Following the National Cabinet meeting on 4 September 2020 it has been announced that NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory and the ACT have agreed to adopt the National Agricultural Workers’ Code (Code) to facilitate the movement of critical agricultural industry workers across domestic borders where border restrictions are in place. The Code is important in mitigating animal health, welfare and biosecurity risks.
 
Victoria, South Australia and NSW will begin immediately to work together to put the code in place. Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania are to consider the Code as part of their border restriction arrangements.
 
The Code is a risk-based approach. Permits or an equivalent approval, with appropriate conditions, will be applied to reduce the risk of COVID-19 being transmitted to regional areas.
 
A copy of the Code can be found here: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/agriculture-workers-code.pdf

Four Local Government Shires in the Upper Gascoyne and MidWest region have been successful in winning 43% of Western Australia’s Building Better Regions Funding, Round 4.  Yvonne Messina Chair of Regional Development Australia MidWest Gascoyne said ‘that the $7 million of Federal funding received by the Shires of Upper Gascoyne, Meekatharra, Carnarvon and Mingenew would make an important contribution to tourism, transport and water infrastructure.’ Yvonne stated that regional communities rely heavily on Grants for infrastructure and community development that support jobs and the tourist industry.

The $841.6 million Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) has funded more than 163 projects in Regional Australia and supports the Australian Government's commitment to create jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger regional communities into the future.

Shire of Upper Gascoyne: Construction of Gascoyne Visitors Stop.  $2,398,500
Shire of Meekatharra: Upgrade 28klm section of Landor road between Meekatharra and Carnarvon. $4,049,254
Shire of Mingenew: Restoration of the iconic 125 year old Mingenew Railway station as a cultural hub for the community: $108,257
Shire of Carnarvon: Upgrade of the Carnarvon Recycled Water Pipeline. $465,000.
 
Total Funding for Western Australia: BBRF Infrastructure Fund: $16,473,918
MidWest and Gascoyne Shires: $7,021,011

Information on previously successful recipients can be found on regional.gov.au.