WA’s grain industry pleads for delay on phosphine workplace exposure limits change ahead of harvest

WA’s multi-billion dollar grain trade is at risk of grinding to a halt at the height of this year’s harvest, with new phosphine exposure limits threatening to hold up the State’s second-largest industry.

Safe Work Australia’s new limits have come off the back of a scientific review and are set to be introduced across the country on December 1.

The review recommended the reduction of time-weighted average workplace exposure limits from 0.3 parts per million to 0.05 ppm, with an introduction of a peak limitation of 0.15 ppm, in order to prevent respiratory and neurological effects.

Phosphine is a chemical fumigant used for pest control for grain stored in silos and bulkheads, and has been the preferred chemical due to its low cost, ease of application, effectiveness against major pest species, and acceptance by global markets and regulatory bodies.

The workplace exposure limits are not solely restricted to grain handers, such as Co-operative Bulk Handling or GrainCorp, but additionally apply on-farm.

CBH last week penned a letter to WA Industrial Relations Minister Simone McGurk requesting a three-year extension to the new limits, similar to a recent move by the Victorian State Government to delay its implementation.

Although the limits are set federally, the States are responsible for enforcement.

Ms McGurk’s office did not answer whether the State Government would consider an extension to the limits, instead stating WorkSafe WA had been working closely with industry for its implementation through an education campaign.

“Safe Work Australia undertook a review of over 600 workplace exposure standards, including phosphine from 2019,” a State Government spokeswoman said.

“The review was supported by extensive public and technical consultation.

“Public consultation on draft evaluation reports closed in 2021. Changes to the exposure limit were agreed in 2024, giving more than two years notice to industry from the decision.”

WA shadow agriculture minister Lachlan Hunter said the State did not have to “blindly charge ahead” to the December 1 deadline, calling for additional time.

“Pointing to a national process and telling industry it has had two years’ notice is not good enough,” he said. “An education campaign is not a solution if the standard itself cannot practically be met or reliably measured.”

The new limits have caused alarm amongst the industry, sparking concerns of phosphine-resistant weevils in WA grain.

Live weevils in WA grain mean exporters are at risk of not being granted the necessary phytosanitary certificates by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry — documentation essential for export that declares there are no live insects, such as weevils, in the shipment.

A CBH spokesman said the grain handler supported health and safety regulation in the workplace and the protection of workers from hazardous substances, but that it was seeking additional time similar to other jurisdictions.

“We are engaging constructively with government and regulators to seek additional time to get this right, allowing industry, government and regulators to determine whether the proposed phosphine exposure limits are supported by an adequate evidence base for the WA grain industry and, if so, how they can be implemented safely, practically and effectively,” he said.

WA’s crop is forecast to have a $50.9 billion gross value for 2026-27, with the State’s crops accounting for 45 per cent of Australia’s wheat, barley, and oats exports in 2023-24.

Agriculture Region member Steve Martin MLC said the importance of the issue could not be overstated with WA’s grain industry at risk of grinding to a halt. He called for the details of the scientific review behind the decision.

“Minister McGurk needs to talk to grain growers, bulk handlers, and exporters to understand just how important the use of this product is to our vital grains industry,” he said.

“Once again, WA farmers are having their livelihoods put at risk by regulators and politicians who don’t understand their industry.”

Grain Producers Australia confirmed it had been engaging on a federal level with Agriculture Minister Julie Collins on the issue, while working alongside Grain Trade Australia and other industry organisations seeking reconsideration of the reviewed limits to complete research and develop a “practical, measurable, and nationally consistent” framework to ensure worker safety without disrupting the grain industry.

GPA chair Matthew Madden said Victoria’s three-year extension decision was a “sensible response” and urged WA and the other States to follow suit to protect Australia’s biosecurity and market access, ahead of WA’s approaching harvest.

Federal MP Rick Wilson, Member for O’Connor, said he found Ms McGurk’s attitude to the phosphine application rate impact on the grain industry “concerning”.

“The West Australian grain industry is worth six, seven, eight billion dollars depending on how big the crop is,” he said.

“It is going to be put at serious risk if the minister doesn’t follow the Victorian Government’s lead and provide a three-year extension so that the industry can improve its current methods . . . prove that they are safe and fit for purpose, and not required to be changed.”

Grains Australia’s Alastair Falconer, who sits on the organisation’s wheat council, confirmed he had been engaging with WA’s WorkSafe commissioner on the issue.