News

Dear AMS members and macadamia levy payers

Unfortunately, Coronavirus shows no sign of slowing down and the potential impacts on business are increasing daily.

The AMS is linked into key working groups at the national and state levels to ensure your issues are tabled and we can get information out as soon as it comes to hand. (We are doing this most effectively and efficiently via the closed Facebook group, see the bottom of this email for more detail).

We were assured in a teleconference with Federal Agriculture Minister Littleproud yesterday that agricultural production is an essential service and that the Australian government is working with the States to ensure that you can continue to grow and sell food both in Australia and for export.

The Minister foreshadowed an announcement relating to visas on Friday and had a very strong grasp on the realities of the work required and the reasons why overseas workers were needed. We will send out another update as soon as there is an announcement.

The closure of the Queensland Border will be an issue for businesses that require staff to travel or move product between NSW and Queensland. Businesses must ensure they understand their obligations - which includes the NEW requirement for every workplace to develop and lodge a health plan for their workplace.

Now, more than ever, record-keeping is your best friend! Know where every worker on your farm is at all times, keep scrupulous records of your hygiene practices and stay up-to-date with your obligations. 

And most importantly look after your own health and that of your family members.

Thanks to Berries Australia and Growcom for some of the information in this post.

Sincerely

Jolyon Burnett

AMS CEO

SUMMARY OF THE BRIEFING (25 March 2020)

The AMS participated in a briefing with the Queensland Minister for Agriculture and officials from Queensland Health, Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Queensland Police Force at 2pm on 25/3/2020. This is the summary of the information presented at that briefing. 

• A new website called Covid19.qld.gov.au will go live TODAY (26/3) which will be a one-stop-shop for all information relating to COVID-19 in Queensland.
• The Queensland border will be shut to all non-essential travel from midnight on Thursday 26/3/2020.
• There will be RBT style controls at major border crossings and airports checking people’s right to enter and requiring those who are not exempt to self-quarantine for 14 days.
• Fines of up to $60,000 for businesses and $13,000 for individuals apply if those requirements are not complied with.
• There are special provisions for border communities and critical industries (including agriculture).
• Freight and logistics for any goods into Queensland from interstate is still permitted.

KEY POINTS FOR CRITICAL INDUSTRIES:

• Agriculture workers are considered to be providing critical services and are able to legally enter Queensland and go straight to work unless they come from a designated Covid hotspot (none defined as yet). Please note that in the official advice agricultural workers are covered under the FIFO workers section.
• Agriculture workers will be required to provide evidence that they are entering Queensland to work, who they are working for, and that they are entering Queensland to go directly to work.
• Workers moving to Queensland to work must have a letter of offer and it is the employer’s responsibility to provide this. This also applies to seasonal workers.
• The companies they work for in Queensland will also have to provide a health plan that complies with requirements set by the Chief Health Officer that ensures adequate hygiene and safety requirements to limit the transmission of COVID-19. A template is available here and must be lodged with Queensland Health before the workers come into Queensland. There is no approval process.
• If you employ workers through labour-hire it is our recommendation that both businesses (the host and the labour-hire company) have health plans in place and we would suggest that you require all labour-hire companies to provide you with their health plan as part of your labour-hire agreement.
• There is no restriction on Queensland residents returning to Queensland unless they come from a designated hot spot area.
• There is no restriction on Queensland workers moving into NSW. 

KEY POINTS FOR BORDER COMMUNITIES:

• Workers are able to move across their border to undertake work or obtain essential services. The exemption only applies if the person does not propose to stay in Queensland for longer than reasonably necessary to attend work or to obtain those services.
• There is no clear guidance as to what evidence is needed, but we would recommend proof of address and proof of employment. 
• The police will be stopping cars at the major borders and significant congestion is predicted for the M1.

QUEENSLAND BORDER RESTRICTIONS

To slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the Queensland Government is implementing restricted entry to Queensland from 12:01am on Thursday, 26 March 2020. These restrictions provide for the continuation of essential goods and services for Queenslanders.

Read more on the Queensland Government Website, access the QLD template Health Plan to minimise risk for workers, apply for an Entry Pass, download the QLD Border restrictions fact sheet or read frequently asked questions on the AMS website.

HORTICULTURE LABOUR FORECAST (QLD)

An urgent Horticulture labour forecast for Queensland is being compiled and we need your help to ensure that your businesses requirements are included - regardless of how you normally source your workers. We need to understand farm by farm your exact labour needs on a month-to-month basis out to September 2020. The survey "Horticulture Labour Forecast - April to September 2020" has been developed by Growcom and is being distributed in collaboration with other peak industry bodies and the Queensland Department of Agriculture.

We ask all Queensland growers to complete this survey now before you move on to the next job. It will close next Friday 3 April and takes less than 10 minutes. If you have any question about the survey please contact Richard Shannon on 0448 860 630 or [email protected]

OTHER MATTERS

There is information on what happens if one of your workers becomes infected and the actions you must take to protect your business HERE provided by the NSW Food Authority.

The ARC for Food Safety in the Fresh Produce Industry has compiled HERE a summary of key points for the fresh food industry.

We also recommend that you require all workers to fill in a worker disclosure form before starting work on your farm and have attached a template HERE to assist you. 

JOIN THE AMS FACEBOOK GROUP NOW

The closed group will help us streamline the delivery of information as it relates to you and your business.

To join the group, you must be an AMS member or registered as a levy payer with the AMS. Click here to go to the page and then click to join the group.

We will continue sending industry updates through our regular channels (emails & Enews), however, to ensure you receive regular, timely updates in a fast-moving crisis situation, we suggest joining the AMS Facebook group now.

AMS OFFICE UPDATE

AMS staff began working remotely this week and continue to be available via email and work mobiles during normal office hours. You can still speak to a staff member on 1800 262 426.