Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman today welcomed the completion of the North West WA Beef Abattoir Pre-feasibility Study.
The study was commissioned in 2009 by the Department of Agriculture and Food and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation to carry out a preliminary investigation into the potential for a beef processor servicing the northern rangelands.
It found an abattoir would be of great benefit to northern beef producers, but it would need a significant commitment from industry to be commercially viable.
"The restrictions on live exports brought about by the imposition of weight restrictions by Indonesian importers has highlighted the risks associated with the northern beef industry's reliance on a single market," Mr Redman said.
"This study was jointly funded by the State and Federal governments in response to the pastoral beef industry's strong desire to better understand its options in a changing global marketplace."
Mr Redman said the report sent a clear message about the changes needed to underpin a viable processing alternative in the north, and many of these changes were industry challenges.
"The report makes it clear that a northern abattoir could not survive on the left-overs from the live export trade," Mr Redman said.
"For this to work it will require a major adjustment from northern producers, so I have asked the WA Beef Council to further consider the study and seek wider industry comment."
The pre-feasibility report completes the planned first stage of the study. The next stage aims to build on the key findings by further investigating how the industry will need to change to support a viable northern abattoir.
Minister's office - 9213 6700
