Stocktake Report Needs To Connect With Grassroots Producers
AUSTRALIA - The Western Australian Farmers Federation (Inc.) (WAFarmers) welcomes the State Government’s response to the Beef Stocktake Report, and believes that the formation of the WA Beef Council, under the direction of Tony Hiscock, and the Producers Round Table, is a step in the right direction.WAFarmers Meat Section President, Jeff Murray, said that it is encouraging that the State Government is interested in the future of Western Australia’s beef industry, and looks forward to providing feedback on the Beef Stocktake Report via a full and frank consultation process with Western Australia’s grassroots beef producers.
“Many industry participants are eagerly looking forward to seeing a release of the final Beef Stocktake Report, and the opportunity to have their views heard through the Producers Round Table.”
“WAFarmers is, however, disappointed that the Minister for Agriculture and Food, the Hon. Terry Redman, is not contributing significant Government funding towards the programmes.
“The Minister for Agriculture has allocated $500,000 towards the establishment of the WA Beef Council; however this money will be taken from the Cattle Industry Compensation Fund (CICF), which was initially set up for emergency disease control.”
The CICF is made up of residual money from disease control programs, and from the compulsory $0.20 per head levy on all cattle sold in Western Australia.
“As the CICF is largely made up of producer funds, WAFarmers believe that the industry should be able to choose where these funds are allocated.”
“WAFarmers requests that the State Government consult fully with industry on the use of these fund allocations, as has been done in the past,” Mr Murray concluded.
TheCattleSite News Desk