Warriner exits NTCA in style

He had ears pricked straight off the bat when he opened by saying that since it would be his last speech as president he felt a bit bolder about stating his views.

On a positive note he said it was a pleasure to deliver a report with the outlook looking so much better than it had for a very, very long time.

“I say much better than rather than excellent and fantastic and words like that as this is where we should be,” he said.

“Twelve months ago the $3 a kilogram price for beef was a dream. Now it's close to being a reality. And if we get it right, in three years’ time we will have seen the back of it as an average price rather than a dream.”

He said aside from the markets there are a few domestic fundamentals that need to be cemented to provide the 20-50 year outlook platform which major infrastructure like the Livingston Beef plant outside Darwin need in order to deliver what is required.

He said Unlocking the North is a great theme for the year.

“It is critical to us, our industry, our NT, and the nation that we succeed this time.

“The demand and the market is there. It is up to us to make it happen. We cannot rely on governments, the mining industry, or others to be of any great assistance.

He said Governments are still a bit gas addicted.

“That is OK and understandable but a bit more evenhandedness would be appreciated.

Mr Warriner said the “Develop the North” endeavour has failed before, but he was very positive about the Asian demand that he said is more achievable now than ever before.

“The demand prospects for Ag and beef have never been brighter. With the Asian middle class projected to go to 3.2 billion people by 2030 demand for our exported food will be on a rising trajectory for many years to come.

However Mr Warriner said he’s worried by the current political environment that renders Governments more or less materially useless in providing funding.

“I don’t know what “political reform” looks like but the current political situation is a bloody disgrace, a blight, and an embarrassment.

“That opposition parties, irrespective of political ilk, are now willing to compromise the National and/or States interests for their own agenda to get into power just bewilders me.

“They make knowingly impossible promises and if they get into power, intentionally break them. I believe this should be illegal.”

He said realistically all we can expect Governments to do while we are in so much debt is create legal and regulatory environments that promote productivity.

“This being productivity from soil, plants, livestock, people, infrastructure, logistics, markets, and other fundamentals. And then we will get somewhere.”

He said Land Tenure was another major constraint to developing the north.

“To address developing the north efficiently and productively we need to talk about the elephant in the room and that is Native Title on Pastoral Leases.

“Unless this is resolved the gate is shut.”

He said discussions need to be had in good faith by experienced people on the topic, from both sides, with a vision and an outcome in mind.

“And by experienced people I mean Traditional Owners and experienced pastoralists.

“This then needs to lead into discussions around developing Aboriginal Freehold Land for commercial purposes.

“Currently we are all constrained by legislation and regulation on this issue. This must change.”

He said going forward we need to be part of the new land tenure discussion. “We nearly had all pastoral lands freeholded before the mining companies blocked it back in the early ‘90s.

“We need to be part of the political reform that must surely take place, with or without our influence.

“We need to be part of the industry peak council developments that will occur with or without us.

“We need to continue to be part of the ongoing development of the live export trade.

“And I suspect in the future we will need to be part of a meat processor debate again. This could happen many ways. Time will tell what rolls out here.”

He closed by stating the NTCA has been a very strong organisation for all of its 31 years and has provided the executive and staff a very solid and reputable platform from which to operate.

“Keep an eye on it, and preserve it.”