Current News

Under the roadmap, from 11:59pm on Sunday 13 September it is  mandatory for all businesses state-wide operating onsite to have a COVID Safe Plan. This is a change from the current requirements for many businesses in regional Victoria who are currently advised to have a COVID Safe Plan. Businesses with fewer than five employees are exempt from this requirement.
Please see below template and guidance material for the COVID Safe Plan. Also attached are the “how we work” roadmaps for regional Victoria and metro Melbourne.
 
The Business Victoria website and hotline provide information on restrictions and support to help your workplace plan and respond to coronavirus (COVID-19). Call Business Victoria on 13 22 15.

Documents are available for download below:

• How we work- Regional Victoria 
• How we work- Metro Melbourne
• COVID Safe Plan template 
• COVID Safe Plan Guidance 

If you missed CGA’s Crop Management forum last week, it is now available to listen to on the CGA website.

• Thinning - Antony Spruce, EE Muir
• PGRs - Russell Fox, IK Caldwell
• Nutritional influences on cropload, Andrew Smith and Joe Grace, Hybrid-Ag (video), Summary
• Irrigation - Antony Spruce, EE Muir

Visit the CGA website to view these forum videos

As a follow up in support of CGA’s Crop Management forum held on Wednesday 26th August, we have included the below management videos to assist our members:

Updated obligations under Stage 3 and 4 Restrictions
The Authority has written to all licensed labour hire providers and applicants on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) about their updated obligations under Stage 3 and 4 restrictions. Providers were also advised of updated coronavirus (COVID-19) resources and specific guidance from DHHS, Business Victoria and WorkSafe Victoria. The Authority appreciates that the COVID-19 emergency creates significant challenges for the labour hire industry. The new directions of the Chief Health Officer will have a significant impact on labour hire providers and host businesses and are essential to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Sector guidance and FAQs for businesses under restrictions
Business Victoria has published operational sector guidance and frequently asked questions (FAQs) for businesses and industries under Stage 4 and Stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions. Visit the Business Victoria website for information on Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector guidance..

• COVID-19: Support for Australian businesses: Austrade’s global network is monitoring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our updates provide market-specific insights to help Australian companies respond. Visit the Austrade website for more information...

• More products eligible for IFAM: The International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) now supports a broader range of products. These include goods that are high-value, time-sensitive, highly perishable or in the national interest. A new online grants application portal is live, and IFAM-supported flights are now open to the market 72 hours prior to departure. IFAM is supporting new flights to USA, Japan, Thailand and South Korea. With new flights being added to the schedule regularly, be sure to check the IFAM website for updates. More information is available on the IFAM website...

The Victorian Government has provided $500 million to the Working for Victoria initiative to help our community and contribute to Victoria’s ability to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
As part of this, a $50-million Agriculture Workforce Plan will provide dedicated support for our agriculture, food processing and critical food supply chain businesses.

Visit the Working for Victoria website for more information...