Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) is the peak national body for the Australian sheepmeat industry. Our purpose is to be a strategic leader working to benefit Australia’s sheep industry to achieve a productive, profitable, and sustainable future.

SPA welcomes the announcement that the Australian Government is investing $134.1 million into our biosecurity system to strengthen, protect and grow the agriculture sector. Of that $46 million will go to support national traceability reform, with $20.1 million being allocated to support industry on-farm and off-farm traceability improvements, including the transition to a nationally harmonised individual electronic identification (eID) system for sheep and goats.

$26.6 million has been allocated to support upgrades to the database systems and associated activities to ensure Australia’s industry-led national livestock traceability systems remain fit for purpose into the future.

“National traceability reform will ensure that livestock traceability can evolve and meet future biosecurity and market access requirements as well as unlock productivity gains throughout the supply chain, securing a strong future for sheep producers both domestically and within our global markets.”

The $12.3 million commitment to support our regional agricultural trade events promote the agricultural sectors and offers the sheep industry the opportunity to demonstrate and showcase the latest research, technology, and innovations both domestically and internationally.

“As the representative body for the sheep industry working to promote the interests and opportunities for sheep producers, SPA looks forward to collaborating with government and all relevant stakeholders to reinstate LambEx as the flagship biennial event for the sheep industry.”

Sheep Producers Australia would like to thank the Albanese Government for their ongoing support of the sheep industry and broader agriculture industry and the commitment to a national harmonised approach to traceability and strengthening Australia’s biosecurity.

All quotes are to be attributed to Bonnie Skinner CEO Sheep Producers Australia.

Media Annie Frisch GM Public Relations

media@sheepproducers.com.au m 0455 999 130