The new Australian Labor government has selected Murray Watt as minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Tim Ayres as assistant minister for Manufacturing and Trade.
The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC), representing the post-farmgate domestic meat industry, welcomed the new ministers. The AMIC will work with the new Labor ministry across a range of portfolios.
“We’re calling on each of these Ministers, as well as the new leadership team, to recognise the Australian food chain, recognise the importance of the Australian meat supply chain and work with us to address our key issues as a priority, including workforce shortages, biosecurity, trade barriers, logistical challenges and sustainability,” AMIC CEO Patrick Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson said that AMIC stands ready as a trusted advisor on industry issues and broader meat and livestock issues in Australia.
“We’re Australia’s biggest agricultural exporter, one of Australia’s largest manufacturers, and one of the largest rural and regional employers,” he said. “The impacts of COVID-19 over the past two years on the food supply chain, and in particular the Omicron impacts in January this year, showed the huge impact and strain on the Australian supply chain due to worker shortage.
“This is a serious impact on food security and the viability of our farmers. If we do not have an adequate workforce to manage the livestock supply and throughput process, which is about to return to record levels, the entire industry will suffer, including Australian farmers.”
For more information about the new Australian federal ministry, click here.