Page 11 - Australian Pork Newspaper

PM’s drought assistance helpful but a new approach desperately needed
Call for Expressions of Interest for the APIQ ® Panel
Australian Pork Limited (APL) is seeking expressions of interest for two positions on the APIQ Panel, an independent pig producer and an intensive livestock veterinarian.
If you:
• Are an APIQ ® OR an intensive livestock veterinarian with experience in managing APIQ ® Compliance
• Have an interest in serving the industry as a member of the Panel
• Want to assist Pork producers to improve the quality of their practices
• Have the industry expertise needed to serve on the Panel
As a Panel member, you will have exceptional communication skills together with an understanding of the APIQ ® Standards, quality assurance principles and knowledge of the issues and challenges facing the industry.
A sitting fee is paid to Panel Members for their services whilst on APIQ ® Panel business.
Please send expressions of interest and a brief resume in writing addressing the selection criteria above to the
APIQ ® Operations Manager at apiq@australianpork.com.au by midnight on Sunday 27 October 2019.
If you’d like more information, contact APIQ ® Operations Manager Steven Miller on 1800 789 099 or
02 6270 8808 or
0439 261 168 or
visit the APIQ ® website at apiq.com.au
THE National Farm- ers’ Federation said the Federal Government’s announcement of ongo- ing assistance to support farmers and rural and regional communities to manage the current drought was some good news in tough times.
NFF CEO Tony Mahar said while drought is a fea- ture of the Australian land- scape and farmers are well practised at managing dry times, for some these are unprecedented times.
“Parts of Queensland have been in drought for seven years and the Murray-Darling Basin has recorded its driest period on record.
“Unfortunately, there appears no end in sight.
“The Bureau of Meteor- ology is forecasting below average rainfall across most of the country again this summer.”
Mr Mahar said the an- nouncement by the Prime Minister of new assis- tance would go some way to assisting those in need of help.
“The NFF particularly welcomes changes to the Farm Household Allow- ance that reduce the ad- ministrative burden of ap- plying,” he said.
“The strain on farming families of continuing to run a farming business, keeping food on the table and supporting children cannot be underestimated.
“Making it easier to apply means accessing help is not adding to that strain.”
The NFF also welcomes the Government’s exten- sion of the Drought Com- munity Programme, pro- viding $1 million to 13 Local Government Areas.
“If well targeted and im- plemented, this funding can provide employment when drought has forced people out of work,” Mr Mahar said.
“It can also support community initiatives that increase resilience for fu- ture droughts.
“The severity of this drought and the increasing hardship it has brought to farmers and rural and re- gional communities must make us stop and rethink our approach to drought.
“Ad hoc measures in the middle of drought provide some short-term relief and of course are applauded.
“But the fact that farm- ers and local communities continue to suffer and call on government for further assistance means we’ve
failed as a country to find an effective and endur- ing approach to preparing, managing and recovering from drought.
“The government’s will- ingness to remain engaged and continue to assist is appreciated.
“But we have been here before, and we will un- doubtedly be here again unless we take a new ap- proach.”
Mr Mahar said the NFF was currently completing a national drought policy and called on all levels of government, industry and community groups to rethink their approach to drought.
“We need a comprehen- sive and enduring national approach to drought that focuses on preparedness and resilience measures,” he said.
“We need an approach that mandates the assess- ment of the effectiveness of drought measures and allows for improvements when measures fall short.
“It’s absolutely crucial we have a co-ordinated approach that ensures all voices are heard and the responsibility of man- aging drought is shared across government, indus- try and community.”
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www.porknews.com.au
Australian Pork Newspaper, October 2019 – Page 11