Worker shortage crisis begins to take its toll on tourism town of Broome

A critical worker shortage that has been festering in Broome for weeks is starting to take its toll on local businesses, as backpacking visa holders leave the town in droves. But a number of companies are optimistic the recent decision to bring down the WA hard border and predicted wind-down of JobKeeper payments will help attract staff to the Kimberley. While the issue is mainly affecting the hospitality sector heading into the wet season — which is facing additional pressure this year because of a consistent flow of tourists — other industries desperate for workers are in the same boat. Business leaders have pinned the crisis on the current reliance on JobKeeper payments and the impact of interstate and global travel on the town, which can normally rely on backpackers for labour over the dry and locals to cover the off-peak period. Outlets have been forced to slash their opening hours and close early as a result, with some only planning to operate as little as three days each week over coming months. The Aarli co-owner Jane Wendland said her popular restaurant had only been trading four days instead of seven each week, with a dozen staff on the books, 13 less than normal. “We have been continuously short-staffed across the whole season,” she said. “The recruitment period for us is normally from March onwards and unfortunately we missed that boat because of COVID and not much has changed since. “It’s been a case of doing the best you can without jeopardising your product.” Resorts and other accommodation venues throughout Broome have also been hit hard by the worker shortage, with some running as low as 50 per cent capacity without staff on the books. The town’s largest hotel, the Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa, has run at limited capacity this year, as it normally relies on overseas travellers from the Seasonal Worker Program on top of its local workforce. Resort manager Stuart Kentish said his accommodation was up on bookings over the wet compared to recent years and he was remaining optimistic about staffing levels. “The border announcement certainly opens up an opportunity for east coast workers that was previously unavailable,” he said. “But the worker shortage is still a concern because of the absence of backpackers and my fear is that they are leaving the country and cannot get back in. “It won’t impact our wet season and we’re very happy with how we look, but what we are looking for is some sort of wholesale solution from the State and Federal Governments before the next tourist season to address this issue.” A shortage of skilled workers such as chefs, beauticians and hairdressers has also impacted a number of local small businesses, forcing them to reduce their opening hours or turn away clients. Olu Hair and Beauty Studio manager Sen Amaratunga said he was losing up to $500 of income every day because he could not find a massage therapist or beautician to work. “Without staff, I cannot get income and we are having this boom of tourists this year and we have not been able to maximise the benefits from it without staff,” he said. “We rely on backpackers to fill these, but I found this time the ones who came did not want to work and now they are all leaving because of the weather. “I hope we may be able to get some people from the east because without staff, I cannot get income.” Footprint Cleaning owner Aaron Ryan said his family business was left with no choice but to shut down its gardening service and focus all staff on their major cleaning clients. He said it had become impossible to replace outgoing workers, which had never been an issue before for the company that has a strict 100 per cent local workforce commitment. “We have 19 on the books right now but I need another six to do 30 to 40 hours a week,” he said. “Right now, we are just turning away work because we can’t physically do it and I’m already running around doing things myself. “Before we had people ring us up for jobs, now we have no local workforce to choose from and it has a lot to do with JobKeeper.” As of next Wednesday, travel will be permitted freely from South Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and the ACT, while those coming from New South Wales and Victoria must self-quarantine in WA for two weeks without an exemption. The current Federal Government JobKeeper payments are expected to end on March 28 next year.