The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) came under fire after they suddenly banned farmers markets from operating under the current restrictions, despite other outdoor food marketing being allowed to continue.
The Victorian Farmers’ Markets Association blasted the “dreadful decision”, questioning why it was only farmers markets that were being targeted.
“We don’t understand how outdoor food markets could be separate from farmers’ markets, which are outdoor open-air essential food retail outlets for farmers and small-scale food producers,” the association said in a statement.
The outcry from the community led to a last minute decision to overturn the ban and allow the markets to go ahead under with the current COVID-19 safety protocols in place.
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The two South Australian women who escaped hotel quarantine in Perth have claimed they plan on coming back to Western Australia and will re-enter "by force".
Isata Jalloh, 19, and Banchi Techana, 22, flew into Perth on August 17 without an exemption, telling authorities they were there to holiday and visit friends.
The pair were sent into hotel quarantine at the Novotel Hotel on Murray Street while a return flight to Adelaide was arranged.
But during their stay the young women left the hotel and caught a taxi to a unit in Coolbellup, where amateur Perth rapper, Siri Kidd, was hosting a party.
"Sorry for what? Did we commit a crime? Did we kill anyone?" Jalloh said when questioned by Nine News.
Police were able to locate the pair the following morning by tracking Jalloh's phone after she laughed and hung up on the police officer asking where she was.
Jalloh was hit with a $5000 fine and Techana recieved a suspended jail sentence.
Techana told Nine that she had "no idea" about the travel restrictions, but still said they were planning to head back to Perth in two months "once coronavirus is over".
"We will enter by force," Jalloh said.
WA Police Minister, Michelle Roberts, told the outlet that the pair would not be allowed back into the state.
"These are clearly very stupid girls who have done very stupid things," she said.
"They are absolutely not welcome back in Western Australia at all and I don't see any prospect of them coming back."
Victorian health authorities have backflipped on a decision to ban farmers markets under Melbourne's stage four lockdown after an uproar from the community.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) came under fire after it suddenly banned farmers markets from operating under the current restrictions, despite other outdoor food marketing being allowed to continue.
The Victorian Farmers' Markets Association blasted the "dreadful decision", questioning why it was only farmers markets that were being targeted.
Picture: Melbourne Farmers Markets
"We don’t understand how outdoor food markets could be separate from farmers’ markets, which are outdoor open-air essential food retail outlets for farmers and small-scale food producers," the association said in a statement.
"Given that the DHHS has reviewed and endorsed the VFMA Covid Risk Management Guidelines for Farmers’ Markets, we respectfully request that this recent exclusion be reversed.
"Senior advisers in AgVic, DJPR and EcoDev are even now continuing to seek answers and change on our behalf, but at this time on a Friday it seems likely that metro-based farmers' markets this weekend are going to need to be cancelled. We will keep battling to have this illogical exclusion changed as soon as possible."
The outcry from the community led to a last minute decision on Friday night to overturn the ban and allow the markets to go ahead under with the current COVID-19 safety protocols in place.
The association said it was "thrilled" at the news and thanked Minister for Agriculture, Regional Development & Resources, Jaclyn Symes, for stepping in.
Overseas workers will soon be able to come to Australia to help farmers and regional businesses, under a new agreement between the federal government and states and territories.
Australian businesses will be able to recruit workers from the Pacific and Timor-Leste under the Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP) and Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) to help fill workforce shortages in rural and regional areas.
The arrival of new workers had to be stopped in March after strict COVID-19 travel restrictions were brought in.
"The Morrison Government is focused on ensuring Australian growers and other critical industries have access to the labour force they need. Filling these positions will not come at the expense of getting Australians into jobs," read a joint media release from David Littleproud, Marise Payne, Michaelia Cash, Alan Tudge and Alex Hawke.
Picture: Justin Kennedy
"Approved Employers can recruit through the Pacific labour mobility programs only if they can demonstrate they cannot find suitable Australian workers.
"The agricultural sector is facing unprecedented pressure on labour supply as a result of COVID-19. These new arrangements will help ensure that States and Territories can address labour market shortages affecting Australian farmers and other regional businesses."
States and Territories can opt in to the program and anyone worker that is recruited will be subject to strict quarantine and health rules.
"There will be stringent health conditions in place to ensure any recruitment follows required directives and does not put at risk the health or safety of Australians and Pacific workers. Workers will comply with required quarantine periods," the statement read.
The decision comes after a trial of the program in the Northern Territory after mango farmers were badly impacted by labour shortages.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has instructed the release of the genomic sequencing data that links the state's second wave of COVID-19 to the failed hotel quarantine program.
The premier's office issued a statement on Friday night indicating the data would be released to the public.
“The Premier has requested that the Department of Health and Human Services prepare the genomic sequencing data for publication,” a spokesperson for the Premier said.
“The department is currently preparing explanatory material to accompany the data which will be published on the DHHS website next week.”
For weeks Mr Andrews has refused to release the data, claiming he didn't have access to it.
“I don’t have the sequencing. I do not have it. It is not something that I can give to you, because I don’t have it to give," he said during the inquiry into the hotel quarantine program.
In June, Mr Andrews revealed that "a significant proportion" of the cases in Victoria's second wave were linked to issues with hotel quarantine.
During the inquiry this week, scientists confirmed that 99 per cent of coronavirus cases diagnosed since the end of may could be linked back to returned overseas travellers, during the time they were put into hotel quarantine.
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2020-08-21 12:11:32Z
CBMingFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS93b3JsZC9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy9hdXN0cmFsaWEvY29yb25hdmlydXMtYXVzdHJhbGlhLWxpdmUtdmljdG9yaWEtcWxkLW5zdy1jb3ZpZDE5LXVwZGF0ZXMvbGl2ZS1jb3ZlcmFnZS83Mzg1ZTExNzY1ZDAzZTgwN2VmYWMzNTI4ZjgyNTgwNtIBogFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS93b3JsZC9jb3JvbmF2aXJ1cy9hdXN0cmFsaWEvY29yb25hdmlydXMtYXVzdHJhbGlhLWxpdmUtdmljdG9yaWEtcWxkLW5zdy1jb3ZpZDE5LXVwZGF0ZXMvbGl2ZS1jb3ZlcmFnZS83Mzg1ZTExNzY1ZDAzZTgwN2VmYWMzNTI4ZjgyNTgwNi9hbXA
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