Cutting the tape to unlock productivity
[As published in the Stock Journal]
When livestock producers talk about productivity, we don’t just mean running more sheep or cattle. Productivity is about doing more with less – less red tape, less duplication, and less wasted effort. At the recent Agricultural Productivity Roundtable in Brisbane hosted by the Federal Government, these frustrations were front and centre.
For years, we have been weighed down by layers of compliance that add cost but little value. The roundtable reinforced what Livestock SA members have been saying loud and clear – the current system is fragmented, overly complex, and risks our national and global competitiveness. We need fit-for-purpose regulation that delivers efficiency, not bureaucracy.
We recognise the importance of regulation in areas like biosecurity, food safety, and animal welfare. But the ridiculous duplication across local, state, and federal jurisdictions creates inefficiencies that cost us time and money. The idea of harmonising rules and processes nationally is one that we support, provided its developed with us not for us by desk bound bureaucrats who wouldn’t know one end of an animal from another. Whether it’s transport, chemical use, or environmental management, producers should not face three sets of rules for one job.
The recent roundtable also raised the urgent need for faster decision-making. In livestock industries, time is money. Long approval processes for infrastructure, land use, or market access create costly delays. A culture shift is needed – from a “precaution at all costs” mindset to a balanced, risk-based approach.
Producers don’t expect reckless deregulation, but we do expect timely, evidence-based decisions that allow us to get on with the business of producing first-class food and fibre.
Another clear theme was investment. Our livestock industries rely on strong regional infrastructure – roads, telecommunications, energy, and water – to keep businesses viable. Strategic investment in these areas is not a hand-out, it’s a partnership that underpins national food security and regional economic resilience, it’s a core government responsibility. Our competitors overseas are making bold investments in their agricultural sectors. Australia must keep pace or risk falling behind.
This recent roundtable highlighted a willingness from government to listen. But listening is not enough – action must follow.
Livestock SA urges policymakers to seize this moment and commit to practical reforms that reduce duplication, speed up approvals, and deliver real investment in regional capacity. State government can do this now. There is no need to wait while the feds drag the chain. We urge our government to work with us to identify how we can put more food on tables, and more resilience for rural communities. It’s time to back producers with the regulatory and investment settings that let us do what we do best: feed and clothe the nation and tens of millions more overseas.
By Gillian Fennell