Current News

At the moment, volumes are low and there's a high demand in the cherry market. The supply has been reduced mostly around the Mediterranean due to unfavorable weather conditions. Other areas, such as Greece and Turkey, are taking advantage of this. Dutch and Belgian cherries are also being sold for high prices, but those are mainly intended for the domestic market. Read more of this Fresh Plaza article here...

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It was announced that last week, that the Australian Government committed an additional $241.9 million to continue the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM), helping keep international freight routes and flights operating until the end of the year. 

Even though the IFAM is being extended, it’s important to remember it is a temporary, emergency measure in response to an extraordinary situation.   

The extension will give Australian businesses more time to re-engineer their business models and adjust to a new and tougher trading environment created by COVID-19.

Qantas Freight remove change fees
From 07 July 2020, Qantas Freight will be providing greater flexibility with confirmed bookings. Qantas Freight is removing the fees for changes made to confirmed bookings within 48 hours of scheduled departure. Cancellation or no-shows will continue to attract fees, so please make sure any cancellations are made at least 48 hours before departure.   

Register your interest
Exporters should submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and keep in regular contact with freight forwarders to access IFAM supported flights. Further information on how IFAM works is available on the IFAM webpage.

COVID-19 and your OHS responsibilities- The Authority continues to warn labour hire providers and hosts that during this pandemic, it is more important than ever to ensure the occupational health and safety of their workers. Compliance with existing workplace laws including the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 is a requirement for a labour hire licence. Providers and hosts are encouraged to use the COVID-19 resources from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), WorkSafe Victoria and Safe Work Australia. To help businesses prevent infection in the workplace, plan for and respond to COVID-19 and support contact tracing with record keeping the DHHS has a prepared a range of resources.

Translated COVID-19 resources for workers- To help communicate vital health information to workers in other languages, employers can visit the DHHS website, download translated resources, distribute them digitally and display them at worksites. Where appropriate the resources can also be displayed in employer provided accommodation and on employer provided transportation.

Fair Work Commission: Changes to awards in 2020- The Fair Work Commission has been reviewing all modern awards and the new awards are taking effect throughout this year. To find out if your award has already been updated visit Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO). If your award hasn't been updated yet, sign up to FWO alert service to hear about changes to your specific awards.

Agriculture Workforce Plan: finding work and workers- As a part of the Victorian Government’s Working for Victoria fund, the $50 million Agriculture Workforce Plan has been set up to help agriculture, food processing and critical food supply chain business in rural, regional and outer metropolitan Victoria with:

• recruitment
• case management
• financial support for worker relocation and transport 
• worker induction and retraining 
• business adaptation.

A new guidance on COVID-19 safety has been produced.  As well as general industry guidance to reduce the risks of COVID-19 on farms, this guidance contains specific advice relating to temporary workers, keeping them and other workers safe on the farm and keeping them safe in their accommodation and transport to and from the farm.

Visit the Worksafe website for more information...

Media Release
Minister for Agriculture, The Hon Jaclyn Symes

PROTECTING VICTORIAN HORTICULTURE FROM FRUIT FLY IMPACTS

Victoria’s key fruit production regions will continue to be protected from the destructive impacts of Queensland fruit fly with an extension of funding from the Victorian Government.

Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes today announced a further $1.72 million in grants in a one-year extension of the Managing Fruit Fly in Victoria Action Plan 2015-20, allowing regional groups to continue the successful implementation of their area wide management programs.

Moira Shire will receive $522,800, Agribusiness Yarra Valley $178,840 and Mildura Rural City Council $511,900 to implement regional action plans for 2020-21 on behalf of Regional Governance groups, while also receiving funding for regional coordinators.

Download the full Media Release here...