The South Australian Government has announced it will establish a taskforce to help workers impacted by the Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) outbreak.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has been closely monitoring the virus since it was first detected in August and says test results have confirmed a substantial increase in the prevalence of the highly transmissible virus at fruit and vegetable grower, Perfection Fresh in Two Wells.
The property has been quarantined to prevent the virus spreading across the state’s $230 million tomato and capsicum sector.
The company is one of three businesses hit by the virus, that has been placed into quarantine along with Gawler River Tomato and SA Tomatoes.
It is the first time the virus has been detected in Australia.
“The State Government is taking immediate action to try and protect our state’s $230 million tomato and capsicum sector,” said Premier, Peter Malinauskas.
“This is not an easy decision, but we have one chance to try to contain this virus.
“Quarantining these greenhouses will have an impact on workers, which is why the State Government has established a taskforce to assist those workers.
“This includes establishing a Worker Assistance Hub at the Virginia Horticulture Centre, which will open tomorrow and help workers and their families accessing the support and services they need,” he said.
PIRSA will chair the new Taskforce, which will include senior representatives from key State Government agencies and industry stakeholder AusVeg.
Immediate action being taken to help workers includes:
- Establishing a Worker Assistance Hub at the Virginia Horticulture Centre, which will open tomorrow, to provide immediate support and connection to services provided by Centrelink, Red Cross and Lutheran Care, including counselling for affected workers across the sector and their families, financial wellbeing, and assistance with redeployment in the industry;
- Services Australia is providing priority access to its specialist Financial Information Services (FIS) Officers, who can provide comprehensive information on termination payments, superannuation, and Centrelink payments and who can link in with other local services;
- Liaising closely with the Commonwealth Government to ensure every possible avenue of support for workers and their families is explored, as we work with them in response to this virus under the national Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed.
The Government said the taskforce will also work with industrial organisations to support growers and minimise the impact of the virus to industry.
“This taskforce is a vital step to ensure we can assist these workers navigate their next steps, and support them through the short and longer term, as well as work closely with industry to quickly redeploy as many workers as possible to similar jobs in their local area,” said Primary Industries Minister, Clare Scriven.
“We remain unique in the world as one of the only countries that still can eradicate this disease, with only three properties in Australia impacted at this point, so we are absolutely committed to doing everything we can to assist and advocate for the people whose lives have been upended as a result of the incursion of this virus.”
Part of the eradication strategy will require an extensive crop destruction, clean-up, and disinfection effort, which is likely to need a significant number of workers and may provide opportunities for impacted workers.
Additional supports will be a key focus of the Taskforce’s efforts in the immediate days and weeks, as it meets daily to ensure a whole-of-government response, in close association with industry and the community, to overcome or minimise the impacts on these affected workers and their families.
