Talk that a cost-recovery model imposed on the live export industry will only add $4 to $5 a head may have left producers feeling relieved, but a lack of clarity still plagues the process.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud shared his department's estimated figures at the recent Live Export Forum in Charters Towers, following months of speculation about the proposed regulatory cost hikes.
Though they may be a long way from the $50 a head that was estimated by the export industry, Australian Live Exporters' Council chief executive officer Mark Harvey-Sutton said transparency is crucial.
"I can understand why producers would be relieved by that figure, it's certainly lower than what we had calculated, but I think the key thing is what we're looking for at the moment is further clarity about how that figure was arrived at," he said.
"There is a consultation process under way where we will be looking to understand how that figure was arrived at so everyone can be crystal clear about what the real costs will be."
Working with the Department of Agriculture through this process, Mr Harvey-Sutton said there are three key areas that they believe need to be addressed.
"The first is clarity around what the cost will be. There's a range of calculations floating around on what per head costs will be, but at the end of the day, you look at the fact it's gone from $8 million to $24 million so that is a dramatic increase and we want to understand where those costs will be absorbed," he said.
"The second thing we would like to see is further efficiency. The fact that those costs have expanded so much indicate that there probably are steps that can be taken to try and mitigate that regulatory cost.
"And the third one is assurance for our markets. There's no doubt it is a challenging period for a lot of our importing markets with the high price of cattle and limited supply, and they are concerned about further costs being absorbed into the supply chain so I think further certainty for those markets is critically important as well."
Joined on stage by North Queensland-based Senator Susan McDonald, Mr Littleproud also promised the crowd the Morrison government will never ban live export.
Senator McDonald described the cost estimate as a 'big win' for one of Australia's most important and well-managed industries.
"Australia's animal welfare standards are the best in the world, bar none, and we export these standards to our destination countries," she said.
"But this level of regulation comes at a cost that is currently being borne by taxpayers and this is changing.
"The recent announcement by Minister Littleproud will be a relief for graziers."
Senator McDonald said demand for Australia's quality cattle was growing in countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia that do not have widespread refrigeration.
She added that the demand for beef was so great that these countries would accept cattle from other exporters with little to no regard for animal welfare.
"Sending frozen boxed meat to developing countries isn't an option, they need to process live animals locally, and Australia is the only exporter that insists on animal welfare standards from our customers and trains them how to achieve these standards," she said.
"If opponents of live export succeed in shutting down the Australian industry, they are in effect greenlighting the expansion of live export from other countries with far fewer welfare regulations."
