Victorian beef and sheepmeat producers will get assistance with their submissions to the Senate inquiry into the effect of market consolidation on the red meat processing sector at workshops across the state next month.

The Victorian Farmers Federation said Senate inquiry workshops will be held before Livestock Group Conference forums at Benalla on April 8, Hamilton on April 13, and Traralgon on April 29.

Submissions to the Senate inquiry close on May 15 this year. The VFF workshops are being run to gather information to assist with the VFF submission to the inquiry, but also as a way of assisting individuals, groups and VFF branches to develop their own submissions.

Pre-conference forum and inquiry workshop venues

Benalla, Wednesday, April 8.

Pre-conference forum – 6pm start, Raffety’s Restaurant and Reception centre. Entry via Denny St (not restaurant entrance). Parking available in Denny St. RSVP by Wednesday, April 1.

Red meat inquiry workshop – 3-5pm, Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop Learning Centre (Benalla Library). 2 Fawckner St.

Hamilton, Monday, April 13.

Pre-conference forum – 6pm start Blue Malt, 106 Gray St, RSVP by Monday, April 6.

Red meat inquiry workshop – details to be finalised.

Traralgon, Wednesday, April 29.

Pre-conference forum – 6pm start, Century Inn, 5 Airfield Rd (Corner Princes Hwy), RSVP: by April 22.

Red meat inquiry workshop – details to be finalised.

Pre-conference forums to engage VFF members

VFF policy and commodities executive manager Peter Hunt said the federation wanted to engage members at the pre-conference forums to raise issues that could then be taken to the 2015 VFF and Livestock group annual meetings and conferences at the All Seasons Hotel, 171-183 McIvor Road, Bendigo on June 26.

For more information the pre-conference forums or the senate inquiry workshops, or to RSVP, please contact VFF Member Services on 1300 882 833 or [email protected]

Red meat inquiry to report by August 12

The Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee will make its report from the inquiry into the effect of market consolidation on the red meat processing sector by August 12, 2015.

The inquiry’s terms of reference include:

(a) the potential for misuse of market power through buyer collusion and the resultant impact on producer returns;

(b) the impact of the red-meat processor consolidation on market competition, creation of regional monopolies and returns to farm gate;

(c) the existing selling structures and processes at saleyards, particularly pre- and post-sale weighing, as well as direct sales and online auctions, and whether they remain relevant;

(d) the regulatory environment covering livestock, livestock agents, buyers and meat processors; and

(e) any related matter.

The senate committee encourages the lodgement of submissions in electronic form.  Submissions can be lodged via the Online Submission System which can be accessed at:  https://senate.aph.gov.au/submissions or can be sent by email to [email protected], or by post to: Committee Secretary, Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, PO Box 6100, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT, 2600.

Submissions become committee documents and unless the committee decides to the contrary, are published online. Persons making submissions must not release them without the committee’s prior approval. Submissions are covered by parliamentary privilege but their unauthorised release is not.

People making submissions must ensure they and any attachments they want remain confidential are clearly marked as such.  A covering letter, clearly outlining the specific reasons for requesting confidentiality, should also be attached to the submission.

For further information about the inquiry see the inquiry homepage at: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport/Red_meat_processing or phone the committee secretariat on (02) 6277 3511.