Grain Trade Australia (GTA) continues to lead industry engagement on the implementation of the revised phosphine Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs), advocating for practical and achievable compliance pathways for the grain industry.
Working alongside industry stakeholders, GTA recently met with representatives from the offices of the Federal Ministers for Employment and Workplace Relations and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, as well as Safe Work Australia. Discussions focused on the operational challenges associated with implementing the revised WELs across the grain industry.
GTA highlighted the need for implementation approaches that recognise current industry practices and infrastructure limitations. Discussions also acknowledged the research underway to identify viable compliance solutions.
Government representatives reinforced that implementation and enforcement of workplace exposure requirements sit with state and territory work health and safety regulators.
As part of its ongoing advocacy efforts, GTA has sought meetings with state and territory ministers and regulators to discuss compliance challenges, research activities and practical implementation pathways.
To support these discussions, the grain industry has appointed the Occupational Hygiene Consultancy firm WSP to assist in developing an implementation framework for engagement with regulators, to defer implementation of the proposed phosphine WEL due in December 2026.
GTA will continue to engage with regulators, government agencies and industry stakeholders and will provide further updates as discussions progress.
To expand its advocacy efforts on behalf of Members, GTA has written to the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, outlining industry concerns and key implementation challenges.
GTA is working in close collaboration with NWPGP, GrainGrowers, Grain Producers Australia, GrainCorp, Bunge and CBH and appreciates their engagement and support.
