Farming to go on amid Victoria’s latest lockdown

While the snap lockdown announced by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will profoundly affect most aspects of life in the state, for ag it’s mostly a case of business as usual.

Despite Victorians being locked down once more, from 11.59pm tonight, it’s mostly business as usual for agriculture in the state. Picture: Zoe Phillips

FARMERS will be able to continue working as usual as Victoria enters a snap five-day lockdown.

And those living in regional communities who need to travel more than 5km from home for food and groceries or medical care will be allowed to do so.

Premier Dan Andrews today announced the entire state would be returning to stage 4 restrictions until 11.59pm on Wednesday, in a bid to keep the latest coronavirus cluster under control.

Guidelines released by the Department of Health and Human Services today stated that primary industries will be allowed to keep working “only to the extent necessary to ensure adequate supply of food, and care of animals, and maintenance of crops”.

While there was some concern this could limit farming activity, Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano said the group had been reassured in a briefing this afternoon that agricultural work could continue.

Abattoirs and processing plants will also be operating as usual during the lockdown.

The Weekly Times has sought response from the Victorian health department, including on whether or not saleyards will be affected.

Restrictions in March last year saw entry to saleyards restricted to agents only for several months, leading to a rise in online sales.

The 2020 lockdowns caused similar confusion over whether or not agriculture was officially deemed an essential sector and if all parts of the sector could keep working during lockdowns.

“Agriculture just wants to be clearly acknowledged as an industry that we are essential workers,” Ms Germano said.

“In principle we’re told we’re essential workers, but sometimes there’s a lack of understanding or communication of what that means.”

WHAT LOCKDOWN MEANS FOR REGIONAL VICTORIA

Under the new rules, all Victorians should only leave home for grocery shopping, care-giving, essential work, or exercise.

No visitors to the home are permitted, and masks are one again mandatory indoors and out.

People should remain within a 5km radius of their home, however regional Victorians who need to travel further for this for groceries and medical care are allowed to do so.

South Australia has also reintroduced a hard border with all of Victoria; Victorians living in cross-border communities however may enter SA for their nearest essential services, including shopping and healthcare.

Mr Andrews said despite there being no evidence of cases in regional Victoria, the restrictions needed to apply to the whole state in order to keep the virus from spreading.

He said the short-term nature of the lockdown meant it was appropriate to have the same rules across the state, rather than setting up a “ring of steel” as occurred in the August lockdown.

“If this was a longer-term proposition, then we would appropriately differentiate between Melbourne and regional Victoria,” he said.

“My message to regional Victorians is we have no evidence of any cases and that’s how we want to keep it.”