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WASIA general meeting cancelled and moved online amid COVID uncertainty

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Online conference to focus on COVID-19 protocols in the shearing industry.
Camera IconOnline conference to focus on COVID-19 protocols in the shearing industry. Credit: Bob Garnant/Countryman

Uncertainty around COVID-19 case numbers in the metro area has led the WA Shearing Industry Association to cancel its upcoming general meeting.

WASIA last week announced it had “regretfully decided” to cancel the meeting scheduled for last Saturday, after listening to member concerns about coming to Perth.

It comes as the State Government mandates mask wearing for public indoor areas in the Perth, Peel and South West regions off the back of community transition of the virus and a growing list of exposure sites.

“Our primary concern is for everyone’s health and not impacting their work,” executive officer Valerie Pretzel said.

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They have since decided to run each of the presentations online each week instead, with the first — which featured DPIRD COVID incident commander Bruce Mullan — held on Monday.

It gave listeners information on what the latest COVID-19 directives mean for shearing teams and contractors and gave them an opportunity to ask questions.

Phil Brunner from Bailiwick Legal and Craig Shand of PSC McKenna Hampton Insurance Brokers were also online to answer any associated legal, insurance and workers’ compensation questions.

Other speakers that were due to talk at the cancelled meeting were Worksafe Commissioner Darren Kavanagh, representatives from the Department of Corrective Services — career and employment services, and AWI program manager for wool harvesting training and development Craig French.

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