WoolProducers Australia (WoolProducers) recently convened its Animal Health and Welfare Advisory Committee (AHWAC) with expanded representation virtually on 11 August.
New organisations represented at this meeting included MerinoLink, SRS Genetics Ltd. and Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), who joined existing members Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association, Australian Wool Growers Association, Animal Heath Australia (AHA) and the Australian Veterinary Association – Sheep, Goats and Camelids Vets Group (AVA).
WoolProducers President Mr Ed Storey said, “It was pleasing from a WoolProducers perspective to facilitate a forum for these important groups to come together to discuss matters relating to animal health, welfare and biosecurity.”
The WoolProducers AHWAC was established by the Board of WoolProducers to specifically provide advice on animal health and welfare levies administered by AHA.
AHA act as the conduit for distributing levies collected under the Australian Animal Health Council (Live-stock Industries) Funding Act 1996 for animal health related activities.
The intent of the AHWAC membership is to ensure that a representative cross-section of producer groups are involved in determining that compulsory levy dollars are invested in an effective manner and that policy determinations are made in the best interests of the Australian wool industry as a whole.
“Not only do we seek to have relevant producer groups involved, we are also fortunate to have AHA, the AVA and now AWI as observers to provide technical insights on issues, facilitating collaboration and removing the chance of duplication of effort and levy expenditure in these areas.” Mr Storey said.
Some of the topics covered in this meeting included both sheep and wool traceability, pain relief for aversive procedures, emergency animal disease preparedness and response activities for the domestic wool supply chain following from Exercise Argonaut, updates on the Trust in Australian Wool campaign and the Sheep Sustainability Framework as well as a presentation from the APVMA.
“WoolProducers looks forward to continuing collaborating with this diverse group to ensure that tangible outcomes are achieved for all woolgrowers in these important areas”. Mr Storey said.
The next AHWAC meeting is planned for November.
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WoolProducers Australia contacts: Jo Hall, CEO
02 6110 2067
Ed Storey, President
0438 309 500
About WoolProducers’ Australia
WoolProducers plays a critical role in working closely with companies and entities funded by woolgrower funds including compulsory levies or fees for service.
Its mission is to develop constructive and profitable outcomes for woolgrowers nationally.
The agency is responsible for appointing a director to each of the Australian Wool Exchange and the Australia Wool Testing Authority, promoting good corporate governance and ensuring that the interests of growers are met.
WoolProducers maintains a working relationship with Australian Wool Innovation as the voice of woolgrower shareholders. It aims to contribute to AWI’s programs for the benefit of growers, promoting responsible use of levy funds and ensuring good corporate governance.