The Cattle Transaction Levy Review Committee has released a summary of feedback from its consultation on the Cattle Transaction Levy, with more than 1000 responses and attendances recorded across producer surveys, regional face-to-face sessions and written submissions.

In a media release issued on Friday afternoon Cattle Australia provied the following overview of feedback received across the nationwide series of meetings throughout July and August:

The most consistent theme raised across every consultation session was a greater need for increased transparency and accountability for what the levy delivers, prior to any change being applied to the levy rate.

Levy payers were clear: they want to see exactly how their levy dollars are being spent, they want investment to keep pace with the risks and priorities the industry faces today, they want a levy system that works harder for them and does more for them.

Feedback was received around the five review principles and converged around the key themes.

On existing value within the $5 levy, there was general agreement that levy investment has built lasting capability and infrastructure for the industry that would not otherwise exist, helped it keep pace with a changing global market and remain competitive internationally, and been effective in leveraging additional investment for research and development and marketing that has supported the enviable position Australian beef now enjoys globally.

However, producers raised, overwhelmingly, a desire for a more transparent and accountable levy investment program that clearly shows the value being returned from every dollar invested on their behalf.

On flexibility between levy streams, there was strong support for a transparent mechanism allowing limited, defined movements between streams in the interim, so the system can respond to genuine pressures without duplicating a full review process.

On new and enhanced areas for funding, pre-emptive biosecurity investment emerged as the clear shared priority for expanded industry investment, alongside support for funding for the National Residue Survey and dedicated funding for integrity systems.

On fixed review periods, feedback was strongly aligned behind a review cycle no longer than 10 years, with a five-year mid-term check, so that levy settings are tested regularly rather than left unexamined for decades and better aligned with industry planning cycles. Consistent with that feedback, a full review of the levy system is proposed no later than the end of 2030.

On industry representation, levy payers were clear that they want a stronger focus on increasing producers’ capacity to engage in industry processes and engage with the broader community by strengthening industry representation and capability building programs. They were equally clear that levy investment oversight needs to be prioritised, and that the body representing them on all matters – Cattle Australia, should be properly resourced to do so, and open about how that funding is used.

There is also a desire to see additional funding directed to the activities in this category, such as education programs and those that facilitate engagements with the broader community, expanded with the aspiration of mitigating against some of the unfounded reputational attacks industry consistently suffers from.

Cattle Australia CEO Will Evans said the consultation feedback was clear.

Will Evans addressing a CTL review producer consultation meeting at Tamworth in July.

“Cattle producers around the country were clear and consistent: they want to see greater accountability for how their levies are being invested, they want a levy system that works harder for them and they want a levy system that does more for them.”

“Levy payers see emerging issues that require new areas of investment and attention from the levy system. 72% of respondents called for the LRBs to maintain focus on the majority of current investments while better considering new investment priorities as well. Many of the suggested areas reflect the way in which the industry has changed since the last review was conducted and new challenges and threats that have emerged during this period” Mr Evans said.

“Twenty years without a review is a long time to go without asking whether a system is still working as intended. The Review, and the discussions it has opened up about levy investment priorities and setting up levy structures for the future, has been broadly welcomed as a valuable engagement opportunity.”

“Producers want clear, measurable evidence of what the levy has delivered, and that is the standard we intend to meet. The desire to see the levy do more in new areas is also something the Committee is closely considering.

“The Review Committee continue to work through the consultation findings to inform the Review recommendations for publication early next month. It is likely that the Committee’s recommendations will suggest a sequence of activities to be undertaken over the coming months to update the system in stages, to better align it with the needs of levy payers today.”

A summary of the consultation findings is available on the Cattle Australia website at this link.

Source: Cattle Australia