SOUTHERN Australian cattle producers will get their first chance to participate in the Cattle Transaction Levy Review, with a series of face-to-face consultation meetings happening later this month.

The first southern ‘town hall’ meetings follow a similar circuit happening in Central Queensland this week (see report later this week).

The Cattle Transaction Levy Review Committee will visit South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania to hear directly from local grassfed cattle producers about the current levy arrangements, how levy investments are performing, and how the levy system can best support the industry into the future.

The consultation meetings are scheduled for:

• Monday 20 July — Naracoorte SA, Bayview Sale Complex, 2pm
• Tuesday 21 July — Mount Gambier SA, The Barn, 9am
• Tuesday 21 July — Mortlake VIC, Banquet Angus Sale Complex, 3pm
• Wednesday 22 July — Ballarat VIC, North Ballarat Sports Club, 8:30am
• Wednesday 22 July — Launceston TAS, Hotel Grand Chancellor, 6:30pm
• Thursday 23 July — Sale SA, Maffco Brewery, 10am

Cattle producer and Levy Review Committee member Harry Youngman said the in-person meetings were an important opportunity for producers to contribute practical feedback and local perspectives to the review.

“The cattle transaction levy review needs to be shaped by the producers who pay the levy and understand what is needed on the ground,” he said.

“We encourage producers to attend a local consultation meeting, ask questions and share their views on how levy funds can best support productivity, profitability and the long-term future of the cattle industry.”

The consultation process will help inform recommendations to be developed by the Review Committee for levy payers to consider later this year.

After regional consultation with stakeholders, the Cattle Transaction Levy Committee is due to hands down its recommendations by 31 August.

The Review Committee includes three Cattle Australia directors and, following an open call for nominations, five producers and two independent committee members, as follows:

• CA Directors: Bryce Camm (Committee Chair) Elke Cleverdon, Garry Edwards
• Southern region: Hugh Nivison, Harry Youngman
• Northern region: Rob Atkinson, Julie McDonald
• Western region: Dean Ryan
• Independent specialist government systems: Colin Hunter
• Independent specialist research and development corporations: Jason Strong.

For more meeting details and registration, click here.