A senate committee inquiry into the collection and disbursement of levies in the grassfed beef industry will proceed in early 2014 after a motion calling for an inquiry was passed by the Senate today.

The inquiry, requested by federal agricultural minister Barnaby Joyce, will be conducted by the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee.

The specific focus of the inquiry and its terms of reference are as follows:

The industry structures and systems governing the collection and disbursement of marketing and research and development levies pertaining to the sale of grass-fed cattle set out in subsections 6(l)(a), 6(1)(b), 6(2)(a) and 6(2)(b) of Schedule 3 (Cattle transactions) of the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999, including:

(a) the basis on which levies are collected and used;

(b) the opportunities levy payers have to influence the quantum and investment of the levies;

(c) industry governance arrangements, consultation and reporting frameworks; and

(d) recommendations to maximise the ability of grass-fed cattle producers to respond to challenges and capture opportunities in marketing and research and development.

The committee has been given a deadline to report its findings and recommendations by March 28, 2014

News of Minsiter Joyce's plans to refer ongoing industry disquiet over levy arrangements in the grassfed beef industry to a senate inquiry was first reported by Beef Central following the LiveXchange conference in Townsville in early November. 

Read Beef Central's original article here

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