Border restrictions: Littleproud pushes states to agree on ag workers code
Ahead of a meeting of National Cabinet on Friday, Agriculture Minister David Littleproud is mounting pressure on state leaders to agree to an ag workers code.
PRESSURE is mounting on state and territory leaders to agree to a national ag workers code ahead of Friday’s meeting of National Cabinet.
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has voiced his frustration at state premiers who have failed to open their borders to farm workers to carry out essential agriculture jobs.
Mr Littleproud said the states did not need an agricultural code to pave the way for farm workers to cross state borders given it was within the jurisdiction of each Health Minister.
He said a National Ag Workers Code was put to the states this week. “I’m disappointed it’s come to this, but simply the states couldn’t work it out for themselves and there’s no guarantee they will. Federation was never meant to work like this and a modern Australia can’t wait any longer.
“I would again encourage the states to bring forward sensible, practical, compassionate and evidence-based border restrictions that don’t unfairly punish regional families and communities,” Mr Littleproud said.
On Monday NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro revealed agriculture ministers from each state were meeting to discuss the draft code.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Tuesday that a 50km border region would be reinstated across her state’s border with Victoria on Friday to “reduce the angst and frustration caused by this border closure” to border residents.
A 40km buffer zone was reintroduced across the Victorian and SA border last week, just four days after SA introduced a “hard border” with Victoria that tore apart families and communities whose lives straddled the two states.
Queensland is the only state to allow almost freedom of movement for agricultural workers and farmers to traverse across its border with NSW.
Queensland’s chief health officer granted an exemption for essential farm work last week after pressure from Mr Littleproud to urgently resolve border issues for the sake of regional economies and livelihoods.
The Victorian Farmers Federation is pinning its hopes on the ag worker code to address issues Victorian farmers are facing due to border closures.
The organisation is calling for:
INCREASED movement of the agricultural workforce;
THE removal of arbitrary limitations on origin and destination travel;
SMOOTHER flow of agricultural goods and services intra state and interstate;
REGULATORY change to ensure agriculture is deemed an essential or critical service
ASYMPTOMATIC testing should not be required, but if it is, it should be accessible and affordable.
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