A SIGNIFICANT portion of the Northern Territory’s cattle herd was represented at Wednesday’s red meat and livestock strategy workshop in Katherine, where participants highlighted some of the key issues facing beef producers and live exporters across northern Australia.

Hosted by Red Meat Advisory Council and supported by the NT Cattlemens Association and Department of Primary Industry & Fisheries, the workshop marked the start of a two-month program to hear from producers, processers and live exporters of red meat and livestock in defining the direction and focus of the next Meat Industry Strategic Plan.

RMAC chairman Ross Keane said the workshop was a terrific opportunity to discuss first-hand where the industry’s grassroots constituents wanted to see more, or less, focus in the future.

“The quality and overall optimism in the discussion was fantastic, and it was encouraging to get some very clear and constructive messages around the industry’s future,” Mr Keane said.

Key messages coming from the workshop discussion included:

• A positive and optimistic outlook for the opportunities around building and supplying demand for Australian red meat and livestock, and subsequent returns for the industry.
• Recognition of the importance of addressing sustainability on a whole-of-industry basis and as a critical part of marketing and positioning the industry’s products and reputation.
• On-going concerns regarding the costs of production and compliance, and their subsequent impacts on profitability.
• The need for strong emphasis and encouragement of the next generation of industry participants.
• A desire for effective industry leadership, and recognition that key to that is a streamlined and adequately resourced industry structure.

NTCA chief executive, Tracey Hayes, welcomed the opportunity for NT cattle producers and exporters to have a direct line of sight into the development of the industry’s overarching strategic plan.

“The workshop has been a great start in the MISP development process in highlighting the importance of regional issues on a national agenda” Ms Hayes said.

“In particular, our ability to respond to what is both a challenge and an opportunity in driving and demonstrating the industry’s sustainability is a major priority for MISP.”

The consultation program now moves on to Queensland, where workshops are being run in Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Townsville and Charleville.

Published below are the upcoming workshop locations and dates. Click here to access the full schedule, including clickable links for registration and further details for each site:

• Southern Qld: Toowoomba Sept 23
• Central Qld: Rockhampton Sept 25
• Northern Qld: Townsville Sept 26
• Southwest Qld: Charleville Oct 1
• Southwestern WA: Perth Oct 2
• Western NSW: Oct 9
• Southern NSW/Northern Vic: Wagga Oct 13
• Central/Eastern Vic: Attwood Oct 14
• Western Vic/Southeast SA: Hamilton Oct 16
• Tasmania: Launceston Oct 23.