Coronavirus and workplace laws- The Fair Work Ombudsman has a dedicated Coronavirus website to help you understand your rights and responsibilities during the outbreak and along the road to recovery. Visit the website for more information...

Temporary changes to the Fair Work Act- Changes have been made to support the implementation of the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme. JobKeeper employers can ask their JobKeeper employees to change when they work or take paid annual leave, or can require them to reduce their hours or days, change their duties, or change their work location. Safeguards apply. Visit the Fair Work website for more information...

Workplace legal advice program- Fair Work are piloting a program to give eligible employers access to free, confidential legal advice to help employers deal with issues and get on with running their business. Visit the website for eligibility criteria and more information...

Information campaign for labour hire workers- The Authority will soon conduct an information campaign for labour hire workers to make sure they are aware of the Authority’s Report a Problem function – where members of the community including labour hire providers, hosts and workers can report suspected non-compliance by labour hire providers for investigation.

Managing and preventing exposure to COVID-19- The Victorian Government has announced the gradual easing of restrictions throughout the state, subject to the continued and effective management of the spread of COVID-19. Businesses that are reopening or planning their reopening can refer to health and safety guidance from WorkSafe Victoria and Safe Work Australia to help manage health and safety risks related to COVID-19. This includes information on physical distancing, personal protective equipment, cleaning, undertaking risk assessments and designing emergency plans.

Media Release
Minister for Agriculture, The Hon Jaclyn Symes 

New Grants Keeping Critical Food Supply Businesses Going
Food production businesses and farms in Victoria will be supported in making their workplace safe and keeping supply chains uninterrupted thanks to support from the Victorian Government.

Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaclyn Symes today launched the Business Adaptation grants program – part of the Working for Victoria Agriculture Workforce Plan – to support food supply chain businesses in rural, regional and outer metropolitan areas.

Under the program, individual grants of between $10,000 and $300,000 will support eligible businesses to meet the costs of adapting their workplaces to meet health, safety and social distancing requirements or adapt to business changes imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Download the full Media Release here...

COVID-19 will raise a lot of questions for growers on the importance of preparing your workplace for next season with the threat of COVID-19 still being present.  With that in mind we have provided , several resource links below that will assist growers with this. Safe Work Australia have provided checklists on physical distancing, cleaning, health and hygiene and how to do a risk assessment if one of your employees is a vulnerable worker and PMA have released an information flyer on “How to Protect your Workforce”.  Hopefully some of the links below may assist with answers: COVID-19 & Fresh Produce Protecting your workforce This checklist has been developed by PMA A-NZ to assist business in the fresh produce industry (fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers) better manage teams in the unique environments of harvesting and packing fresh produce. While the document has been developed specifically in response to COVID-19 we remind all businesses in the fresh produce industry to keep in mind food safety of your product and the health and safety of your teams. Download your copy of the Checklist here... Safe Work Australia Resources: Safe Work Checklists- Visit the Safe work website to view and download relevant checklists...These checklists will help employers to identify how they can keep their workers safe and limit the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.  Safe Work Australia: About Covid-19- to view details on Covid-19 such as information on Symptoms and how it is spread, visit the Safe Work website Vulnerable workers- If you employ a Vulnerable worker, the Safe Work website has information on Vulnerable workers and conducting risk assessments. Visit the Safe Work website for more information.. Agriculture Victoria Resources: Commuting and accommodating seasonal/contract workers during coronavirus (COVID-19): The Victorian Government recognises the importance of the agricultural sector and are committed to providing support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Visit the Ag Vic website for more information on slowing the spread, Employing Seasonal Workers, Commuting to, from and around work and Accommodating workers. Coronavirus (COVID-19)- As restrictions are being are eased, the Victorian Government continues to recognise the critical importance of the agriculture and food sector and will ensure our farms and agribusinesses keep operating – to keep the supermarket shelves stocked and food on Victorians’ tables. Visit the Ag Vic website for more information on frequently asked questions, You can also access checklist for Agriculture workers on symptoms and testing... Fruit Growers Victoria Resources: Download 'Worksafe Vic Covid-19' document for some useful links from Work Safe Australia and relevant information that may be of assistance. Download Worksafe Vic Covid-19 document here.... You can also download a copy of 'Procurement of Personal Protective equipment' here also...  Checklist for Reducing Workforce Impact from COVID-19- Download your copy of the 'Reducing Workforce impact from Covid-19 here... How farmers and essential agricultural workers are protecting food security during COVID-19 Australian farmers and people working in agricultural industries are scrambling to protect food and fibre production from the threat of a COVID-19 shutdown. Essential agricultural workers are continuing to travel across regional areas and some state boundaries and, while most Australians are confined to their neighbourhoods, farmers must allow seasonal workers onto their properties for essential work, such as picking crops or shearing sheep. But human biosecurity is at the forefront this season. Read more of this ABC news article... COVID-19 – accommodation for travelling workers: MADEC Workers in horticulture have been deemed ‘essential labour’ under COVID-19 conditions so have been exempted from many travel and quarantine requirements. Visit the MADEC website for more information on Essential workers and COVID-19 exemptions...

The ATO have some great free webinars available for small businesses - Making the move from AUSkey to myGovID, Tax support for small businesses during COVID-19, Cash Flow for small business success are a few of the topics covered. These webinars are interactive online seminars presented by experienced tax officers, you can ask questions to help you apply the information to your situation.

Find out more information here...

On-farm energy grants program: Grants have been extended- The application deadline for on-farm energy grants available to eligible primary producers has been extended to 30 June 2020 or until funding is exhausted (whichever comes first). Visit the Agriculture Victoria website for more information...

Drought and rural support- Information on Immediate action for those affected by drought can be found by visiting the Agriculture.gov.au website...

Investment Support Grants: Packaging VIC- This program is targeted at projects that aim to reduce, recover or reuse packaging materials including, plastics, paper and cardboard, glass and rubber. Projects that primarily recover metals are excluded from this program. For more information and to apply, please visit the business.gov.au website

Business Energy Advice Program- 2 x free services for eligible small businesses to receive energy advice and a Small Business Energy Check to help choose the best energy plan, receive tailored advice on energy efficiency opportunities and an energy spend benchmarking tool that allows small businesses to compare their energy spend against similar businesses in their industry and region. Please visit the energy.gov.au website for further information....

Export Market Development Grants (EMDG)- Funding is provided to compensate eligible export businesses up to 50% of their promotional expenses above $5000, up to a maximum of $150,000, provided total eligible expenses incurred amount to at least $15,000. Visit the business.gov.au website for further information...

Fuel tax credits: business- Fuel tax credits provide businesses with a credit for the fuel tax (excise or customs duty) that's included in the price of fuel used in machinery, plant, equipment, heavy vehicle, light vehicles travelling off public roads or on private roads. The amount depends on when you acquire the fuel, what fuel you use and the activity you use it in. Fuel tax credits rates also change regularly so it's important to check the rates each time you do your business activity statement (BAS). Visit the ATO website for more information...

Australian Trusted Trader- Become an accredited Trusted Trader and save your business time and money. Australian Trusted Trader reduces red tape for Trusted Traders at the border, improves certainty in export markets, and expedites the flow of their cargo in and out of Australia, which means faster access to market. Visit the Australian Border Force website for more information...

Apply for a quad bike safety rebate - The Victorian Government is funding a $6 million rebate scheme to help reduce quad bike deaths on farms. Farmers can apply for up to:

• $600 per device to buy up to 2 quad bike rollover protection devices
• $1200 towards buying a safer alternative vehicle

Visit the Worksafe Victoria website for more information...

AgBiz Drought loans- Eligible drought-affected small businesses can apply for loans for up to $500,000. You can only apply for this loan if your small business is currently or has been supplying goods or services relating to primary production to farm businesses in an affected area. Visit the Regional Investment Corporation website for further information...

Drought Community Support Initiative- The Salvation Army is working together with St Vincent de Paul Society to deliver the Drought Community Support Initiative (DCSI) for eligible drought-affected households. If you're a farmer, farm worker or farm supplier/contractor who is struggling financially because of the drought, you may be entitled to receive a one-off payment of up to $3,000 funded by the Australian Government’s Drought Community Support Initiative Round 2 (DCSI). Visit the Salvation Army website for more info...