CHINA LIVE TRADE AGREEMENT
Federal Minister for Agriculture, the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, this week announced a new agreement with China that establishes Australia as the first country with market access for live feeder and slaughter cattle.
The agreement includes a cattle health protocol which has been the sticking point for reaching an agreement over the past decade. Cattle will need to be prepared in registered quarantine facilities and there are some restrictions around Bluetongue virus zones and ports of entry.
However, it is expected that the first shipments will commence within months and up to 40,000 head could be exported in the first year.
This is excellent news in wake of the recent decision of the Indonesian Government to decrease the number of quarterly cattle import permits to 50,000 from 250,000. Greater market diversity will help smooth out the current ‘boom bust’ cycle and there should be plenty of upside in the Chinese market.
FUNDING GRANTS FOR WOMEN IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR
In 2015 Women & Leadership Australia is administering a national initiative to support the development of female leaders across all sectors.
From July 1 2015 the initiative will provide women in the agriculture sector with grants for leadership development. More specifically, grant applications are open to women employed in the agriculture sector at two levels. Please click on the preferred program link for details.
- Senior Management and Executive level Women Leaders can apply for $12,000 Individual Grants to undertake the Advanced Leadership Program.
- Women Managers can apply for $4,500 Individual Grants to undertake the Accelerated Leadership Performance Program.
To request a Scholarship Grant Application Form or additional information click here.
Should you wish to discuss the initiative in more detail please contact Ian Johnson at the office of the National Industry Scholarship Program, Australian School of Applied Management on 03 9270 9000 or via ijohnson@asam.edu.au
TRIAXLE DOLLIES GET THE NOD IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The NHVR has notched up another important win on the way to national uniformity with the gazetting of National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle Road Train Authorisation (Notice) 2015 Amendment Notice (No.1).
The Notice authorises the use of tri-axle dollies in road train combinations in South Australia from 29 June 2015.
LRTASA President David Smith welcomed the announcement which brings SA into line with NSW, QLD, WA and NT.
“This change will benefit SA operators as well as interstate operators travelling into or through SA”, said LRTASA President Smith.
“I am very pleased that Minister Mullighan and his department have recognised that there is no basis for having different operating conditions in SA as compared with surrounding jurisdictions. This change will improve safety and decrease impacts on the road asset”, he said.
The notice can be obtained at: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/law-policies/notices-and-permit-based-schemes/national-notices
MORE TRUCKCARE MEMBERS EMBRACE TRUCKSAFE
TruckSafe is proud to welcome two more TruckCare members into the maintenance accreditation program – Strasburg Bros Livestock Carriers (QLD) and H Dowling & Sons (QLD). With more than 37 years’ experience in carting cattle, Strasburg Bros Livestock Carriers prides itself on providing value for money, honest service and a team of workers willing to go the extra mile.
TruckCare accredited since 2003, the Strasburg fleet services all of Queensland and parts of the Northern Territory. “You’ve just got to be in TruckSafe and TruckCare – it keeps everyone happy, including your clients,” Strasburg Director Lester Strasburg said. “We’re proud of having really good employees who do the right thing. We could make the business bigger, but then you wouldn’t know everyone in it. I don’t want to go past the local fellows – we’ve got some people who have been with us for 30, 32 years.” H Dowling & Sons was first established in 1936 in Biggenden, transporting cream to the local butter factory. Today its fleet specialises in livestock transport, gaining TruckCare accreditation in 2005.
TruckSafe Chairman Stephen Marley congratulated the businesses on joining the TruckSafe program and becoming some of Australia’s safest operators. “I’m proud to welcome Strasburg Bros Livestock Carriers and H Dowling & Sons to the TruckSafe program and commend them on making the decision to put safety first in their business,” Mr Marley said.
REMINDER: ROAD SAFETY REMUNERATION ORDER
Members are reminded that a mandatory Road Safety Remuneration Order came into effect from 1 May 2014.
Recently, the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal compelled several transport companies, including a livestock transporter, to provide certain records for examination. This might be the start of a broader enforcement effort, so if you are transporting anything destined for sale in a supermarket or are engaged in long distance work you should read the 13 page order and do what you reasonably can to be complaint.
You can find the order at: www.rsrt.gov.au/
The order applies to both employee drivers and owner-operators and imposes new requirements on employers, hirers and other supply chain participants. Among other things it mandates:
- Written Contracts between drivers and employers/hirers;
- Safe driving plans (long-distance only);
- Work Health and Safety Training;
- Drug and alcohol policy;
- Payment time of undisputed amounts to drivers.
I know that there are mixed opinions about the Order across the industry – but whatever your view it is now the law and you risk prosecution if you are not complaint.