I actually thought I did not hear properly. Our deputy PM actually said this:

“They (islanders) will continue to survive, there’s no question they will continue to survive, and they will continue to survive with large aid assistance from Australia.

“They will continue to survive because many of their workers come here and pick our fruit.”

On Thursday he apologised.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-22/mccormack-apology-pick-our-fruit/11438312?section=politics