The Australian-grown Horticulture Sustainability Framework
Hort Innovation has released the Australian-grown Horticulture Sustainability Framework, a guide to help the horticulture sector share its sustainable, ethical, and safe farming practice stories with stakeholders.

The initiative aims to help the industry share their sustainability credentials and stories, as consumers and investors increasingly ask for evidence of ethical and sustainable practices from their food producers. Visit the Hort Innovation website for more information.
Download the Australian grown Horticulture Sustainability Framework guide here..

 

 

The Victorian government announced new coronavirus restrictions to apply from 1pm Saturday 21 August, with regional Victoria moving to the same settings as Melbourne, with the only difference being that no curfew will apply outside Greater Melbourne.
 
One of the important new restrictions that will impact members is that workforce permits will be required for all authorised workers to travel to work from Midnight 23rd August at 11.59pm.
 
Horticulture is on the authorised workers list. It is the employers responsibility to provide the permits for their workers. Attached are the worker permits in word and pdf format to be completed on behalf of all employees.
 
More details about the permits can be found on the Vic Gov website - https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/authorised-provider-and-authorised-worker-permit.  This link is an excellent resource for growers providing answers to different workplace scenarios eg.  casual workers, employees working across multiple sites etc.
 
Please note that the Workplace Directions has been updated as at 21 August. Download here..

From 1:00pm Saturday 21 August 2021, restrictions across Victoria change:

Changes have been introduced to slow the spread of COVID-19 by reducing the number of people leaving their homes and moving around Victoria. You cannot leave your home other than for one of the five following reasons:

• shopping for necessary goods and services
• caregiving or compassionate reasons, including medical care or http://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/getting-tested">to get a COVID-19 test
• http://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/authorised-provider-and-authorised-worker-list-0">authorised work (with a permit) or permitted education
• exercise (once a day for 2 hours)
• to http://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/who-can-get-vaccinated">get a COVID-19 vaccination (provided the distance travelled, and the time taken is no more than is absolutely necessary)

Visit the Coronavirus website for further information regarding Victorian restrictions.

Visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website to view updated information on:

• sudden lockdowns
• pay and leave
• quarantine and isolation
• COVID-19 vaccinations and the workplace

Fruit fly population modelling and forecasting on This webinar is an initiative of the Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment and will provide an overview of recent research and future directions on this topic.

Further information on this webinar will be posted on the Department of Ag, Water & the Environment website in due course.

Source: preventfruitfly.com.au

Metro Melbourne

From 11:59pm Monday 16 August 2021, restrictions across Metropolitan Melbourne change.
Changes have been introduced to slow the spread of COVID-19 by reducing the number of people leaving their homes and moving around Victoria.
A stay-at-home curfew is now in place. Between 9:00pm and 5:00am, you cannot leave your home (or the home of your intimate partner or bubble buddy) other than for limited reasons, including:

• authorised work
• health and medical purposes
• care and support of a child or someone with special needs
• in an emergency or to escape harm

Outside of curfew hours, you cannot leave your home other than for one of the five following reasons:

• shopping for necessary goods and services
• caregiving or compassionate reasons, including medical care or http://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/getting-tested">to get a COVID-19 test
• http://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/authorised-provider-and-authorised-worker-list-0">authorised work (with a http://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/authorised-provider-and-authorised-worker-permit">permit) or permitted education
• exercise (once a day for 2 hours)
• to http://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/book-your-vaccine-appointment">get a COVID-19 vaccination

Visit the Coronavirus website for more information on the Metro Melbourne restrictions.

Regional Victoria

From 11:59pm on Monday 9 August 2021, restrictions in regional Victoria are easing:

• There are no restrictions on the reasons to leave home but staying COVIDSafe remains important.
• Residents of regional Victoria must not travel to Metropolitan Melbourne other than for permitted reasons. These include:
  • for authorised work or permitted education
  • to visit an intimate partner
  • for care and compassionate reasons
  • to access COVID-19 vaccination provided it is to the closest facility where vaccination can be obtained, or
  • to access necessary good and services provided this is to the closest facility where these can be obtained.

Visit the Coronavirus website for more information on the Regional Victoria restrictions.