A GROUP of close to 30 cattle producers from around the state attended a consultative workshop held at James Cook University recently to provide their input into the development of the next Meat Industry Strategic Plan (MISP).
The Townsville workshop which was one of 12 being held across the country was organised by the Red Meat advisory Council Ltd (RMAC) to help steer the future strategic direction of the production, processing and live export sectors of Australia’s beef, sheep and goat meat industries to 2020.
RMAC Chairman, Ross Keane, said the workshops are an important process in ensuring regional priorities and issues are captured in identifying the industry’s greatest challenges and opportunities to 2020, and beyond.
“RMAC developed the workshops so that the people who stand to benefit most from the succusses we can achieve through the MISP can speak face-to-face with our representatives regarding what they feel are the most important issues that need to be addressed,” Mr Keane said.
“This is the first time that RMAC have hosted these workshops to help with the MISP development, it was a very positive experience to be able to talk with local meat industry representatives in a more intimate setting,” he said.
“We had a good cross-section of people attend the Townsville workshop with the northern, southern and central regions of the state well-represented; we even had two producers come down from the Gulf.”
Mr Keane said one point that was made emphatically was the need for more (and higher quality) infrastructure in the state.
“It was readily apparent from the workshop that a big issue is the lack of processing facilities available for industry members in Queensland which is limiting the potential of what their operations can achieve.
“They said the problem is compounded by limited transport options via road or rail, which is causing supply chain difficulties.
“Limited mobile phone and internet reception were two other infrastructure problems that those in attendance said they’d like to see addressed and improved.”
He said another issue that is worrying the producers is the lack of biosecurity resources being allocated to the critical Northern access points.
“Those that attended agreed that there isn’t enough being done to provide protection against potential biosecurity risks in the North from which a high percentage of the nation’s live export operations is conducted.”
Mr Keane said many positives also came out of the workshop with attendants fully endorsing the MISP plan moving forward.
“The attendees seemed to be happy with how the domestic markets are gradually righting themselves.
“And the Free Trade Agreements that the current federal government has completed with Japan and Korea appears to have given the producers at the workshop a lot of confidence that the future of the industry is looking a lot brighter.
Mr Keane said he came out of the workshop very satisfied with the feedback he received from the producers that attended which will be factored in to the next strategic plan.
“In my opinion those who attended the workshop embraced the opportunity to have their thoughts heard, the information we received gave us some great food for thought regarding the plan.”
