New multi-million-dollar contracts for WA summer lamb at risk

21/1/97

Primary Industry Minister Monty House has warned the Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union that its Linley Valley abattoir dispute with Metro Meat International Ltd has placed new multi-million dollar contracts for Western Australian summer lamb at serious risk.

"The WA Meat Marketing Corporation (WAMMC) has set an important precedent in developing premium overseas markets for out-of-season lamb that not only promise a new source of income for producers, but also an important long-term extension of the killing season for meatworkers," Mr House said.

"Farmers throughout the State have responded to the call to produce extra lambs especially for these contracts and everyone has been co-operating with the WAMMC to ensure that the project is successful.

"I am therefore surprised that the union, which has campaigned so hard against live sheep exports in favour of processed sheepmeats, now seems determined to jeopardise such a major new initiative."

Mr House said the corporation had forward contracted with producers to deliver well in excess of 100,000 lambs through January and February and the strike had already seriously disrupted critical delivery arrangements.

"It is a nightmare for producers, because they have had to carefully cost and plan their breeding and feeding programs to ensure that they deliver the right product on the right day and for the WAMMC, which has supply contracts to meet with major new overseas buyers," he said.

Mr House said he was closely monitoring the progress of the dispute with the WAMMC, the company, the WA Farmers' Federation and the Pastoralists' and Graziers' Association.

"It would seem that at present the ball is very much in the court of the AMIEU and we urge that reason will prevail before much more serious damage occurs," he said.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (09) 481 2044, pager 476 0369