Andrews inaction: Symes ignores Canberra’s COVID-19 call
The Andrews Government has failed to respond to the Commonwealth’s call to deliver nationally consistent COVID-19 health protocols in food processing plants.
THE Andrews Government has been accused of ignoring calls to work with the Commonwealth on delivering nationally consistent health protocols to minimise the spread of coronavirus in food processing plants.
As the number of cases linked to the Cedar Meat’s meat works hit 62 yesterday, the Federal Agriculture Minister released a letter he sent to Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes on April 9, appealing for her support in delivering nationally consistent protocols to minimising the virus’ spread in food processing plants.
Mr Littleproud has stated Ms Symes failed to respond to the request, which called on Victoria to ensure food processors adopted Food Standards Australia New Zealand COVID-19 protocols to:
REVIEW shift arrangements and limit opportunities for large gatherings in the workplace (e.g. lunchrooms, change rooms, car parks, etc.);
DIVIDE staff into teams and limit interaction between these teams (e.g. increase time between shifts) to reduce the number of staff that may need to quarantine should an employee contract COVID-19.
Mr Littleproud’s April 9 letter to Ms Symes followed Primary Industries Ministers’ teleconferences on March 27 and April 3, where agreement was reached on the need for a nationally consistent approach for food processors.
Ms Symes dismissed Mr Littleproud’s claim, releasing a copy of a letter she had sent him this week, days after the Covid-19 outbreak in the Cedar Meat works.
The letter dated Tuesday May 5 states: “As you may be aware, I have established the Victorian Agriculture Industry Reference Group, bringing together Agriculture Victoria and industry representatives.
“The group of representatives from over 25 peak industry bodies are working with the Victorian Government to address the issues facing the sector. This includes providing information about commuting and accommodating seasonal workers, along with answering frequently asked questions about how businesses can manage staff safety and the health of their workforce, and directives for people with responsibilities for animals.”
The Reference Group was not established until April 23 and it is still unclear whether the Victorian Government took any action to ensure Cedar Meats and other meat processors had adopted the all FSANZ protocols, particularly in regard to keep workers at the plant in separate teams and protecting seasonal workers.
Ms Symes’ spokesman did state: “The Chief Health Officer is responsible for setting public health requirements under State of Emergency provisions, including physical distancing measures that apply to workplaces.
“It’s the responsibility of employers and individual employees to ensure they comply with the direction of the Chief Health Officer.”
Cedar Meats has advised the Andrews Government it had many appropriate protocols in place, such as deep cleaning, social distancing and taking workers’ temperatures, prior to the outbreak.
However there are no details on how Cedar Meats managed its teams of seasonal workers, in regards to whether they operated as separate teams in the plant and what efforts were made to ensure the virus did not spread in their shared accommodation and when commuting to work.
Under the seasonal workers scheme approved employers are responsible for:
ORGANISING and providing access to council approved accommodation and transport to and from work for each seasonal worker (at the seasonal workers’ expense)
PROVIDING welfare and wellbeing for workers, including opportunities for recreation and religious observance, a 24-hour contact number, and assisting workers to access services in the local community.
In his letter Mr Littleproud stated: “Farmers, industry groups and individual processors and manufacturers have been eager for reassurance, regarding the processes and protocols they are putting in place to manage the risk of COVID-19 in their workplace.
“In order to provide that reassurance, I am seeking both your endorsement of the existing FSANZ state and territory food standards advice and the (Commonwealth) Department of Health advice previously discussed and to a national approach to the application of COVID-19 protocols for food businesses, including food production.
“Your support and written agreement to work together to finalise a national approach would serve to assure consumers and producers alike of the safety of Australian food and the integrity of the food supply chain as providing industry with certainty.”
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