Meat industry taskforce aims to ensure long-term future for processors

10/12/02
The State Government's newly-established meat industry taskforce has met for the first time.
The taskforce is examining processing costs, workers' compensation, markets for processed meat and other strategies to ensure the long-term future of the meat processing industry.
Terms of reference are currently being developed by the taskforce but it is expected to pursue issues such as:

• the need for long-term employment in the meat processing industry;

• the need to develop a marketing plan to increase the export of processed meat (including the establishment of new markets and supply chains);

• the viability of establishing a quota system;

• a plan for the long-term viability of the processing industry (through the reduction of processing costs, particularly workers' compensation and targeted research and development aimed at the application of safer more productive operations); and

• improving the efficiency of Government regulation of the meat processing industry including reducing the overlap or duplication of regulatory functions.

Key meat processors, the National Meat Association, the Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union and the Department of Agriculture are represented on the taskforce, which is independently chaired by Professor Bob Lindner of the University of Western Australia.
Other members are:
Garry Minton (EG Green and Sons); Des Griffiths (WA Meat Marketing Corporation); Roger Fletcher (Fletcher International); Peter Trefort (Hillside Meats); Graeme Haynes (Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union); Merv Darcy (National Meat Association); and Renata Paliskis-Bessell (Department of Agriculture).
Agriculture Minister Kim Chance said that with promising export opportunities, the industry had the scope to build cattle turn-off on a sustainable basis and increase exports of both live and processed beef.
"With low throughputs and relatively high labour costs it is difficult for WA abattoirs to compete with the live market in the export of meat," Mr Chance said.
"The costs associated with the labour-intensive processing sector will continue to be a critical factor in the industry's competitiveness.
"Through the taskforce we can develop initiatives that could be directed towards achieving an improved competitive position for the meat processing sector."
The Minister said Department of Agriculture projects in the meat processing area would continue to complement the taskforce's work.
These included:

• increasing investment in projects aimed at increasing the sustainable carrying capacity of beef enterprises in the pastoral regions and northern agriculture area;

• partnering with the sheep production and processing industries to identify opportunities to increase sheep numbers;

• researching the specific question of seasonal supply variability, which is a key limiting factor in the development of the meat export processing sector;

• intensifying research and development of finishing cattle and sheep by grain lot feeding and pasture-based systems; and

• continuing to support processors to establish quality assurance and product integrity initiatives aimed at improving supply chain agreements and integrating the production and marketing of livestock.

Minister's Office - 9213 6700