Budget acknowledges agriculture exports
The Federal Budget has made provision for Australia’s livestock export industry and its wheat exporters to sustain and stimulate rural industry.
The Live Trade Animal Welfare Partnership program will receive $3.2 million over three years – $1.6 million from the government and the rest from industry – to ensure Australia meets world’s best practice in animal welfare, including better infrastructure for animal transport, and to support livestock trade.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said: “We will continue to work with producers and exporters to help protect our reputation as world leaders in animal welfare in the live export industry. This industry is the backbone of many rural communities and supports around 10,000 jobs in rural and regional Australia.”
Wheat exporters will also see $1.5 million over two years go towards improved access to port terminals as part of the government’s transitional assistance program, supporting grower after major adjustments to the bulk wheat export marketing system.
New legislation means accredited wheat exporters that are port terminal operators must provide access to other accredited wheat exporters.
The government will also look into infrastructure, said Burke: “We have delivered on our election commitment to establish taskforces in Western Australia and NSW to investigate grain freight systems. Both reviews are underway and are expected to report back later this year.”
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