❓ WA Government outlines support for small agribusinesses in the beef industry, including financial aid, capability building, business facilitation, and infrastructure access. Details on livestock processing facilities and branding funds are provided.
AnsweredQoN 489Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to WA's beef industry, and I ask: (a) What support does the State Government provide for small agribusinesses; (b) How many livestock processing facilities are accessible across the State; (c) What is the capacity of these facilities; and (d) What funds are available to help local farms develop their brand to establish their businesses?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
8 days
a) The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) provides:
a. Financial support.
· Small Scale Abattoir Feasibility program
· Agrifood and Beverage Vouchers
· Value Add Investment Grants
· Regional Economic Development Grants.
b. Capability building
· Development of professional pitch presentations.
· ‘Digital on a shoestring’.
c. Business facilitation
· Business establishment, expansion, and licencing facilitation.
· Export planning and market opportunity support.
d. Access to strategic infrastructure
· For example, the $12.2 million Sustainable Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre in the Peel Business Park
The Small Business Development Commission provides:
a. Financial support
· Small Business Growth Grants
b. Capability building
· Business skills workshops .
c. Business Facilitation
· Advisory services to provide guidance and advice on a range of small business matters, including a subcontractor support and licence finding.
· A low-cost dispute resolution service to assist with resolving business-to-business and business-to-government disputes.
b) As of 9 September 2025, there were 24 abattoirs approved to operate by the Western Australian Meat Industry Authority (WAMIA). Of these, 16 have indicated that they process beef cattle.
c) The current estimated licence capacity of abattoirs that process cattle is approximately 642,00 tonnes per annum live weight.
d) Financial assistance currently available includes:
· Small Business Growth Grants. Small Business Development Corporation grants allowing access up to $10,000 in co-funded services to help grow agribusinesses.
· Regional Economic Development Grants. The Cook Government is investing $55.85 million over ten years towards the RED Grants program for projects that will directly benefit regional communities.
· Agrifood and Beverage Vouchers of up to $20,000 per business for business planning, manufacturing, marketing, financial health and sustainability.
· Small Scale Abattoir Feasibility program (closed 30 June 2025) provided $10,000 vouchers for proponents to investigate the development of small-scale meat processing facilities.
· Access to Buy West Eat Best program, which assures consumers they are buying produce grown in Western Australia (WA).
· Access to DPIRD’s Meet the Buyer event on 21 October 2025 at Crown Perth, which attracts international and domestic buyers, distributors, importers, chefs, media and training providers.
· Financial assistance may also be available from the Australian Government’s AusIndustry Program.
a. Financial support.
· Small Scale Abattoir Feasibility program
· Agrifood and Beverage Vouchers
· Value Add Investment Grants
· Regional Economic Development Grants.
b. Capability building
· Development of professional pitch presentations.
· ‘Digital on a shoestring’.
c. Business facilitation
· Business establishment, expansion, and licencing facilitation.
· Export planning and market opportunity support.
d. Access to strategic infrastructure
· For example, the $12.2 million Sustainable Innovative Food Technologies (SIFT) Centre in the Peel Business Park
The Small Business Development Commission provides:
a. Financial support
· Small Business Growth Grants
b. Capability building
· Business skills workshops .
c. Business Facilitation
· Advisory services to provide guidance and advice on a range of small business matters, including a subcontractor support and licence finding.
· A low-cost dispute resolution service to assist with resolving business-to-business and business-to-government disputes.
b) As of 9 September 2025, there were 24 abattoirs approved to operate by the Western Australian Meat Industry Authority (WAMIA). Of these, 16 have indicated that they process beef cattle.
c) The current estimated licence capacity of abattoirs that process cattle is approximately 642,00 tonnes per annum live weight.
d) Financial assistance currently available includes:
· Small Business Growth Grants. Small Business Development Corporation grants allowing access up to $10,000 in co-funded services to help grow agribusinesses.
· Regional Economic Development Grants. The Cook Government is investing $55.85 million over ten years towards the RED Grants program for projects that will directly benefit regional communities.
· Agrifood and Beverage Vouchers of up to $20,000 per business for business planning, manufacturing, marketing, financial health and sustainability.
· Small Scale Abattoir Feasibility program (closed 30 June 2025) provided $10,000 vouchers for proponents to investigate the development of small-scale meat processing facilities.
· Access to Buy West Eat Best program, which assures consumers they are buying produce grown in Western Australia (WA).
· Access to DPIRD’s Meet the Buyer event on 21 October 2025 at Crown Perth, which attracts international and domestic buyers, distributors, importers, chefs, media and training providers.
· Financial assistance may also be available from the Australian Government’s AusIndustry Program.
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