Coronavirus crisis: Federal Government announces $110 million fright flight package to deliver fresh seafood, beef and dairy produce abroad

Australia’s seafood, beef and dairy industries will get a lifeline with the Federal Government announcing $110 million for freight flights to keep delivering fresh produce abroad. With most international flights grounded, many agricultural and fisheries exports have suffered, particularly in WA. Our State is the biggest seafood exporter in the nation, with Geraldton one of the major hubs for western rock lobster. Beef producers also export chilled meat into the Middle East. Last week, all fishing had to stop because there was no guarantee there would be flights available to send the produce overseas. The last commercial flight left Perth on Monday. The Federal Government wants to keep the appetite for Australian seafood, beef and dairy alive, with potentially hundreds of flights loaded with fresh produce aiming to get seafood from the water to plate within 24 hours under a plan to organise specific freight flights. Producers would pay normal freight rates and the taxpayer would pick up the difference under the relief package. It is understood the first flight is likely to depart Perth as early as next week. A further $50 million will be injected into the Export Market Development Grants program, allowing exporters and tourism businesses to get additional reimbursements for costs incurred in marketing their products and services around the world. Levies worth $10 million to the Australian Fisheries Management Authority will also be wiped. The fresh food flights will initially focus on the key markets of China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, with four key departure hubs: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. The Federal Government hopes the flights will also be able to perform the dual purpose of bringing back much-needed medical equipment, supplies and medicine. Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said getting Australia’s export industry back was crucial to reduce job losses and keep businesses going to the other side of this crisis. Negotiations between the seafood industry and the Federal Government have been going for 10 days. Geraldton Fishermen’s Co-operative chief executive Matthew Rutter said the support came at the eleventh hour. “If we couldn’t find a solution we would have been stopping our boats and standing down entire workforce,” Mr Rutter said.