Labor serves up the nation’s red meat plan

Federal Labor is promising to address a skilled workforce lull in its blueprint to redevelop the $18 billion domestic red meat sector.

The Red Meat Sector Discussion Paper, unveiled by Labor shadow agricultural minister Joel Fitzgibbon in Gladstone last Wednesday, outlined how the red meat industry would look under a Bill Shorten-led government.

The 14-page document, formed after a year-long consultation period, highlighted a mounting need to upskill the red meat workforce, with abattoirs employing “overseas sources of labour, both higher-skilled and low-skilled” to rectify a skills shortage.

Mr Fitzgibbon said the plan would provide industry with direction to promote job development and growth within Australia’s red meat industry.

However, the New South Wales-based Minister said a “whole-of-government” approach was needed to improve labour skills and efficiency among the meat processors workforce.

“One of the great tragedies of the meat processing sector in particular is that while we spend most of our time talking about creating jobs in the regions, one of their biggest challenges is not securing enough jobs,” he said.

“Not being able to secure the people they need to work in their meat processing plants.

“Addressing that issue in particular but not just that issue, visas and other things coming into play, we need a whole-of-government approach.”

In addition to improving the skilled workforce, Labor’s signalled growing domestic processing capacity and increasing product supply security as key to developing the nation’s red meat industry.

The strategy includes Labor’s promise to uphold a strong biosecurity framework and incentivising research and development investment.

Australian Meat Industry Council boss Patrick Hutchinson welcomed the paper and said it was a positive step to advancing domestic opportunity.

“As our industry is aware, the future growth, sustainability and global competitiveness of Australia’s red meat sector will be as a result of red meat industry’s pursuit of quality, product integrity, productivity gains and innovation across all areas of the supply chain,” he said.

“However, investment support is vitally needed.

“We all want farmers to thrive, but the reality is that a weakened supply chain will be the next crisis for farmers if urgent action isn’t taken.”