June 2, 2020 - Cassowary Coast calls for Stage 2 COVID-19 backpacker household exceptions to support agriculture industry
Cassowary Coast Regional Council has joined forces with industry and key stakeholder groups to put forth a proposal to government which secures the ongoing operation of agriculture midst COVID-19 restrictions.
In its Stage 2 restrictions Road Map the Queensland Government have stated backpacker hostels must continue to operate under a ‘health management plan’ which imposes social distancing guidelines.
Under the ‘health management plan’ guidelines for accommodation and transport state that guests may be assigned to a household unit of no more than 4 persons, and only one person per 4 square metres is allowed in communal areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.
Recommendations have been drawn by the Cassowary Coast Regions Local Disaster Management Group – Sub Group Economic Recovery, and issued to State Government which call for limits to the hostel household to be redefined by duration in which the individual has lived in the accommodation as opposed to the 4 person limit.
With Cassowary Coast backpacker hostels providing critical workforce to the agriculture industry, the Group is calling for all workers living within the one accommodation for 28 days consecutively to be considered one household as they live, travel and work as one unit.
The proposed revised guidelines of ‘one household’ would subsequently address issues of utilising beds and common areas as well as transportation logistics.
The Cassowary Coast region’s agriculture, forestry and fishing is its largest output by industry generating $801 million in 2018/2019. Primary industry and its supply chain is the backbone of the region with agriculture supported predominately by transient workforce (backpackers) and Seasonal Worker programs such as the Pacific Labour Scheme.
While farmers and hostel operators have been quick to implement measures to comply with restrictions to date, swift action is needed to rationalise bespoke measures which can safely be applied in this circumstance to ensure industry can continue.
Quotes attributed to Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group – Economic Sub Group, Councillor Nick Pervan:
“While there is a strong understanding of the need for the Queensland government to be cautious in easing restrictions, there is a need to review the hostel guidelines to ensure the Cassowary Coast region, along with others who have a strong agricultural industry and are reliant on a backpacker workforce, can recover their operations.
“Loss of the backpacker workforce to the agriculture industry could result in the collapse of the industry, having a dire effect on the social wellbeing and economic fabric of this region.
“At the core of this recommendation is to consider backpackers within a hostel ‘one household’ which allows them to live, travel and work as an individual unit.”
Quotes attributed to Cassowary Coast Banana Growers Association President, Dean Sinton:
“The Backpacker workforce is an integral part of our labour hire and under the current guidelines it’s not economical for hostel managers to get people to and from work which would mean a significant decrease in the availability of our workforce.
“They live together, work together and travel together – they should be classified as one household unit.”
Quotes attributed to owner of Scotty’s Backpackers Mission Beach and Mission Beach Retreat, Anthea Gilroy:
“We’re all trying hard to do the right thing for everybody – we don’t want Coronavirus in our town and we’re taking massive steps in our hostels to make sure we’re keeping the agriculture workforce separate to short term guests.
“All of our workers have been with us for over two months, we’re essentially a big family who live together and work together.
“We’re working hard to abide by social distancing but what we need from government is understanding that what they’ve asked us to do is impossible.”