For the best representation of all pastoralists in the SA Parliament, Livestock SA believes that pastoralists should all be in the one electorate with Port Augusta also in the same electorate.

Board Member Gillian Fennell presented at a hearing in Port Augusta on June 24, highlighting that most pastoralists did business in Port Augusta, not Whyalla, and so aligning pastoralists with Whyalla did not make sense.

Livestock SA provided input to the commission’s inquiry into research and development outlining key targets from the Sheep and Beef Industry Blueprints.

It acknowledged that the State Government has an objective to lift the sustainable economic growth rate in South Australia to an average of 3% per year. Livestock SA is participating in further developing these sectors in line with this growth agenda but said the need for dedicated R&D for sheep, cattle and goats is essential.

Livestock SA supports the WoolPoll as it gives growers the opportunity to have input into the size of the levy, however welcomes the review of WoolPoll as the process needs to be made more robust to ensure maximum participation.

Livestock SA believes WoolProducers Australia should be given oversight responsibility for WoolPoll, as the national industry body in the wool industry that works in the interests of all woolgrowers.

Livestock SA has circulated the discussion paper questions among members to determine Livestock SA’s position.

Livestock SA supports the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s proposal to streamline and modernise the agricultural levies legislation, to ensure it is efficient, responsive and flexible enough to meet industry needs.

Livestock SA supports the option to transform the levies legislation, and is directly interested in two Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) – Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI). Livestock producers in SA as levy payers want to know how their money is spent by these organisations and how they can influence these decisions. It is essential that the bodies that represent producers have an oversight role of their relevant RDCs.

Livestock SA also supports the levy payer register, which will allow all livestock producers who pay levies to be properly consulted ensuring greater transparency and accountability.

Livestock SA has been asked on behalf of pastoral members to comment to the Outback Communities Authority on the annual business plan and budget 2020-21.

Their main concern is to ensure the beef and sheep producers in the Outback Communities area are represented as pastoralists and not just as residents. Most feel the pastoral industry’s identity has been lost, especially when it comes to future policy development and planning. The annual business plan also does not mention support for pastoralists severely affected by the drought. Livestock SA would like to work with the Outback Communities Authority on drought assistance required for the region and also provide information to tourists and others travelling to the Far North to make them aware they are not able to camp on pastoral leases.

Livestock SA welcomes the opportunity to be able to make comment on the draft ‘Design of Livestock Loading/Unloading Ramps and Forcing Yards’: AS5340, however would be opposed to any moves to make this code mandatory. This must be no more than a guideline that producers can follow when upgrading or building new livestock yards.

Producers are aware of the ‘Fit to load’ guidelines when sending livestock from their properties. Similarly, this draft could be the basis for ‘Safe to load’ guidelines – safe for the animal, safe for the carrier and safe for the farmer.

Livestock SA also endorses Cattle Council of Australia and Sheep Producers Australia’s submission.

Livestock SA recommends that the process of developing the Far North Prescribed Wells Area Water Allocation Plan 2019-2029 be paused until the South Australian Arid Lands Landscape Board is fully operational and the new Pastoral Land Management and Conservation Act is established. Following this a further period of consultation should be undertaken. Livestock SA recommends water licenses must be permanently attached to pastoral leases and expresses its concern about the science that sits behind the calculated water access entitlements along with the unease about the possibility of water meters being required. Livestock SA wishes to express its disappointment in plan consultation, with further consultation required before the plan can be implemented.

Livestock SA supports the revised wild dog management policy as the whole of landscape approach proposed is necessary to control wild dogs in South Australia. Stringent measures are required if there is to be any chance of eradicating wild dogs inside the dog fence. The measures currently in place, along with those proposed, will need to be well-policed and enforced with strict penalties applied to those who do not conform.

Livestock SA is concerned in the lack of measures to control wild dogs outside the dog fence. While there are some changes in the policy that will assist in minimising the impacts of wild dogs on cattle outside the dog fence, stricter measures are required. The treatment for wild dog control also needs to be expanded to include all pastoral lands outside of the fence and consideration should be made to combining the SA Wild Dog Advisory Group and the SA Dog Fence Board to ensure effective management of wild dogs in this state.

Livestock SA welcomes ESCOSA’s draft determination which proposes reductions to the total revenue that SA Water may recover during the four-year period commencing 1 July 2020. The revenue outcomes proposed would still provide SA Water with sufficient revenue to fund efficient operations and prudent investments on a long-term basis and meet the health, safety, environmental and customer service standards that will apply to SA Water over the coming four years.

One of the major concerns for livestock producers is the security of water supplies for livestock at reasonable prices, with the increasing cost of water becoming a restraint on investment in livestock production systems throughout SA. Livestock SA is hopeful that the outcomes of both the State Government’s Water Pricing Inquiry and this draft determination will mean a reduction in water prices.

Primary Producers SA has made a submission to the SA Fire and Emergency Services Commission regarding the 2019/20 bushfire season. The submission discusses the need for equipment subsidies for farm fire units, consistency of quality of equipment within CFS brigades, aerial support, access to land or properties following fires, military support, logistics particularly on Kangaroo Island, grant eligibility and administration, national park environmental effects and Federal versus State government responsibilities.