Producer consultation
MLA’s producer consultation process empowers grassfed beef and sheepmeat producers to directly influence the on-farm research, development and adoption (RD&A) activities their levies are invested in.
This process ensures national and regionally relevant RD&A priorities are identified to deliver optimum value to producers.
As a result of the producer consultation process, MLA has funded more than $50 million worth of projects that find solutions to producer priorities. The Producer Investment Call has attracted more than 600 submitted preliminary proposals from 83 different applicant organisations and has resulted in almost 70 contracted projects.
How does the Producer Investment Call work?
The Research Advisory Councils submit research, development and adoption (RD&A) priorities to MLA every two years. MLA provides feedback on these priorities before the Extended Red Meat Panel workshop is held. This workshop brings together the Regional Committee Chairs, the Research Advisory Council Chairs, the Red Meat Panel (RMP) which includes Peak industry Council representatives and the relevant MLA Program Managers. At this workshop, a list of national RD&A priorities is finalised.
From here, the relevant MLA Program Managers develop a ‘Terms of Reference’ (TOR) in consultation with Producer representatives in the relevant regions, and incorporating the feedback they received at the workshop. The TOR outlines the scope and impact of a project required to meet the RD&A priorities. Each TOR is submitted to the RMP for feedback and endorsement. Once the TOR is approved by the RMP, a Producer Investment Call is announced.
A call for applications is announced encouraging the submission of preliminary applications for RD&A projects aligned with the Terms of Reference for funding consideration.
An Expert Panel and a producer panel made up of relevant representatives assess the applications and select which projects to short list for potential funding, ensuring that the RD&A activities in each project will address the priorities set out in the producer consultation process.
Short listed applicants are required to complete a detailed application for funding in relation to their project. Detailed applications are assessed by the Expert Panel and Producer Panels recommended for funding by MLA. The Red Meat Panel reviews minutes from these meetings and endorses the project for investment. These are then subject to MLA’s standard project approval processes.
Find a committee near you
Want to have your say on where your levies are invested? Find a committee near you by searching the map below.
Secretary:
Christie Pearson
NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
Katherine, NT
0448 541 080
Secretary:
Gretel Bailey-Preston
NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
Katherine, NT
0448 771 449
Secretary:
Chris Materne
NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
Alice Springs, NT
0458 605 883
Secretary:
Bec Clapperton
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Townsville, QLD
0477 345 843
Secretary:
Trish Nolan
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
0469 101 900
Secretary:
Mick Sullivan
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Rockhampton, QLD
0428 104 374
Secretary:
Louise Walker
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Brisbane, QLD
0429 341 598
Secretary:
Kerry Goodwin
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Gayndah, QLD
0472 825 757
Secretary:
Jane Evans
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Cloncurry, QLD
0436 666 290
If you have any questions about which committee to connect with, contact the relevant council for your region:
Members of the Red Meat Panel
John Webster
Paul Burke
NABRC Chair
Richard Cox
NABRC Producer Chair
Vacant
NABRC Producer Chair
Dr Bronwyn Clarke
WALRC Chair
Matt Camarri
WALRC Producer Member
Jason Stokes
WALRC Producer Member
Ian Rogan
SALRC Chair
Christine White
SALRC Regional Producer Chair
Meridie Jackson
SALRC Regional Producer Chair
Bonnie Skinner
CEO Sheep Producers Australia
Bindi Murray
Board Director Sheep Producers Australia
Chris Parker
CEO Cattle Australia
Garry Edwards
Chair Cattle Australia
David Beatty
MLA Group Manager – Productivity & Animal Wellbeing
Richard Shephard
Current producer priorities
Priorities identified by producers through the regional committees are consolidated by NABRC, SALRC and WALRC.
