NSW Farmers has welcomed a new Agriculture Permit system for farmers and agricultural workers who reside outside the Border Region Zone in Victoria.
Under the changes, individuals will be able to access a new Highly Specialised Critical Services (Agriculture) Permit if they are moving and working anywhere within 100km of the New South Wales/Victorian border.
Exemptions for individuals needing to move beyond the 100km limit for work will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The changes come into effect at noon today and the new permits will be available via the Service NSW website.
“The NSW Minster for Agriculture has clearly listened to our concerns and acted on this issue,” said NSW Farmers President James Jackson.
Mr Jackson said it was pleasing to see the list of specialised critical agricultural services is wide ranging and covers almost all aspects of farm employment and contractors.
“NSW Farmers thanks the NSW Government for this positive move in response to our advocacy on behalf of producers, processors and contractors.”
“This is a good step in reducing the uncertainty and we strongly encourage the Queensland Government to follow the NSW leadership as we all seek to operate in COVID Safe workplaces.”
“With a bumper grain harvest looming in the northern NSW, similar steps must be made urgently to allow the movement of workers, contractors and machinery across the Queensland border.”
“We will continue to work with the Minister for Agriculture and the Department of Primary Industries to support them in pushing for an agriculture permit system to reduce any impact on an all-important grain harvest,” Mr Jackson said.
