Guy Barnett,Minister for Primary Industries and Water
It's positive news that experienced agricultural workers will be permitted to enter Tasmania under strict COVID-Safe conditions to help fill the need for seasonal workers this upcoming season.
We are working hard to ensure as many Tasmanians as possible can fill these positions, but with an estimated 9000 workers required, it is clear that more are needed to complete the harvest and support our primary producers.
Importantly, the management of incoming workers will be based on public health advice and can only proceed in a COVID safe way. Workers can only come from non-affected areas and will be required to operate under strict conditions on their movement for 14 days, staying in their primary place of residence unless going to work, seeking medical care or essential supplies.
The workers will equally be operating under stringent COVID-Safe processes as part of the sector's COVID-Safe workplace plans, and I commend the industry for the proactive work it has done in this important area.
Experienced and trained workers will play a significant role in supporting Tasmanian workers, many of which will be inexperienced at this work due to taking it up for the first time, and I am very pleased this resolution has been reached.
I thank Public Health and everyone in the industry for working closely together on the appropriate pathway forward.
