Livestock SA would like to relate to the Economic and Finance Committee’s Inquiry in relation to livestock producers and the recent challenges regarding COVID-19. The disruptions to livestock production and its supply chain in South Australia have been minimal as agriculture has been classified as an essential industry. There have been some difficulties regarding border restrictions. Livestock SA worked with PIRSA and other State Government Departments to ensure livestock producers stayed up to date and informed on the situation. Livestock SA is supporting the National Farmers’ Federation’s please to the National Cabinet to develop a clear and consistent national Agricultural Worker Movement Code. Availability of labour is important to ensure agriculture can continue to progress and thrive.

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Livestock SA strongly endorses the submission made by Grain Producers SA, particularly regarding the policy principles and the recommendations on the draft regulations. Pastoralists are often impacted by mining exploration and associated activities. While they do not own the land they operate on, they do invest considerable funds and should be treated as landowner. Good livestock biosecurity practices are essential to minimize risk of disease or pest incursion on properties. Livestock SA believes mining companies need to maintain strict ‘come clean, go clean’ policies and stick to dedicated tracks within a property to minimize introduction and spread of pest, weed and disease. Livestock SA now has two Biosecurity Extension Officers who are willing to work with the mining sector on biosecurity practices and procedures. Mining companies access to property owned water infrastructure and natural water courses at the landowner’s expense is also unacceptable and consideration needs to be given to preparing procedures for this access.

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Read the GPSA submission

Livestock SA is involved with and has representatives on the South Australian Animal Health and Welfare Advisory Committee and has recently established, along with South Australian Dairyfarmers Association, a Biosecurity, Animal Health and Welfare Advisory Committee (BAHWAC). Livestock SA also endorses the new policy making pain relief mandatory for sheep mulesing. In our recent Livestock SA members survey, 96 per cent of respondents were in favour of making pain relief for mulesing mandatory. Livestock SA was also involved in creation of the South Australian Animal Welfare Standards for Sheep and Cattle and has an interest in the outcomes of the current proposed changes to the Animal Welfare Regulations 2020.

Read the Livestock SA submission

Livestock SA was recently involved in the stakeholder consultation regarding the review of agvet chemicals regulatory framework.

Key points

• Stakeholders were generally supportive of using overseas data to enable Australia to have increased access to niche chemical products which are not available here
• There was concern over the removal of efficacy as an assessment criterion due to potential impacts on animal welfare and biosecurity
• Stakeholders highlighted the high cost of retaining accreditation and how this may impact willingness to become/stay accredited
• It would be beneficial to have greater clarity relating to emergency permits and the criteria for use
• Upfront feed for registration may act as a deterrent
• Stakeholders agreed on national harmonisation of control of use in relation to registered veterinarians’ ability to supply restricted medicines to other veterinarians
• Residue testing of produce needs to increase

Read stakeholder consultation notes