Sheep Sustainability Framework
The Sheep Sustainability Framework defines sustainable sheep production in Australia, priorities industry issues and measures industry performance against relevant indicators. In July 2017, the Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC) made a public commitment to a sheep framework on behalf of industry.
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Sheep Producers Australia (SPA) and WoolProducers Australia (WPA) initiated the Framework to demonstrate sustainable practices, identify areas of improvement, and better communicate these with customers and consumers. They formed the Framework Board comprising SPA and WPA Board members. The Framework was developed through extensive consultation with industry stakeholders, external stakeholders, and a materiality review conducted from 2019 to early 2021. SPA and WPA appointed a Sustainability Steering Group (SSG) to lead the process.​
The Sheep Sustainability Framework defines sustainable sheep production in Australia, priorities industry issues and measures industry performance against relevant indicators. In July 2017, the Red Meat Advisory Council (RMAC) made a public commitment to a sheep framework on behalf of industry.
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The SSG coordinated consultation with both industry and external stakeholders in three stages:
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Stage 1 – Key industry stakeholders, including the State Farming Organisations, were consulted in one-on-one discussions. This stage was completed in April 2020.
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Stage 2 – Industry and external stakeholders attended a series of online forums in June 2020.
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Stage 3 – All stakeholders were invited to provide feedback via an online survey and discussion forums in December 2020.
Following Stage 3, the Sheep SSG ran a final consultation with Peak Industry Councils and State Farming Organisations to further refine the Framework.
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​The Framework was developed through extensive consultation with industry stakeholders, external stakeholders, and a materiality review conducted from 2019 to early 2021. On March 25th, 2021, the Sheep Sustainability Framework Board approved the Framework, and it was officially released on 21 April 2021.
The first Sheep Sustainability Framework Annual Report was launched in Bendigo home of the Dja Dja Wurrung and the Taungurung Peoples of the Kulin Nation October 2022.
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The second Sheep Sustainability Framework Annual Report was launched in South Australia at Albany Station in South Australia on Ngadjuri Country, home of the Ngadjuri people May 2023.