Agriculture Workers Code: SA and Qld reject opening up to farm workers

It’s back to the drawing board on developing a code allowing rural workers and allied businesses to cross state borders.

Border battle: Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud is battling to get state borders opened up for agricultural workers and businesses. Picture: Gary Ramage

AUSTRALIA’s chief medical officers have rejected a bid by NSW, Victoria and Federal Governments to open up state borders to farmers, workers and agricultural service providers.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud had been trying to work with his interstate counterparts to create an Agriculture Workers’ Code, which was due to go to a National Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

But the first draft of the code appears all but dead, after it was rejected earlier this week by the nation’s chief health officers, who sit on the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.

South Australia and Queensland agriculture ministers have also rejected the code, leaving Mr Littleproud, Victoria and NSW with no option but to go back to the drawing board to try and ease COVID-19 border controls for their industries.

“These border issues are now a real test of our federation,” Mr Littleproud said.

“It’s in times of national crisis that our system of government is tested. This is an opportunity for states to show us that federation works for all Australians not just those in capital cities.”

Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said there was an urgent need for free movement of the agricultural workforce.

“It beggars belief that farmers who provide the food and fibre to feed the nation continue to be hamstrung by people who simply do not understand the economic implications,” Mr Jochinke said.

In its current form the code would have allowed rural workers and businesses to cross state borders on condition they could prove they worked for or owned a valid agricultural business, a border permit, carried a face mask, gloves, sanitiser, and kept records of where they had been.

It would have been up to each state if they required mandatory or voluntary COVID-19 testing will be a decision of each state or territory implementing border controls

NSW, Victoria and the Federal Government want the code to cover:

ALL seasonal workers including temporary visa holders.

FARMING, agricultural, veterinary chemicals and vaccine production, transportation and distribution.

BUSINESSES that support agricultural sector including on-farm consultants, livestock agents, agronomists, shearing contractors, trades services and contracting businesses

LABORATORY and diagnostic services

ABATTOIRS, saleyards, knackeries and animal transportation services (including livestock and pets)

ANIMAL feed production, transportation, packaging, sale, and feeding (including livestock and pets);

VETERINARY clinics and related services including; on-farm visits, animal care services (only where it there is a genuine animal welfare issue) and artificial insemination

TEACHING and scientific facilities which require the keeping or use of animals

ANY BUSINESS or undertaking that is involved in providing support services to agriculture, forestry and fishing activities under this Code, such as food safety and verification, inspection or associated laboratory services and biosecurity functions.

FORESTRY activity

BUSHFIRE recovery workers

WATER supply, water managers and water transport supporting agricultural production

EXPORT supply chain operators

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