I hope everyone is doing well considering the unprecedented circumstances in which we find ourselves. Our industry and our regions have faced tremendous hardships in the last six months through bushfires and now through the COVID-19 pandemic, but I am heartened by the resilience and strength of our growers and their regional communities through this tough time.

In the last week, the Federal Government made some important announcements that will help our businesses find vital workers and help our exporters send their produce to key international markets.

Visa Extension for backpackers, seasonal and Pacific workers

The changes to the visa arrangements for backpackers, seasonal workers and those working within the Pacific Labour Scheme will allow them to continue to work in agriculture and food processing until the coronavirus crisis has passed.

The decision to temporarily extend the visas of seasonal workers and backpackers already working on farms in Australia will:

• give growers confidence to plant their crops for the coming season;
• help keep local businesses open in regional and rural areas that rely on agriculture to survive; and
• ensure that locals, seasonal workers and backpackers alike keep their jobs, work and live safely, and keep the economy running.

Backpackers who work in agriculture or food processing will be exempt from the six month work limitation with the one employer and eligible for a further visa to keep working in critical sectors, including agriculture, if their current visa is due to expire in the next six months.

Workers in the Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme will be able to extend their stay for 12 months to work for approved employers.

Employers will also need to commit to providing safe accommodation for agricultural workers that complies with social distancing requirements.

This is an important outcome for the Australian horticulture industry and demonstrates the value in the sector coming together and collectively advocating on behalf of fruit and vegetable growers towards an outcome that benefits growers, workers and the Australian public.

More details around these changes can be found on the AUSVEG website here or via the announcement made by Minister Littleproud on Saturday 4 April.

It is critical to understand that employers have an obligation to provide safe accommodation for agricultural workers that complies with social distancing requirements. We all have a duty of care to our workers, our friends and family and our community, so this is important for us to demonstrate that we are doing what we can to keep workers safe and our businesses up and running to ensure the supply of vegetables.

Government investment in airfreight

Last week the Federal Government announced the AUD$110 million International Freight Assistance Mechanism, which will allow Australia’s vegetable grower exporters to meet the demand from key international markets for high-quality fresh vegetables.

The International Freight Assistance Mechanism will help exporters get their high-quality produce into key overseas markets, with return flights bringing back vital medical supplies, medicines and equipment critical to the ongoing health response.

Demand has continued to be strong for Australian fresh vegetables in international markets, with enquiries still coming in from a range of key importers. While demand has been high, exports of fresh vegetables have been affected by the reduction in the number of commercial passenger flights, which many growers use to export their fresh, perishable products to key Asian and Middle Eastern markets.

More details about the specifics of this program, including the cost that will be passed on to exporters, will become clearer in the coming days, but this announcement is a positive sign that the Australian Government is eager to help exporting vegetable growers maintain their existing markets and supply high-quality Australian vegetables to key markets.

If you want to find out more information please email AUSVEG at export@ausveg.com.au, or visit this website.

Other information

As always it is important to regularly check information and resources that are available to make sure you and your businesses are up to date with the latest health, business and safety advice. Below is a list of links that will be useful to look over.

• Hort Innovation has provided a list of resources intended to help growers and others in the horticulture industry keep up to date with trusted information in these unusual times– particularly news and updates relating to continuing to operate. Hort Innovation will update this page with further advice and links as they become available.
• PMA A-NZ has produced a Protecting your workforce guide for the fresh produce industry during the COVID-19 situation, with key checklists for operating safely across the farm, packing shed and more.
• Information on the Australian Government’s economic response to COVID-19 can be found on the Treasury website here.
• Growers are also encouraged to head to the Farmhub website for all the latest and up to date information for their business relating to COVID-19. See herefor more information.
• It is important to note that it is unlikely that COVID-19 will be passed on through fresh produce. For more information please visit the FSANZ website for advice on the Coronavirus for consumers and the fresh produce industry.
• If anyone wants more information on COVID-19, including the symptoms and what to do if you suspect you might be at risk of infection, please visit https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alertor call the National Incident Response Centre on 1800 020 080.
• Up-to-date resources on COVID-19 can be found on the Department of Health website here. Guidelines on isolation can be found here.
• The Fair Work Ombudsman has some important information that all employers should be across to ensure that they are meeting their obligatory requirements to their workers.
• AUSVEG State Member Growcom has prepared a detailed guide for employers and employees regarding COVID-19 – please click here to view the document(please note that given the evolving situation with COVID-19, Growcom makes no claims or guarantees about the completeness, accuracy or currency of this information).
• Information and resources on the vegetable industry’s crisis preparedness and what to do in a crisis can be found on the AUSVEG website here.