Border closures: National code for agriculture workers

States have agreed to work on a national code for the travel of agricultural workers across borders, while Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has revealed a plan for cross-border communities on the South Australian border.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces a national code for agriculture cross-border travel will be developed. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

A NATIONAL code to allow cross-border travel for agricultural workers will be developed over the next fortnight.

In a potential breakthrough for farmers, the National Cabinet today agreed to work towards a consistent set of rules for the agriculture supply chain to cross state boundaries more freely.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the code will be discussed at the next National Cabinet meeting, and was expected to be similar to the freight code agreed to two weeks ago.

“It will deal with the practical issues of how those in the agricultural workforce are managing their activities across these borders, where they are in place,” Mr Morrison said.

The farming sector this week ramped up its calls for action for a uniform approach to agriculture.

The agriculture industry has been warning that harsh – and inconsistent – interstate border closures are hampering the movement of contractors, putting the upcoming grains and horticulture harvests at risk, as well as preventing farmers, vets and agronomists from doing vital work over state lines.

NSW this week introduced an agriculture permit allowing Victorians to enter NSW up to a 100km limit, following reports of farmers being unable to access interstate properties and seasonal workers shut-out from their jobs – but similar issues at the NSW-Queensland border have yet to be addressed.

Meanwhile, a near-total shutdown of the Victorian-SA border came into force today, leaving many farmers without staff or access to supplies.

Mr Morrison and the Federal Government have been urging premiers this week to work together on cross-border issues amid increasing tensions between states.

“Of course it’s necessary where they (borders) are put in place but there needs to be a careful balance … about the cost and impact of those borders … weighed up against the health benefits,” Mr Morrison said.

HOPE FOR VICTORIA-SOUTH AUSTRALIA CROSS-BORDER COMMUNITIES

There is hope for thousands along the Victorian-South Australia border, where the South Australia Government’s border shutdown is preventing people from getting to work and school, or accessing essential supplies and medical care.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he would continue discussions today and over the weekend with his South Australian counterpart, Steven Marshall.

Mr Andrews said a “carve out” of one Victorian-South Australia border town had already been negotiated, but the same was being sought for up to nine other communities who “shop, get their fuel, all those things, just over the South Australian border”.

“We agreed during the meeting that we’d have a chat about a couple of – often very small, but meaningful – border communities [for] who it’s a big impost if they’ve got to travel all the way back into Victoria, much deeper into Victoria than their normal pattern of movement, which is quite a short trip,” Mr Andrews said.

The Weekly Times is seeking details of which communities will be included and the nature of any exemptions.

Mr Andrews said he will also discuss the outstanding issues surrounding the NSW agriculture permit with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Mr Andrews would not be drawn into criticising his state colleagues, stating: “If I were in their shoes, I would have probably made the same choice.”

“It’s just a genuine commitment and a plea from us – which has been answered – to work together to make these as workable as possible,” he said.

“I don’t think you’ll ever make closed borders easy, but we can make it a little easier in a number of areas. And they’re the sort of discussions that we’re having.”