NSW is to become the first jurisdiction to write the new national Agricultural Workers Code into public health orders, paving the way for the State’s primary industries sector to find skilled workers for the upcoming harvest.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Code was critical to supporting the agricultural industry and ensuring regional communities could capitalise on this year’s bumper crops.
“The Agricultural Workers’ Code enables the State’s farmers to be the launching pad for NSW to commence recovery from the economic impact of COVID-19,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The Code means that farmers from Warialda to Wagga Wagga can get the best skilled workers to help them with this year’s harvest, regardless if they’re from Queensland, South Australia, Victoria or the Northern Territory,” she said.
Acting Deputy Premier, Paul Toole said the Code was common sense policy that would ensure farmers could access the workers needed to run their farms.
Minister for Agriculture, Adam Marshall said NSW had been a driving force behind the inter-jurisdictional agreement.
“Our farmers have just come out of the worst drought on record, and they are now poised to begin their recovery with the largest winter crop harvest since 2016, and they need the workforce to take advantage of that,” Mr Marshall said.
“This Code will allow the critical free movement of agricultural workers across state borders so that primary industries can not only continue to feed and clothe the nation, but be the driving force behind the economic recovery from COVID-19,” he said.
