EO's July Commentary
It has come to that time of the year again when we start thinking about end of year financials and ask ourselves – where has the year gone? The beginning of the new financial year ( 1 July 2010) brings with it an increase in the minimum wage by $26 per week based on a 38 hour week. Changes effective 1 July 2010 also require all employees to be engaged at a certain Level (appropriate to the level of work performed) and paid at least the minimum applicable to that Level. Additionally, 1 July 2010 begins the five year transition which includes casual loading increasing from 23% to 25% over five years. Click here for more details.
Dimethoate / Fenthion – BFVG has represented members on numerous teleconferences and workshops held in Sydney and Melbourne ensuring domestic (and export) market access is maintained if the APVMA withdraws the use of dimethoate and fenthion in certain instances on certain crops. It is fair to say at this stage that the continued use of dimethoate and fenthion post-harvest on edible peel produce, including zucchini and eggplant is looking highly unlikely. Another aspect with the use of these fruit-fly controls is the increase in withholding periods, for example tomatoes look like they may have a withholding period of 14 days, if not 21 days which makes the use of dimethoate and fenthion not practical.
Forklift Tickets – Do you have an old paper forklift ticket? If so, you may be able to simply get an updated photo ID license by asking at your local Post Office. If not, and you require a ticket contact Greg Weir on 4153 3007 and register to attend one of our training courses delivered by the Australian Agriculture College Corporation (AACC) in partnership with Industry. If you are happy to make available your forklift and shed for training please advise Greg Weir when registering to do the forklift training. Forklift training courses are very competitively priced due to the partnership with Industry.
Brisbane Market Tour – Unfortunately the Brisbane Market Tour was not well attended with only six attending, although on the Friday before there was only one seat of fifteen left unfilled. The March tour had already been postponed due to a lack of numbers. A lot of work goes into sourcing funding and assisting growers to attend opportunities such as this and it is disappointing to not have the take-up as expected. I would appreciate you contacting me to let me know how we can better target our resources to deliver what you want, or if you are wondering “what market tour” then also let me know as we may not have got the message out as clearly as we believe we have. We are here to assist you as members on topics of interest to you and look forward to your guidance.
HAL Project – Mark Gahan has been working on collating information from many varied sources into a central location focusing on water sustainability for the future for the vegetable industry. It is with great pleasure I can announce the web page is now live at www.watersustainability.com.au Please refer Projects for details on the project.
In closing I advise I will be on leave returning 12 July and encourage all of you to ensure that you fully understand and comply with the changes in wages commencing 1 July 2010.
Fair Work Australia can be contacted on 13 13 94.
Peter Peterson
June Commentary
Wage Increase - Please note Fair Work Australia has announced an increase in wages for minimum wage earners which may affect a number of members. The increase is effective from July 1.
Forklift Tickets - BFVG has run the first of a number of training sessions in conjunction with industry. Partnering with industry has enabled BFVG to keep the cost of training and assessment to only $500. Please note that as of 1 September, 2010 it will be mandatory for forklift operators in Qld to possess a “high risk plant ticket”. This includes farm owners operating their own forklift on their farm.
Bio-security Manual - Plant Health Australia in conjunction with BFVG have produced a Bio-security Induction Manual and brochure for Bundaberg horticultural farms. The manual and brochure are aimed at itinerant workers with the express purpose to reduce the risk of new pests entering, impacting and spreading across the Bundaberg region.
If you have not received a copy of the manual and brochure, you can do so by contacting Peter Hockings on 4153 3007.
SunWater Annual Shutdown - SunWater have provided details of proposed dates when the various schemes will be shutdown for their annual maintenance.
SunWater provided the Bundaberg Irrigators Advisory Committee with a detailed explanation of why the shutdowns are so long. Discussions with SunWater are underway for irrigators to be educated about the processes SunWater undertake during the annual shutdown periods.
AUSVEG Innovative Marketing Award - Congratulations to SP Exports, who won the Innovative Marketing Award at the national AUSVEG Convention for marketing the world's first no-mess tomato. Andrew Philip, Managing Director, SP Exports, says the marketing campaign was targeted at making the tomato a mainstream product, and that the tomato may account for 25% of the company's business next year.
Dimethoate & Fenthion - BFVG continues to partake in teleconferences and workshops on ensuring minimal disruption to domestic and international market access of produce currently required to be treated for fruit fly.
Most recently BFVG attended a workshop in Sydney hosted by the Office of the Chief Plant Protection Officer, an office within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The workshop in Sydney discussed the suitability of using a Systems Approach as an alternative to dimethoate and fenthion, a workshop that seemed focused on educating regulators. Whilst expectations were that a detailed explanation of systems approaches for various commodities was to be delivered, sadly too many people in the supply chain aren’t prepared to consider anything other than current practices - a major risk to our industry if APVMA reduce, or worse withdraw, the use of dimethoate and fenthion.
BFVG remains concerned about the lack of clear direction from Government, in particular regulators, should the use of dimethoate and fenthion be restricted.
As reported in earlier newsletters, BFVG is concerned that the use of dimethoate and fenthion will be changed, including longer withholding periods, and possibly no use post harvest on edible peel produce. Such restrictions on use would then clash directly with the current ICA for domestic and international market access and may restrict the sales of fresh produce.
BFVG will continue attending workshops to raise growers’ concerns and will keep growers updated of progress.
Horticulture Award 2010 - Please be aware that the beginning of the transitional arrangements begin on July 1. The transitional changes will affect all incorporated businesses, i.e. Pty Ltd that do not have a work place agreement in place and possibly some businesses that do have a workplace agreement.
The changes due to take effect on July 1 will bring with them confusion for many businesses and I encourage all of you to ascertain from your professional advisors what your legal obligations are.
Peter Peterson