Current News
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Solutions to the COVID-19 restrictions limiting the supply of seasonal labour in Victoria will be discussed during a special Rural Press Club of Victoria webinar. The webinar is free of charge.
Moderated by national agribusiness journalist Sue Neales, the webinar will hear from a panel of growers and industry experts including Victorian Shadow Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh, fruit grower Peter Hall and Australian Fresh Produce Alliance chief executive Michael Rogers. Register now!
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The National Biosecurity Forum is a joint event between the department and the National Biosecurity Committee. It is an opportunity to discuss biosecurity challenges, achievements and future directions with government, industry and community representatives. This year the forum will be run online, with a plenary session held on 9 November and subsequent sessions held throughout the week. Register for this event here...
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Agricultural Exports
$328 million allocated for the following:
- $222.2 million over 4 years for digital services to take farmers to market – a single touch point for exporters that is available 24/7.
- $14.3 million over 3 years - improving regulation post COVID-19 including targeted intervention for the seafood and live export sector, dedicated case managers to help new exporters and existing exporters to expand and diversify their markets.
- $10.9 million over 3 years - building a more competitive export meat industry and working with industry to streamline export and production costs to remain competitive.
- $10 million over 4 years - busting congestion for plant export industries. Streamlining border clearances for plant exports by reducing manual processes and improving service times and cost savings for exporters.
- $71.1 million over 3 years for Australian export services critical to ensuring our products make it to export markets.
Agricultural Levies
$7.2 million to streamline and modernise agricultural levies legislation. This will save time and money for the almost 8,000 businesses that collect levies, as well as for thousands of farmers. See attached flyer
Agricultural Workforce
- $17.4 million in relocation assistance and $16.3 million to incentivise young Australians to take up farm work by temporarily changing Youth Allowance (student) and ABSTUDY independence eligibility criteria. The relocation grants for individuals will include $6,000 if you relocate to a regional area, an extra $3,000 if you relocate with a dependent, $2,000 if you are a visa holder with the right to work in Australia
Floods & Drought
$155.6 million over four years to support drought and flood-impacted communities, including:
- $50.0 million in 2020‑21 to extend the On‑farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme,
- $19.6 million in 2021‑22 to extend the drought function of the National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency for a further year to continue coordination and community engagement for the Government's response and recovery activities; and
- $86.0 million over four years from 2020‑21, through the Future Drought Fund, to establish eight Drought Resilience and Adoption Hubs that support networks of researchers, farmers, agricultural business and community groups to enhance drought resilience practice, tools and technology.
An additional $60 million for 2019 Monsoon Trough: A strategy for long-term recovery
Instant Asset Write Off Increase
- Now, more than 99 per cent of businesses can write off the full value of any eligible asset they purchase for their business. This will be available to businesses with a turnover up to $5 billion, until June 2022.
Rail
$528 million for regional rail services for the people of Shepparton and Warrnambool
Modern Manufacturing Strategy
$1.5 billion for the Modern Manufacturing Strategy which provides support for Australia's food, beverages and agribusiness sector, more than $1.3 billion is for driving collaboration between industry participants and expediting R&D commercialisation. An additional $107.2 million is allocated to deliver the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative. The $50 million funding allocation for extension of the Industry Growth Centres initiative, including the Food and Agribusiness Grown Centre
Pacific Labour Mobility Safeguarding the Welfare of Workers – Additional Funding and Support
- $9 million in additional measures to support the Seasonal Worker Programme’s (SWP) current model and ensure the program continues to protect the welfare of Pacific and Timorese workers.
- Pacific Labour Mobility Officers - based in states and territories to undertake additional welfare, monitoring, compliance and accommodation checks. The size, location and recruitments of SWP workers will determine the number and location of PLM Officers in each state and territory.
- Boosting community connection by funding the not-for-profit sector to strengthen their role in connecting Pacific workers with local community groups in worker locations. This will be done through a tender process before the end of 2020, with contract commencement in early 2021.
- The new measures will ensure the SWP continues to have sufficient integrity measures to protect the welfare of SWP workers and provide the support and additional education for employers who participate on the program.
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Please note that a new set of Horticulture Seasonal Workforce Directions have been issued from the DHHS. Please refer here for detailed information referring to pages 19 to 23 that specifically cover Horticulture. These directions are specific to seasonal workers only and not to ongoing workers.
Employers have until the 24th October 2020 to review and ensure they have the correct COVID Safe processes and procedures in place.
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Workshop #1: 9.30am-11.30am, Tuesday 20 October. (Register here)
Workshop #2: 1.30pm-3.30pm, Thursday 5 November. (Register here)
Enter your name and email address in the registration form and submit. Wait for an email confirmation of your registration and then use the links provided in the email confirmation to add the Zoom meeting to your calendar.
Each workshop will include discussions around two key themes:
- Protecting production – in-field management, chemical limitations, exotic fruit flies, etc.
- Market access – domestic and export trade, treatment options, research, etc.
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The Authority has worked with a number of Victorian Government agencies to support industry specific information during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We are currently working with WorkSafe Victoria to provide up-to-date, labour hire specific information for providers and hosts. Visit WorkSafe to find both industry specific COVID-19 information and guidance for all industries.
The Victorian Government has developed an Business Resilience Package to support businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic and recently announced a third round of the Business Support Fund.
Businesses across the state dealing with significant challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic can access information by calling the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15 or visiting their
COVID-19 cases in the workplace
The Department of Health and Human Services has advice for businesses on what to do if any of your employees show symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive.
Use these instructions and tools to create clear policies and procedures for your business so you can keep your business, workers and customers safe by controlling possible outbreaks.
You should also be aware that employers must notify WorkSafe about a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 in the workplace
Join VCA: complete the Membership application form
and return it to: VCA Secretary, PO Box 612, Mooroopna, 3629
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