Australian meat sector welcomes government advisory appointment
Federal Agriculture Minister Senator Bridget McKenzie has convened an 11-member National Agricultural Labour Advisory Committee to advise government on how to secure a sustainable agricultural workforce.
The purpose of committee is to help progress the National Agricultural Workforce Strategy and to advise the government on farm labour and agricultural sector workforce challenges. The strategy provides the opportunity to comprehensively assess the workforce needs of the agriculture industry.
The committee is expected to operate for up to two years and will report to government by July 2020
AMIC CEO Patrick Hutchinson said Barton’s inclusion on the committee will ensure the voice of the supply chain is heard.
“Access to labour is one of the most critical issues identified by AMIC’s members,” he said. “We are very pleased the Minister has ensured the new advisory committee is well balanced and well positioned to consider agricultural labour issues both inside and beyond the farmgate.
“Will Barton runs an excellent operation in Gundagai and has implemented some impressive strategies to help attract and retain staff. I know he will add a lot of value to the advisory committee and I congratulate him on his appointment.”
Agricultural Labour Advisory Committee members:
John Azarias (Chair) – Public policy specialist, NSW
Professor Ruth Nettle (Deputy Chair) – Leader of Rural Innovation Research Group, University of Melbourne, VIC
John Williams (Deputy Chair) – Former NSW Senator, NSW
Will Barton – CEO of Gundagai Meat Processors, NSW
Industry Professor Hermione Parsons – Director of the Institute for Supply Chain and Logistics, Deakin University, VIC
Geoff Richards – Managing Director of Richgro Garden products and former Chair of Agrifood Skills Australia, WA
Dr Angeline Achariya – Executive Director of Innovation and Growth at Simplot Australia, VIC
Julie Aldous – Rural educator, VIC
Associate Professor Jacki Schirmer – Health Research Institute and the Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, ACT
Robert Hinrichsen – Owner/Director of Kalfresh, QLD
Clayton Nelson – Senior Executive at Austral Fisheries, WA
