❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses sheep industry concerns regarding meat processing capacity, economic impacts, animal welfare, and mental health. The Minister outlines meetings with industry groups, departmental analysis, and strategies implemented to address these issues.
AnsweredQoN 1414Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SHEEP INDUSTRY
1414. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I
refer to my question without notice 1072 regarding the meat processing capacity
constraints and market conditions that currently prevail within the Western
Australian sheep industry.
(1) What industry groups has the
minister met with specific to this issue since 19 September 2023?
(2) Can the minister outline the analysis that has
been undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development to ascertain the scale, potential economic impacts, animal welfare
implications and mental health concerns that have arisen as a result of this
issue?
(3) What strategies have been put
in place to address these issues?
1414. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I
refer to my question without notice 1072 regarding the meat processing capacity
constraints and market conditions that currently prevail within the Western
Australian sheep industry.
(1) What industry groups has the
minister met with specific to this issue since 19 September 2023?
(2) Can the minister outline the analysis that has
been undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development to ascertain the scale, potential economic impacts, animal welfare
implications and mental health concerns that have arisen as a result of this
issue?
(3) What strategies have been put
in place to address these issues?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) I meet with
industry participants regularly. Since 19 September 2023, I have been briefed
by industry representatives and advocacy groups
at a round table on dry season response arranged at my request by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development. I have also met with the Western Australian Meat Industry
Authority and Minerva Foods. In addition, I have had discussions with red meat
producers and processors at a number of
events since 19 September 2023, including: the Perth Royal Show presidents dinner; the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA conference; the
Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen's Association
conference in Broome; and at industry events in Mt Magnet, Kalgoorlie and
Esperance. Most recently, I spoke with The Livestock Collective at the
Farmer on your Plate event on Saturday, 4 November 2023.
(2) The Western Australian
Meat Industry Authority and senior staff from DPIRD are in contact with meat
processors in Western Australia to monitor overall capacity for processing of
sheep in WA and to identify issues that might limit ongoing capability or
expansion. DPIRD continues to utilise its industry networks and intelligence to
monitor the situation.
(3) A dry season
response team has been established by DPIRD that is monitoring and providing
support to the WA livestock sector. This includes provision of technical
information on how to manage sheep in the current season. Information from the
round table has been integrated into the dry season response.
some notice of the question.
(1) I meet with
industry participants regularly. Since 19 September 2023, I have been briefed
by industry representatives and advocacy groups
at a round table on dry season response arranged at my request by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional
Development. I have also met with the Western Australian Meat Industry
Authority and Minerva Foods. In addition, I have had discussions with red meat
producers and processors at a number of
events since 19 September 2023, including: the Perth Royal Show presidents dinner; the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA conference; the
Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen's Association
conference in Broome; and at industry events in Mt Magnet, Kalgoorlie and
Esperance. Most recently, I spoke with The Livestock Collective at the
Farmer on your Plate event on Saturday, 4 November 2023.
(2) The Western Australian
Meat Industry Authority and senior staff from DPIRD are in contact with meat
processors in Western Australia to monitor overall capacity for processing of
sheep in WA and to identify issues that might limit ongoing capability or
expansion. DPIRD continues to utilise its industry networks and intelligence to
monitor the situation.
(3) A dry season
response team has been established by DPIRD that is monitoring and providing
support to the WA livestock sector. This includes provision of technical
information on how to manage sheep in the current season. Information from the
round table has been integrated into the dry season response.
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