Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) would like to acknowledge and congratulate Senator Murray Watt as the Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Don Farrell as Minister for Trade, the Honourable Tanya Plibersek as Minister for Water and the Environment and the Honourable Madeline King as Minister for Resources and Northern Australia.

SPA looks forward to progressing discussions around national traceability, biosecurity, investment into the sheep and broader red meat industry, strengthening our workforce and market access.

SPA is committed to forming a productive, positive, and mutually beneficial relationship with Mr Watt and the Albanese Government.

“Broad whole-of-system traceability reform, of which individual electronic identification is a vital component, will provide a viable opportunity for the sheep industry to strengthen traceability for biosecurity, food safety and emergency response, and for supporting trade and market access requirements.”

A particular focus needs to be kept on a range of biosecurity threats that would have a severe impact on the sheep industry, on both individual businesses and access to markets, including foot and mouth disease.

“The value of what we produce is defined by our capacity to export, and we need to be ahead of the threats and opportunities that give Australia the ability to provide food security both domestically and internationally.”

SPA would like to thank and acknowledge the outgoing Minister for Agriculture the Hon David Littleproud and the Morrison government for their advocacy and support of the sheep industry and broader agriculture sector and look forward to continuing to work with them as they enter the Opposition.

Quotes to be attributed to Bonnie Skinner CEO Sheep Producers Australia.

About Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) is the Peak Industry body representing sheep and lamb producers.

Media contact

Annie Frisch, General Manager – Public Relations

media@sheepproducers.com.au m 0455 999 130