CEO Update May 2020
As the COVID-19 situation continues to stabilise and restrictions are eased, we must continue to remain vigilant in how the industry businesses continue to practice and implement the Government guidelines around health and hygiene and social and physical distancing. This will be vital to ensure production, retail and allied businesses can continue to operate and trade, especially if there are future outbreaks of coronavirus across the country.
GIA staff and I are maintaining a watching brief on the COVID-19 situation and have continued to engage with Government Departments and other industry agencies as required, to ensure and maintain the nursery industry as an ‘essential service’. The seminal document produced during the ‘shutdown’ was the NFF ‘essential services’ list that was submitted to the Federal, State and Territory Agricultural Ministers for ratification. This list is comprehensive for all of Australia’s primary industries and includes nursery under – “Seed, seedlings and nursery stock”, including:
- Production, supply, distribution and retail sale of seeds, seedlings and nursery stock.
- Includes tissue culture laboratories, propagation facilities and greenhouses.
The list is still to be officially ratified but efforts will be continued to ensure it is the basis for primary industry ‘essential services’ going forward if there is an escalation in restrictions again for COVID-19 or other extreme circumstances.
Greenlife Industry Australia (GIA) Board Meeting
As advised the next meeting of the GIA Board is scheduled for 19 May and there is a comprehensive agenda of items for the Board to consider and discuss. The key items of business are based around the implementation of the GIA strategy and include:
- The format for the Annual Operation Plan (AOP) for the 2020/21 financial year
- The forecast budget for the 20/21, 21/22 and 22/23 financial years
- The three year Member Engagement and Partnership (ME&P) and Communications strategies
- A Revised Business and Operational Plan for the Australian Plant Production Standard (APPS)
- The Committees the Board will establish to oversee the Governance, Strategy and Operation of the business
In developing the ME&P and Communications strategies, Sonya Gifford, Kobie Keenan and I have met with representatives of GIA’s State Association Members to discuss the expectations and requirements of membership and to define and delineate between the roles and responsibility from and national, state and regional point of view.
A complete summary of the outcomes from the Board meeting will be provided in future updates.
Please contact me at ceo@greenlifeindustry.com.au if you would like to provide comments or have questions on the activities of Greenlife Industry Australia.