Grassroots
Wednesday May 30, 2012
Annual shearing school at Coolringdon Young people interested in the sheep and wool industry were able to participate at a week-long school at Coolringdon, Cooma. last week. Sponsored by the AWI and co-ordinated by local shearing contractors, the week allowed young people the oportunity to learn how to shear, skirt, class, etc, under the guidance of Dubbo Tafe staff Ian Elkins, Dayne West and Emma Povey. Pictured, the board was busy place at Coolringdon last Thursday.
Call to reject LHPA report NSW Farmers has rejected the key recommendations of the Ryan Report into the governance and structure of the state’s Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPA). The association’s concerns were outlined in a submission it lodged with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI). The Ryan Report’s recommendations require landholders to continue contributing to LHPA funding but at the same time remove grass roots involvement of farmers. NSW Farmers President, Ms Fiona Simson, said that without grass roots involvement, the LHPA becomes a government entity instead of a landholder organisation. She said rates paid by landholders would not go to a local board, but could be perceived to be just another tax funding a government entity. The situation was exacerbated by the proposed merging of the DPI with Catchment Management Authorities, weed authorities, and DPI frontline functions to create a regional delivery agency for government. Ms Simson urged the NSW Government to dismiss the report and to embark on sensible reforms enabling LHPAs to provide greater value to ratepayers. “This could be done by developing specialist policy committees to develop strategies to improve delivery of the core LHPA functions of animal health and wild dog control,” she said. “These reforms are as simple as changing the act to amend the requirement for boards to meet monthly to a more reasonable timeframe, and for the government to remove the burden of payroll tax from the LHPAs.” The NSW Government announced a wide ranging review into LHPAs as part of its 2011 election commitments. In July 2011, Mr Terry Ryan was commissioned to undertake the review. Submissions on the report closed last Tuesday. LHPA’s currently deliver the frontline livestock health service in NSW. They work hand in hand with landholders to safeguard agricultural production through a range of services.
Wednesday May 30th
25