Adam Marshall

Minister for Agriculture

Minister for Western NSW

MEDIA RELEASE
Tuesday, 18 August 2020

STATEMENT REGARDING FARMERS & AGRICULTURAL

WORKERS CROSSING THE NSW/VIC BORDER
Farmers and critical agricultural workers who reside outside the Border Region Zone
in Victoria will now have a new pathway to enter NSW and move outside the ‘border
bubble’ for work.

Under the changes, individuals will be able to access a new Highly Specialised Critical
Services (Agriculture) Permit if they:

 Provide a highly specialised critical agricultural service**;

 Are moving and working anywhere within 100km of the New South
Wales/Victorian border, on the NSW side;
 Comply with strict conditions if staying overnight; and
 Adhere to other safety requirements, including self-isolating when not delivering
the critical service.

Exemptions for individuals needing to move beyond the 100km limit for work will be
considered on a case-by-case basis. The changes come into effect at noon today and
the new permits will be available via the Service NSW website.

This is a sensible solution to the issues caused by recent changes and ensures our
State’s agriculture sector has the workforce it needs to keep powering ahead in the
midst of improving seasonal conditions.

While this will be very welcome news, it does not solve all the problems and in my
view, is just the first step towards allowing the critical agriculture sector on both sides
of border to operate freely, as it needs to.

At my request, the Health Minister has committed to reviewing the Public Health Order
again next week.

I will continue to work with industry and my colleagues to ensure the right policy
settings are in place to support our State’s agriculture industry and protect the health
and wellbeing of NSW residents.

For more information visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-covid-1 9-

nsw-border-entry-permit

MEDIA: Connor McGoverne | 0408 185 304

** The list of approved highly specialised critical agricultural services is over the page.
Dairy: technicians, Dairy consultants, Artificial Insemination Specialists.

Horticultural: technicians, machinery operators and mechanics, harvesters, pruners,

consultants for agronomy, plant health, harvest management, pest and
disease.

Wool: testing technicians, shearers.

Specialist consultants: agronomists, nutritionists, veterinary, seed and crop

researchers. Agribusiness specialists for where internet or video conference facilities
cannot be accessed.

Crop: harvesters, hay and silage contractors, rice sowing contractors, crop
spray/fertilizer contractors.

Forestry: workers and technicians.

Intensive livestock: piggery/poultry (egg and broiler) technicians, processing

workers, stockfeed mill operators.

Specialist contractors/equipment: irrigation specialists, fencing contractors.

Specialist agricultural service providers: market access inspectors, saleyard

operators and agents, livestock carriers.

Commercial fishing: crew and operators, Aquaculture operators/technicians.

Beekeepers: commercial operators.

Commercial Wine Production: technicians, specialists involved in the production,

harvest, testing and management of vintage.

Biosecurity Officers: pest trap inspectors, pest and weed controllers.

Cross-border rural property landowners: leaseholders, agistment holders or their

agents directly involved in or responsible for land management, livestock husbandry,
agronomy pest and disease control and production management.

Bushfire recovery workers.