Cattle Council of Australia says cattle producers will soon get to vote on a new multi-stream revenue model which is being developed to fund the new national grassfed industry representative structure agreed to by producer groups last year.

Cattle Council of Australia president Howard Smith said an implementation committee is currently finalising the new structure and a proposed new funding model to create the revenue required to operate it.

In a media release issued this morning Mr Smith said the new structure and proposed funding model will be put to an industry vote once the model is finalised.

“With the new structure locked in, we believe the best funding model will include multiple funding sources,’’ Mr Smith said.

“There are a number of funding options being considered and the implementation committee is putting the final touches on how the funding model will work.’’

Funding streams under consideration include a non-government industry managed service fee; sponsorship; commercial revenue; Red Meat Advisory Council income and major events.

“It is likely the vote will occur this year,’’ Mr Smith said.

The implementation committee, made up of representatives of the Australian beef industry from Cattle Council of Australia, the Northern Pastoral Group, the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association, the Australian Beef Association, the Australian Meat producers Group and the Concerned Cattle Producers met in Brisbane on Friday.

In the media release the CCA said all industry groups are united on the new structure are fully committed to the implementation of the new structure.

In February 2015 the same group presented a united structure to Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce.

“Since that time we have been pushing towards structural change, including a sustainable funding model, to adequately deliver the advocacy, policy and strategic services the grass fed industry needs,’’ Mr Smith said.

A key development has been the legislative amendments to the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991 introduced to Parliament on March 3.

Mr Smith said access to a database of all levy payers would be a powerful tool for the new industry structure.

“The details are yet to be provided on rules of access but it may also create potential for some new revenue streams,’’ he said.

“We will now lobby for quick progression of this legislation through parliament.’’

Mr Smith said the implementation committee were developing new funding arrangements, free from government intervention.

Source: Cattle Council of Australia