Member for Northern Tablelands and Shadow Minister for Agriculture Brendan Moylan has welcomed the deferment of revised phosphine workplace exposure limits in New South Wales, and nationwide.
The New South Wales Government has committed to defer until July 2028, alongside the South Australian Government.
However, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia have locked in three-year deferrals until December 2029.
It follows advocacy from state farming associations, bulk handlers and grain representative groups.
Mr Moylan had also pushed the New South Wales Government for a delay and recently met with the Minister for Work Health and Safety Sophie Costis MP over the issue.
“Phosphine is crucial to grain storage in Australia,” Mr Moylan said.
“While I’m thankful to the Minister for deferring the new exposure limits we need to ensure that the grain industry has a seat at the table in any future decisions regarding Phosphine.”
Phosphine is the grain industry’s primary fumigant- a chemical that produces fumes used to disinfect or purify an area- and remains critical for protecting grain quality, controlling pests and maintaining access to export markets.
Safe Work Australia’s revised phosphine exposure limits were due to commence on 1 December, reducing the Time Weighted Average exposure limit from 0.3 ppm to 0.05 ppm and a 0.15 ppm peak limit.