Progress to overhaul Australia’s $18 billion red meat and livestock industry will now focus on the development of a white paper following the end of the public consultation period on Monday.

In a media release issued on Monday the Red Meat Reform Taskforce said over 600 stakeholders downloaded a Green Paper with options for how the industry can better define roles, responsibilities and funding of Australia’s red meat industry bodies, and over 50 stakeholders submitted submissions.

Jim Varghese AM, Taskforce Chair

Lead Reviewer and taskforce chair Jim Varghese said the public consultation process was an important part of an independent Review of the Red Meat Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) put in place 20 years ago to govern the industry.

Mr Varghese said he was encouraged by the response to the public consultation process.

“Our discussions with MoU signatories revealed an overwhelming appetite for reform, and the amount of interest in the Green Paper reflects that,” Mr Varghese said.

“Our aim was for consultation to be wide-ranging, collaborative and constructive, and I think we have achieved that.

“I’m grateful to everyone who took time to contribute their thoughts on what a better red meat future should look like, and the Taskforce will now review all submissions as we work to develop final recommendations for the best industry structure to meet increasingly urgent risks and opportunities.”

The independent Taskforce is expected to present its White Paper of recommendations to the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources and MoU signatories by the middle of this year.

All submissions that gave permission to be published will be available for viewing shortly at www.rmac.com.au/mou.

Source: RMAC