The Productivity Commission recently produced a report on the rules and regulations surrounding our industry. It delved into most facets of farm business from live exports and sugar cane to horticulture and virtually everything in between.

The findings, which are still being assessed, found the cumulative burden of regulations proved to be the matter of most concern, with every layer of government in most cases being involved ... sometimes with more than one department all imposing their own rules and charges.

A Queensland producer, who needed to regularly move heavy machinery between farms, had to get six permits from various regulators. Some had to be secured 4-5 days in advance. Others required 4-5 days for the paperwork processing. Two police officers were required, at the farmer’s expense, for the 25 kilometre journey.

Some permits lapsed after a limited time frame. For an industry dominated by weather this type of situation, which arises everywhere on a daily basis, is absurd.

The Consolidated Pastoral Company, one of Australia’s largest beef producers, in its submission estimated it complies with or takes account of over 300 Acts, regulations and codes, which may directly affect its operation.

How does the average family farm find the time and the manpower to comply with the paper work, let alone make a submission?

As the high sheep and lamb prices continue to impact on the processing industry, JBS Australia has announced it will indefinitely close two southern plants at Cobram west of Melbourne and Longford in northern Tasmania, which specialise in processing small stock.

The idea originally was to close for a month but it now appears they will close for the rest of the season. The situation will be reassessed in Spring. These closures will cause the loss of 240 jobs at Cobram and 90 at Longford.

JBS southern lamb operations will be reduced by 30 per cent. JBS will still process lamb at Brooklyn (Vic) and Bordertown (SA). The situation has been caused by soaring prices, shortage of suitable supply, consumer and local butchers’ price resistance, and many Merino lambs that would have made their way into the supply chain are being held back for wool production.

Other closures include: Manildra Meat Company in Cootamundra, which has dropped 150 permanent staff and 70 casuals; the Australian Meat Group’s Deniliquin plants which closed doors in late March; Southern Meats at Goulbourn, which has reduced operations; and McGillivray at Gunbower in Victoria, which closed last month after 60 years of operation.