More details about proposed changes to national grassfed cattle industry representation have been released this week ahead of a national round of consultation meetings with producers beginning next month.

Following a meeting on February 13 the Grass-fed Cattle Industry Restructure Steering Committee (membership of which is listed below this article) issued a media release yesterday providing the following information:

• Cattle Australia will be the name of the new national peak body for the grass-fed cattle industry;
• Cattle Australia will be governed by a Board of Directors and a Policy Advisory Council;
• The Board of Directors will have nine seats – comprising seven democratically elected Directors who will appoint two skills-based Directors;
• Directors will determine the Chair;
• A Policy Advisory Council will comprise 15 directly elected levy paying producers from identified MLA RAC regions and eight State Farm Organisation (SFO) representatives, appointed by their respective SFO, with oversight of an Independent Chair;
• Producers will have the opportunity to provide comment on the structure as well as key priorities for Cattle Australia, with consultation to commence from March;
• It is planned that the new peak body will officially launch on 1 July 2022, with Cattle Council of Australia’s responsibilities transitioning to Cattle Australia.

Full media release outlining the arrangements announced yesterday: 

Grass-fed cattle producers are one step closer to seeing a national, unified, and influential voice for the industry, with the name and governance arrangements now agreed for the new peak body set to launch on 1 July 2022.

The Grass-fed Cattle Industry Restructure Steering Committee held a workshop on 13 February 2022, where it was decided that Cattle Australia will be the name of the new entity and that a Board of Directors and a Policy Advisory Council will govern it.

The nine-person Board of Directors will consist of seven democratically elected Directors who will inturn appoint two skills-based Directors. Directors will then elect a Chair.

The Policy Advisory Council will comprise fifteen directly elected levy paying producers from identified Meat & Livestock Australia Regional Advisory Council regions and eight State Farming Organisation (SFO) representatives, appointed by their respective SFO, with oversight of an Independent Chair.

Andrew Macaulay, the Independent Chair of the Steering Committee, said the governance arrangements will allow Cattle Australia to deliver clear leadership and direction for the industry through a more effective model of national producer representation.

“Cattle Australia will build on the important work undertaken by Cattle Council of Australia – the current Australian peak cattle organisation – but with its new governance structure, it will broaden its representative base, to represent the interests of all Australian grass-fed cattle producers,” said Mr Macaulay.

“It will be the national peak industry council, uniting levy payers and engaging with cattle producers and industry stakeholders, so that it can advocate on important matters to the industry, lead and direct policy development and its implementation, and protect the profitability, competitiveness and future of the cattle industry.”

Over recent decades, several developments have triggered system wide change for cattle producers. The Commonwealth Government has also set an objective for the agricultural sector to become a $100 billion industry by 2030.

Mr Macaulay said that Cattle Australia’s structure will support the cattle industry to meet current and future challenges as well as contribute to the Commonwealth’s goal, with producers encouraged to provide feedback as part of consultation activities due to commence in March.

“The grass-fed cattle industry is already a significant contributor to Australian agriculture and employs thousands of people. However, to help the agriculture sector realise the goal of $100 billion by 2030, the grass-fed sector needs to elevate our national policy priorities and advocacy efforts. Cattle Australia will drive this by empowering producers, providing leadership, and creating value in areas where producers cannot succeed by working alone – by working together, we’ll grow together,” said Mr Macaulay.

BACKGROUND

About the Grass-fed Cattle Industry Restructure Steering Committee

Over the last 12 months, considerable work has been undertaken by Cattle Council of Australia (CCA) and Cattle Producers Australia (CPA) to design a strawman proposal and associated process for realising a new peak body for the grass-fed cattle industry.

In September and October 2021, facilitated Industry Leaders Forums (ILF) comprising the recognised national and state level representative, policy and advocacy bodies for cattle producers plus the largest cattle companies in Australia (Represented Groups) were held to gain agreement on the Grass-fed Cattle Industry Restructure Steering Committee structural and funding options to be taken forward through the appointment of a steering committee.

It was agreed at the ILF that a Grass-fed Cattle Industry Restructure Steering Committee (Steering Committee) would be established to guide the process and implement the formation of a new united, well resourced, effective, representative leading peak industry body for grass-fed cattle producers and their industry (Cattle Australia).

The Steering Committee comprises: 2 x Cattle Council of Australia representatives, 2 x Cattle Producers Australia representatives, 2 x Northern Pastoral Group representatives and 2 x State Farming Organisation representatives, with oversight of an Independent Chair, Andrew Macaulay.

Steering Committee Members:

Grass-fed Cattle Industry Restructure Steering Committee Independent Chair: Andrew Macaulay

Cattle Council of Australia: Lloyd Hick, Cattle Council of Australia Vice President

Cattle Council of Australia: Alice Greenup, Cattle Council of Australia Independent Northern Director

Cattle Producers Australia: Paul Wright, Cattle Producers Australia Chair

Cattle Producers Australia: Cameron McIntyre, Cattle Producers Australia Director

Northern Pastoral Group: Mick Hewitt, Hewitt Cattle CEO

Northern Pastoral Group: Troy Setter, Consolidated Pastoral Company CEO

State Farming Organisations: Gillian Fennell, Livestock SA Director

State Farming Organisations: Lisa Sharp, Herefords Australia CEO

Source: Grass-fed Cattle Industry Restructure Steering Committee media release, 22 Feb 2022