Fruit will be left to rot on the trees and in the ground as a result of the Andrews Labor Government still refusing to pave the way for the quarantine of seasonal workers. Figures published today show that while other Australian states have successfully brought in hundreds of workers, not a single flight has come…
Our farmers and food manufacturers will be working hard through Christmas to make sure there’s food on Victorian tables and barbecues and the new Agriculture Minister should be hitting the ground running as well. A lack of leadership on key challenges affecting our farmers and regional communities has seen the problems getting worse. Mary-Anne Thomas…
Victoria’s horticulture harvest is in full swing but the Andrews Labor Government is still full of excuses on why it has failed to do the work to get seasonal workers on farm. Asked to detail the Victorian solution today, Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes said quarantine through the Northern Territory – which comes with an estimated…
A glossy media campaign to attract seasonal workers, announced today by the Andrews Labor Government, is an insulting step backwards for Victoria’s agriculture sector after months of warnings and negotiations. Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes has ignored genuine proposals from industry to solve the problem, as a looming gap of more than 20,000 workers is expected…
Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh says Woorinen has had enough of living in the digital darkness and has launched an online petition to end its years in a mobile black spot. Mr Walsh said while the hamlet is only home to 300 people – plus surrounding farmland – it is part of an agricultural…
Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh says the Liberal Nationals are moving amendments to new laws allowing camping on river and water frontages to safeguard our natural environment and protect existing rights for farmers. Mr Walsh said Victoria has more than 170,000 km of river and water frontages, and for decades Victorians have enjoyed these…
Victorian wine producers, dairy farmers, barley growers and industry have been hung out to dry by the Andrews Labor Government. In State Parliament today, Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes was asked to explain how Labor is standing up for Victorian producers against China’s punitive 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley and further threats to target…
Families and businesses on the Victoria-New South Wales border are crying out for a solution to strict border closures that are causing chaos and confusion and making it impossible to go about daily life. Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said constant changes to the NSW Government’s permit system aren’t workable for farmers, families and…
Victorian farmers who own land in NSW, shearers, harvest contractors and beekeepers will be able to move into NSW without having to quarantine or go via Sydney under a new permit announced today. The NSW Government has announced a ‘Highly Specialised Agriculture Permit’ which will allow exempted Victorian agriculture workers who live within 100km of…
Thursday 13 August 2020 Victorian farmers and harvest contractors fear strict border closures will cripple the nation’s harvest this year, unless special agriculture permits are offered to allow interstate travel. Strict border closures along Victoria’s borders with New South Wales and South Australia are fuelling fears of cost increases and food shortages if supply…