The Coalition’s joint efforts with the Australian meat exporters industry has forced the government to establish a $25.8 million transition package for the meat export industry because it failed to deliver promised reforms before the removal of the export rebate, Federal Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan said today.
The Coalition’s joint efforts with the Australian meat exporters industry has forced the government to establish a $25.8 million transition package for the meat export industry because it failed to deliver promised reforms before the removal of the export rebate, Federal Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan said today.
“Recently I seconded a Notice of Motion to the Parliament which was tabled by John Cobb, calling on the government to keep the AQIS export service rebate in place until they uphold their side of the bargain,” Mr Tehan said.
“Local meat processors, such as Midfield Meats based in Warrnambool, were facing a 60 per cent increase in government fees, which would have put immense financial pressure on the these businesses to pass these costs back onto farmers.
“Sadly, the meat industry transition package is recognition that the Gillard government did not live up to its side of the agreement with the Australian meat industry.”
On 1 July 2011 the AQIS export service inspection rebate ceased, and the reforms and efficiencies promised by the Gillard government were not delivered.
In 2009, in exchange for axing the 40 per cent AQIS export service inspection rebate, the former Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, announced he would offer the industry a $127.4 million Export Certification Reform Package to fund efficiency reforms.
“These efficiency reforms are yet to be delivered on, and the $25.8 million transition package recognises this.
“There are still five other agricultural sectors facing increased costs with the removal of the rebate, and these industries have no choice but to either absorb or pass these costs on.
“The Minister now needs to act and provide transition packages for these sectors as well. The Minister has to remember that there was a commitment by the government to industry that these reforms would be put in place by the time the rebate period cut out.”
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