ON deadline this week, we received the statement from Primary Industries Minister Clare Scriven that the remaining timelines for SA's implementation of an electronic identification traceability system for sheep and farmed goats were being released.
The timing of the release was certainly not ideal in giving our journalists sufficient time to research the decision thoroughly or hear from enough industry members as to their thoughts on the announcement.
So to read that the January 1, 2025, timeline had not been agreed upon as per discussions in the last meeting of the Industry Advisory Committee is concerning.
What is the point of having an industry advisory committee if they're not going to be listened to?
There has also been too many delays to vital information.
Ag Ministers, including Minister Scriven, all agreed on a January 1, 2025, start date way back in September 2022, but it has taken another 18 months-plus before we got an official announcement on these dates for saleyards and processors.
Enhanced traceability is important for the state's livestock industry, especially in the event of an exotic disease outbreak, but the government has failed to sell these benefits to the supply chain.
All state governments should also be talking more and agreeing on national harmonisation.
Alisha Fogden
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
Journalist at Australian Community Media newspapers since 2007.
