Australian Lamb Company statement

Australian Lamb Company is intensifying its efforts to protect its Colac employees and the local community from COVID-19.

The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services closed the Colac facility last Saturday, July 18.

All workers employed at the site are now in a minimum 14-day quarantine, while they await the results of their COVID-19 tests.

“This is a very difficult time for all of our employees and their families, and the community in general, as we work through the pandemic together,” a company spokesperson said.

“ALC is working closely with its employees to ensure they are kept safe and strong during quarantine.

“It is difficult to quarantine, but it is absolutely necessary, to protect us and our community from the virus.

“Our message to our employees and the local community is simple: ‘Do the right thing, and take care of our community, by looking after yourselves, as well as the health and wellbeing of others’,” he said.

ALC said its efforts in protecting its employees and the community were ongoing and included:

• Making daily contact with all of its employees to remind them of the importance ofquarantine, staying safe and ‘doing the right thing’.
• Co-ordinating and helping its employees access emergency food and accommodation.
• Working with the Department of Human Services, Colac Area Health, the Colac Otway Shire Council and other local employers and community leaders to make sure all necessary steps were being taken to reduce the risk of further transmission.

“We would like to thank Colac Area Health and our local community, in particular, for their care and support of our employees and their families,” the spokesperson said.

“Our loyal employees are doing the best they can to defeat the virus, during this very challenging time, and we are incredibly grateful for this.”

ALC is placing advertising in local media outlets to reinforce its “do the right thing and look after each other” message to ALC employees and the local community.