Pic source: beefcentral.com BY Kalyan Kumar Following complaints of anti-competitive practices in the red meat industry, the Australian government has launched an investigation into the industry's practices. A senate inquiry recently quizzed the representatives of Meat Industry Council on the goings on in the sector. The panel is expected to submit its recommendations by…
Pic source: vff.org.au BY John Chanter THE owners of Barnawartha’s NVLX saleyards knew weeks in advance that at least one processor would boycott its first sale in February, they told an inquiry sitting in Canberra this week. The admission was made by Regional Infrastructure managing director Gary Edwards during a Senate Inquiry into the effect…
Pic source: ACCC BY Warwick Long Australia's consumer watchdog has confirmed it's still investigating a boycott by major meat processors of a cattle sale in north-east Victoria earlier this year. Up to nine processors boycotted the first prime sale at the new Wodonga saleyards in February, protesting that cattle were weighed before instead of after…
Caption: Senator McKenzie and Member for Euroa, Steph Ryan, looking for Wi-Fi service at Seymour train station. Commuters along the Seymour-Melbourne train line are wondering where their wi-fi is. Member for Euroa and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Steph Ryan said wi-fi on the line had been committed by the previous Coalition Government in April…
Pic source: sls.com.au Dear Editor, Your readers would be interested to know they can apply for funding under the Volunteer Grants 2015 program. The Australian Government has invested $20 million in Volunteer Grants 2015 in recognition of the valuable role of volunteers and encourage volunteering in the local community. As we know, volunteers participate in…
Pic source: ABC Rural (Warwick Long) BY Warwick Long The operator of the new Wodonga Saleyards, knew at least one major meat processor was going to boycott its first prime sale, months before the sale occurred. At the opening of the new multi-million dollar saleyard complex at Barnawartha near Wodonga in February, up to nine…
Pic source: farmonline.com.au BY Colin Bettles FARM assets will be cut from the Youth Allowance asset test from January 1 next year, delivering great news for farming families while boosting regional education, says Victorian Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie. Starting next year, the Family Assets Test and the Family Actual Means Test will be removed from…
Pic source: ampc.com.au The chairman of Australia's peak red meat industry body insists he has no knowledge of collusion among buyers and sellers of livestock. David Larkin from the Australian Meat Industry Council told a Senate inquiry into the sector on Tuesday that he has never heard of colluding in the beef marketplace. But Nationals…
Pic source: meatprojects.com.au BY Anna Vidot The Australian Meat Industry Council has fronted a Senate inquiry in Canberra to defend processors against claims of collusion and anti-competitive behaviour. The Senate's Rural Affairs committee is investigating the red meat processing industry, and producers' claims around a lack of transparent pricing information and processor consolidation leading to…
Pic source: ncsehe.edu.au BY Kate Thorburn COUNTRY students considered asset-rich but cash-poor are able to access youth allowance for the first time, after the eligibility test for the financial assistance program was loosened. A bill was passed in Canberra last week excluding farms and trusts from the eligibility test for youth allowance, which assists full-time…