Mayor confirms additional Agriculture border exemption available now

Mayor of Goondiwindi Regional Council, the Honourable Councillor Lawrence Springborg AM, has updated Queensland and NSW farmers and agribusiness operators on the new COVID-19 agriculture and agribusiness exemptions, which will be rolled out progressively during this week and came into effect over the weekend (23 August).

The exemptions apply to farmers, their workers and agribusiness operators in Queensland and NSW, that have not been able to service their cross border operations because of current COVID-19 restrictions.

The new exemptions are not available to seasonal workers.

Exemptions will only allow a farmer, their employees, contractors, or an agribusiness operator to go straight to the work site, isolate there and not attend other places outside the farm.

Council has been working with Queensland’s Chief Health Officer to achieve this outcome and are very grateful for this additional exemption that will make a significant difference for our region.

A farmer will need to present proof of property ownership, or a lease or agistment agreement. A contractor will need to provide proof of contract and similarly, a worker will need to provide proof of employment that includes the purpose of travel.

The person seeking and being granted the exemption must have proof of identity with them.

The applicant must also have a copy of Queensland Chief Health Officer exemption letter, a copy of which is attached to this media statement. It is also available on the Goondiwindi Regional Council website or in printed form at a Goondiwindi Regional Council Customer Service Centre. Applicants can also request a copy from their local border police station, if applying for the exemption there.

Once granted, the exemption will be current until the 22nd of September 2020, unless revoked by Queensland’s Chief Health Officer.

The applicant must be able to ensure that in the past 14 days, they have not been overseas, in a COVID-19 hotspot, or in the presence of someone who was COVID-19 active.

The exemption must be applied for at the border checkpoint, before exiting or entering Queensland. Alternatively, Queensland border police stations will also be able to attend to the application, during business hours. 

It is hoped that an online application for the exemption will also be available in the near future.

Link – Chief Health Officer letter – Border exemption for farming and agribusiness - https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/downloads/file/1643/border-exemption-for-farming-and-agribusiness-queensland-chief-health-office