PUBLIC meetings across Queensland cattle producing areas next week will look to tackle the “dog eat dog, feast to famine” cycle of relationships in the Australian red meat supply chain.
Queensland LNP Senator Barry O’Sullivan will be hosting public forums at Longreach, Cloncurry, Quilpie and Roma to investigate how the best commercial outcomes for all stakeholders in the red meat supply chain can be achieved.
Also participating will be Australian Meat Industry Council chair Lachie Hart, Australian Meat Processor Corporation chair Peter Noble and Meat and Livestock Australia managing director Richard Norton.
The Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport (RRAT) Senate Committee and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) are currently investigating saleyards, rail services and processing facilities, which the forums will feed back in to.
Senator O’Sullivan said the forums’ recommendations could shape how red meat producers do business.
“These inquiries are being undertaken because there is a real need to bring about change in the red meat supply chain to make it more transparent and fairer,” he said.
“I have consistently said my ultimate hope is industry will self-regulate and address the structural issues because the last thing anyone wants to see is more government regulation.
“But if stakeholders in the supply chain do not act in good faith then government will have no choice but to take action.”
Senator O’Sullivan said the public forums would look for an industry-based resolution to address the levels of mistrust within the supply chain.
“The future is bright for the Australian red meat sector, but first we must address the structural issues that will deliver more transparency and greater trust in the supply chain,” he said.
“I am encouraged that major decision makers within the post-farm gate sector have agreed to appear at my public forums next week.
“My great hope is that we can facilitate a real conversation between producers and processors about what steps are needed to rebuild trust within the supply chain.”
Meetings are set down for Longreach and Cloncurry on October 4, and Quilpie and Roma on October 5.
In Longreach, the meeting will be at the AgForce offices between 12 and 2pm, while the Cloncurry meeting will be at the Gidgee Inn from 6 to 8pm.
The Quilpie Club is the venue for Wednesday’s first meeting, from 10am to 12 noon. It will move on to the canteen area at the Roma saleyards between 3 and 5pm the same day.
