Thank you Sabra. I’d first like to acknowledge the Wiradjuri people on whose land we are meeting today and to pay my respects to elders past and present. In Wiradjuri, Wodonga means bulrushes, that are prolific along the banks of the Great Murray, which has sustained this community and its peoples for a millennia. I’d…
Delivered a win on the ‘Backpacker Tax’ ensuring our agricultural industry remains competitive and maintaining Australia’s status as one of the most competitive destinations for working holiday makers. Delivered the first Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land Register report to protect Australian farmland. Investing $100 million under the Northern Australia Beef Roads Programme bringing the total…
Pic source: Sydney Morning Herald, Justin McManus The ABC board would have to include two members living outside the major cities and the broadcaster's charter would be amended to include a commitment to regional Australia, under sweeping changes being pushed by National Party MPs. The ABC would also be required to broadcast at least five…
Pic source: Wangaratta Chronicle BY Jamie Kronborg THE chief of the Northern Victoria Livestock Exchange has told a Senate inquiry into what has become known as the Barnawartha saleyard boycott that it could consider if controls might be imposed on the number of beef processors a commission buyer can represent at auction. Garry Edwards, the…
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…
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…