THERE has been a lot of taxpayer money spent on inquiries into the red meat sector, but not much achieved in return.
Nobody has been convicted of collusion, and of the recommendations that have emerged, peak bodies remain unconvinced of how they could improve competition.
There has been no clear insight into the effects of processor consolidation, and instead, a continued feeling producer concerns are not being addressed.
Producers do not feel the inquiries have got to the core of the issues, and industry leaders have been attacked on all fronts, by politicians, breakaway groups and other industry leaders.
This is fueling a longstanding tendency towards apathy and an unwillingness to pay for advocacy among producers. While this continues, producers will continue to disengage because all they see is the political mess and no action.
This is the opposite of what needs to be happening – growers see no value in being part of a bigger democratic process to drive policy and change because they can’t see how it can drive results. And why pay a fee to a body that isn’t getting the results you want?
Yet, to be effective, groups like Cattle Council of Australia need the numbers. It is stalling with a lack of direction and this is reflected in the body’s inability to drive the direction of political leadership, and in turn, accountability in an increasingly privatised supply chain.
The results won’t change while CCA and the Red Meat Advisory Council lack a majority of industry support.
Producers need to step up and get involved. The lack of unity and direction from the grassroots means leaders – industry or political – lack direction and are playing the blame game instead of creating solutions.
Whether producers form a new body, or back the CCA, the industry will only get representation if a majority comes to the table. Producers need to drive change from the ground up. Lobbying isn’t as simple as it used to be, but still has a part to play.
Government is not going to prop up lobby groups, or direct levy payer money to a group that’s going to turn around and hold it accountable.
While ever beef’s representation can’t hold government accountable, government will divert the blame.
That’s why change must be producer driven.
