A new Cattle Compensation Advisory Committee to advise the Victorian Government on allocation of state levy funds has been appointed until June 30, 2017.
The Victorian Government has also appointed a Sheep and Goat Compensation Advisory Committee (SGCAC) for the same period.
The CCAC will be chaired by Christopher Wallace-Smith and will comprise VFF nominees Ian Feldtmann and Gippsland livestock producer Faye Tuchtan; Australian Meat Industry Council representative Angelique Raspin; Australian Livestock Property Agents Association nominee Elizabeth Summerville; and Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources representative Cassandra Meagher.
The new SGAC includes VFF representative Michael Craig as chair and VFF nominees Margaret Piccoli and Kathryn Joseph on the committee.
The CCAC and SGCAC advise government on the allocation of funding to programs and projects that benefit their respective livestock industries, using revenue generated through levies on cattle, sheep and goats sold throughout Victoria.
They are also responsible for advising government on the amount of compensation payable to industry in the event of livestock disease, should that be necessary.
The committees are made up of representatives from the farming and livestock sectors, supply chains, processors, saleyard managers and livestock agents.
“The Andrews Labor Government is pleased to be able to rely on highly credentialed advice to help guide our support for livestock industries across Victoria,” said Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford.
“The meat, dairy and animal fibre industries are vital to our state’s economy – these sectors are responsible for over fifty per cent of Victoria’s exports.”
“Trade data published just this month for example showed Victoria exported meat products valued at $2.9 billion last year, a 12-month increase of $61 million.”
Source: Vic agriculture minister Jaala Pulford
There is more compassion for the cattle industry in Victoria then Queensland and considering Queensland in the largest cattle state this is concerning.
A member of the never-ending committee established to launch the Queensland Cattle Biosecurity Fund advises that the Queensland fund to collect levies from producers via a transaction levy was challenged in the courts and was found to be unenforceable. We are also advised that the Crown Law Office will not consider any form of compulsory transaction levy fund.
When cattle producers are damaged by the implementation of a management control scheme that is for the supposed benefit of the industry, a Biosecurity Fund is needed to compensate those producers. All 19,000 members of our industry could be wiped out tomorrow if an exotic disease is discovered on their property without any compensation. We are playing Russian Roulette without a plan B. Yes we do all we can to ensure the disease will not come onto our property. However every time you roll trucks onto your property you are exposed to likely disease problems.
A Biosecurity Fund is needed now. It needs to be compulsory and sufficient to establish a fighting fund for compensation to be paid to those members of our industry in Queensland who lost money to the BJD Protection Zone Policy of prior Governments.
Show some compassion Queensland.