WA grains industry welcomes three-year phosphine delay, vows to dig into research behind decision

WA’s grains industry has welcomed the State Government’s decision to delay phosphine limits but have warned against complacency as it begins to sort a solution before the 2029 deadline.

Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk said the decision followed consultation with the Agriculture Minister, industry and WorkSafe WA.

The new workplace exposure levels, which reduces exposure to 0.05 parts per million from 0.3ppm, are now scheduled to come into effect on December 1, 2029.

The WA grain industry has said it will use that time to look at the evidence behind the decision to reduce the limits and look for a viable alternative.

Grain Traders Australia chief executive Pat O’Shannassy said the delay recognised the practicalities of managing the fumigant across the supply chain as harvest in WA is under way.

He said changing the rules for a fumigant that underpinned grain storage and export quality, not only in WA but across the country, with “only a few weeks of notice” would have created serious risk for biosecurity, market access and storage capacity.

“A three-year deferral gives growers, storage operators and exporters certainty and the time to get this right,” Mr O’Shannassy said.

“This time needs to be used well. That means validating measurement methods, understanding the operational impacts and developing controls that industry can actually implement.

“GTA and its members and the WA grain industry are already doing that work, and we are eager to engage with WorkSafe WA.”

Co-operative Bulk Handling Group, WA’s largest and main grain handler, also welcomed the delay.

“CBH will continue to work constuctively with industry, WorkSafe WA and the WA Government during the deferral period,” a spokesman said.

“This work should establish whether the proposed limit is supported by an appropriate evidence base for WA grain operations and, if so, how it can be measured, applied and enforced safely and practically.”

WAFarmers grains council president Mark Fowler said the delay was “critical” for the functioning of the supply chain and biosecurity.

He said the extra time would enable the industry to scrutinise and test the evidence and scientific basis for the changes, develop measurement, monitoring and control tools, and allow industry to be informed on compliance.

However, Mr Fowler said the exclusion of grain dust from the delay would prove difficult to comply with, citing a Grain Producers Australia survey that found the vast majority of the 500 growers surveyed were not ready and did not know how to comply with the limits.

“The limits are particularly challenging for growers because there is no practical method for monitoring and managing at a scale and cost appropriate to family farms,” he said.

“While we absolutely support worker safety, there is no evidence of harm from this.”

Mr Fowler said in a year of high input costs, farmers would ultimately swallow any further costs via bulk handler charges.

Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA grains committee chair Rob Beard said any workplace exposure limits needed to be set in consultation with the industry.

He said the setting of such low levels as to compromise the treatment of stored grain created an unnecessary risk to the entire grain industry.

“The PGA of WA believes that any new exposure standard must be set according to thoroughly researched, factual data,” Mr Beard said.

“We acknowledge the legitimate safety requirements that underpin these limits, but they must also be workable ‘so far is reasonably practical’ and must not threaten the long-term viability of the grain industry.”

Mr Beard insisted a final decision on what constitutes a safe level of the fumigant must be reached after detailed and rigorous research.

“Phosphine is the only option currently available for the grains industry — it is essential to protecting stored grain from insect pests and maintaining our access to domestic and export markets,” he said.