It’s a better than usual strategy now with the labour shortage, which has now fallen well and truly off the cliff,” he said. “When you combine this with the rental shortage and all of the various COVID restrictions incoming it’s going to be challenging.” Short St. Cafe — which planned to have its grand opening this week — has been forced to delay its first cappuccino due to the shortages. Located in the recently redeveloped Short Street precinct, the cafe was quick to bring excitement among locals with its promise of exclusive take-away coffee and baked goods. But owner Yane Sotiroski said he had been forced to delay the opening because it was impossible to attract staff. “We do feel that in town there is a sense of shortage,” he said.“Hopefully when the season kicks in everything will be OK.” Across the road, Dragonfly Cafe owner Bikram Pradhan said there had been no change to the situation since borders opened. Even those overlooking the world-famous Cable Beach are not immune to the shortages. “We wouldn’t have anybody walk in and ask if we are hiring,” said Zander’s restaurant manager Victoria Nicolson. “Even applications via email have been quiet lately.” In January, the Federal Government announced that $3 million would be given to Tourism Australia for marketing campaigns targeting international students and backpackers. WA Minister for Regional Development Alannah MacTiernan said labour shortages had been an issue across the State for two years. “In the Kimberley the unprecedented boom in local tourists heading to the region has made this problem more pronounced,” she said. “We’ve thrown everything at supporting businesses to manage this issue over the past two years, including incentivising local workers in the region. “We’ve had real success with facilitating arrivals of Pacific Island seasonal workers for agriculture and hospitality — more than 100 of which went to the Kimberley.” Minister MacTiernan said with borders now open, she expected to see a return in backpackers in the coming months. The announcement came after figures showed there were 23,500 backpackers and working holidaymakers who currently held visas to work in Australia. In a recent survey, it was found there were 1000 vacancies in Kununurra, in a town with a population of 7500.