SHADOW Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon will provide an overview of Labor’s live export policies at LIVEXforum 2016 in Canberra later this month.
The annual conference in Canberra on October 26-27 will give livestock exporters, producers and other stakeholders an opportunity to hear Mr Fitzgibbon state the case for an independent Office of Animal Welfare and Labor’s plans for a review the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS).
Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council chief executive officer Simon Westaway welcomed Mr Fitzgibbon’s willingness to engage with the livestock export sector and discuss prominent issues.
“Livestock exporters are keen participants in the debate about what constitutes the right balance in terms of regulatory reform,” Mr Westawawy said. “We value Mr Fitzgibbon’s perspective and are very grateful that he has accepted the invitation to discuss Labor’s livestock export and animal welfare policies.”
“Furthermore, we applaud Mr Fitzgibbon for the pro-active approach he is applying to his shadow portfolio responsibilities, which has included an Indonesian supply chain tour late last year.”
Following his LIVEXforum speech, Mr Fitzgibbon will also participate in a Q&A-style panel discussion entitled ‘Modernising regulation: Dealing with the now’.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission agriculture commissioner Mick Keogh and leading agribusiness litigator and industry adviser Dr Michael Maxwell will also participate on the panel.
Mr Westaway said the shape and pace of future industry reform would be the central narrative at LIVEXforum 2016, which had embraced the theme of ‘Striking the social balance: Regulation, Accountability and Profitability’.
“The LIVEXforum 2016 program reflects our industry’s commitment to ongoing reform and reinforcing our reputation as a global leader in all facets of the livestock export supply chain,” Mr Westaway said.
“ALEC and LiveCorp look forward to hosting a lively and topical discussion about the opportunities and challenges facing our $2 billion industry.”
CLICK HERE to register for LIVEXforum 2016.
