News

$500,000 boost for indigenous pastoralists

Beef Central 13/04/2012

The Federal Government has announced $500,000 in funding to help northern indigenous pastoralists.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, said the funding for the Indigenous Pastoral Project, under the Northern Australia Beef Industry Strategy, will assist the government in providing Indigenous pastoralists with a pathway to develop their properties into commercially viable and sustainable enterprises.

“The funding will be used to develop a step-by-step framework that will assist northern  Indigenous pastoral land owners’ ability to operate pastoral businesses,” Minister Ludwig said.

“This framework will include case studies of pastoral properties and will be trialled in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory to ensure its effectiveness.”

Minister Ludwig announced the funding in the Northern Territory, where he yesterday visited the Consolidated Pastoral Company’s Auvergne Station and gained a first-hand understanding of Indigenous employment in the northern Australia pastoral industry.

The framework concept has been developed following extensive consultation with Indigenous pastoralists, northern Australia land councils, cattle producer groups and northern Australian governments.

Minister Ludwig said the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation will continue to work closely with the northern Indigenous pastoral industry to deliver this project.

“This collaborative work between the Australian Government and its Northern Australian stakeholders will not only assist with ensuring the sustainability of Northern Australian Beef industry, but will also contribute to additional regional employment opportunities.”    

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