Minutes – Executive Summary

 

Thursday, 1 March, 2018

AHA

95 Northbourne Avenue

Turner, ACT, 2616

 

Meeting opened – 8:30am

 

Call for General Business

• NSW Farmers; Q Fever Vaccination
• WPA Animal Health and Welfare Advisory Committee Meeting

 

Health and Welfare Resolutions

 

MOTION

That WPA supports a fully integrated traceability system that meets the national traceability standards

 

MOTION

WoolProducers approach AWEX again regarding NWD becoming a condition of sale in acknowledgement that the SHD in now a condition of sale for AuctionsPlus

 

Minutes of Previous Meetings

GIC Update – Advice received that money will be paid out of the 15^th of February (WA received a letter), however to date no money has been received

 

ACTION

CEO to follow up with GIC regarding the payment of dividends to shareholders

 

President’s Report                                                                         

The President’s Report was noted with the following points of note:

• November meeting with President and CEO of SheepProducers Australia
• 2018 priority setting
• Shearing industry drug and alcohol policy finalisation
• Industry Consultative Committee

CEO Report                                                                                        

The CEO’s Report was noted. Points of note included:

• Sheep sustainability framework update
• Meeting with Woolworths regarding mulesing
• Government and ministerial relations
• NSWFA Board Meeting

 

Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Report (Confidential)

The CEO spoke to the tabled report in conjunction with the second quarter financial reporting, revised budget and administrative shared services proposal. Discussion included:

• Leadership in Agriculture Fund income
• Shared Services Model

Member Issues

NSWFA Motion – Shearing Safety

• It was agreed that this issue would be discussed at the Shearing Safety agenda item

 

WA Farmers – Objective measurement of moisture in sheep at shearing

 

ACTION

Clarify from WA Farmers if they have written to AWI and AWEX regarding the objective measurement of moisture in sheep at shearing time

 

Governance

Priority Setting Update

The tabled paper was discussed, with a focus on:

• Director engagement
• State verse national interests
• Member communications
• Strategic training for Board
• Relationships with key stakeholders

 

Policy Determination

2018 Policy Issues

The tabled paper was noted and discussed. Focus areas for policy 2018:

• Mulesing
• Traceability
• OJD and Sheep MAP Reviews
• Graziers Investment Company
• Wool RD&E strategy

 

New Projects for 2018:

Feral Pigs Action Plan – already discussed in H&W agenda

Leadership in Agriculture – to be discussed at Agenda Item 2.3

Shearing Safety

 

Australian Wool Innovation (AWI)

• AWI Independent Review
  • Independent review announced Tuesday 27 February
  • CEO and President met with Elizabeth Scott (Minister Littleproud’s Advisor) on 28 February, to discuss concern with independence of the review. Further clarification was sought on the process, including the methodology. It was highlighted that previous reviews were not deemed independent. DAWR will be involved in this review, WPA insisted that industry be involved.
• EOIs for the review process have been sent out by DAWR and has not included anyone who has undertaken the process in the past
• A list of issues to be included into the review submission has been collated
• WPA to continue push to be Representative Organisation for wool industry

 

ACTION

CEO to meet with NFF, Minister Littleproud’s office and DAWR to discuss AWI Independent Review of Performance in the next week

 

AWI Presentation – Peta Slack-Smith and Emma Gittoes

Review of Performance

• Statutory requirement to do review of performance every three years
• Independent company will be commissioned by the government. The terms of reference (ToR) include governance and industry interviews. The additional matters (5) within TOR were determined by the senate committee and drafted by DAWR
• AWI welcome the review
• Government can at any time under the Statutory Funding Agreement look into additional matters
• This review will be funded 50:50 between AWI and government
• Review of Performance needs to be completed and sent out with the WoolPoll voting papers

 

Concerns around independence and media reporting were raised and it was confirmed that the Department is solely undertaking selection of the independent reviewer.

 

WoolPoll

• Commenced preparation November 2017, with Syd Lawrie selected by AWI as WoolPoll Panel Chair
• Selection Committee was convened for the first time to appoint the panel, including representatives from DAWR, an AWI director (Jock Laurie), ICC representative (Richard Halliday) and Syd Lawrie
• 32 nominations received for panel
• AWI created a shortlist, and developed a selection criteria. The shortlist and full list of nominees were provided to the selection committee for decision on final panel
• Diverse panel created
• Role and responsibilities, roles of panel vs roles of AWI according to the legislation and communication ideas were discussed at the initial Panel meeting
• Next meeting, end of March, followed by a meeting May
• July/Aug for rollout

 

Questions around transparency and accountability around the levy options were raised. A letter to SFOs, state stud breeders for advice on levy options will be sent from the Panel chair.

 

It was advised that Panel members will need complete confidence that process and transparency are to the highest possible accountability. AWI advised that it was the decision of the WoolPoll chair to not disclose to the Panel the outcome of responses from consulted groups on rate recommendations. WPA Board noted that this was not appropriate.

 

An overview of animal welfare and supply sustainability was provided, noting that traceability is of high importance to the trade.

 

The NWD is an important tool that can be utilised for provenance and product integrity. It was advised that the NWD being a condition of sale would be strongly supported by the consumer end of the supply chain.

 

WoolPoll

Discussions surrounded:

• unanimous agreement between WPA WoolPoll Panel members that the Panel has only been convened for promotion
• AWI still make the decision on the levy options
• From the information provided at the Panel meeting, justification of accountability to rationalise any kind of increase is missing
• 5% must be included in the levy options
• Panel members recommended that the previously used position by AWI of ‘if growers are not happy vote zero’, should not be used as growers shouldn’t have to be put in the position of using the levy as a measure of performance of the AWI Board
• The road show is an expensive activity and cannot be justified

 

Leadership in Agriculture Fund – Raising the Baa

The tabled paper was discussed.

• WPA in-kind contribution is now $240,000
• Redirection of funds may be useful to the board for strategic planning purposes, however this will require an amendment to the activity plan

 

Shearing Safety

The finalised policy was considered. The ‘may be entitled to pay’ reference was discussed –  this was the compromise position with the AWU, given there is provision for this in the award, although not specified. There will be a joint media release with members of the reference group to announce the policy’s finalisation.

 

MOTION

That WoolProducers ratifies the Shearing Industries Drug & Alcohol Policy

 

The Shearing Industries Drug & Alcohol Reference Group will continue to meet

Issues being raised:

• Scalping incident in central western NSW due to overhead gear
• Size of sheep

 

The NSW Farmers motion to consider rebate opportunities to encourage wool growers to upgrade their shearing facilities was considered.

 

Discussions surrounded the fact that there are no minimum standards only best practice guidelines for shearing shed safety. There was acknowledgement that the use of belt driven overhead gear is a safety concern and that wool growers should be encouraged to look at the safety of their equipment and remind them of their duty of care responsibilities. Suitable working environment including amenities will be part of the awareness.

 

It was discussed at the priority setting day that WPA could initiate a promotional campaign surrounding shearing shed upgrades to improve shearing safety.

 

MOTION

That WoolProducers develop a national awareness campaign regarding safe work environments in the shearing industry

 

The increasing size of sheep has also been raised in the context of being a safety concern. This could be a research opportunity.

 

SheepCRC

An update of the current situation was provided.

 

The Board considered the letter from the SheepCRC and determined that more information will need to be provided before the 20th of March SheepCRC Participants Meeting. WPAs decision will be contingent on the outcome of the response to the below action item.

 

Transaction Levy Review

The tabled paper was discussed. It was noted that in-principle support has been given to the review previously. The Board reiterated that WPA were best placed to represented wool growers in this review, given that wool growers contribute significantly to the transaction levy.

 

ACACA Grant Proposal

The tabled paper was noted.

 

MOTION

WPA agrees to make an application for funding from the ACACA Program: Grant to Grow Trade with China

 

Representation

Industry Services Advisory Committee (ISAC)

A verbal update was provided, including:

• The next meeting will be held on 26 March
• Recent media from AWEX regarding the misuse of stencils particularly by those who have not completed training

 

It was also reported that the AWI CEO presented at the VFF Livestock Committee and stated that a Woolmark stencil will be provided to all growers to brand bales. It was thought that this could compromise the integrity of the brand.

 

ACTION

President to raise Woolmark branding at next ICC meeting

 

Discussion surrounded the fact that there are now three E-specifications being developed by AWI, AWEX and AWH. Disappointment was noted that the two industry service providers are unable to work together, resulting in duplication in expenditure of funds ultimately paid by wool growers.

 

AWI Industry Consultative Committee

The information from the ICC Information Pack was noted. It was noted that the report on the New Zealand mulesing trip has not yet been received.

 

General Business

• The NSWFA motion on Q Fever was discussed.

 

MOTION

WPA is to write to the Australian Meat Industry Corporation to support the development of a new Q fever vaccination

 

WPA Animal Health and Welfare Advisory Committee Membership

It was agreed that WPA would offer the opportunity for:

• Representative (as observer) from SPA be invited to H&W Committee
• Representative (as observer) from AHA be invited to H&W Committee

 

Both of these positions will be self-funding.

 

ACTION

Write to SPA and AHA inviting them to provide a representative to attend the WPA Animal Health and Welfare Advisory Committee meetings in the capacity of observer

 

2018 Meetings

• 30 (H&W) & 31 May (Exec), 2018, Melbourne
• 30 (H&W) & 31 August (Exec), 2018, TBC
• 14 (H&W) & 15 November (Exec & AGM), 2018, Sydney

 

 

Meeting close: 4.00pm

 

 

 

WPA Executive Summary

Friday, 31 August 2018

 

 

Animal H&W Resolutions

 

MOTION

That WPA inform AHA that the current SHD review will cease until South Australian arrangements are finalised.

 

MOTION

WPA to approach AHA to conduct a scoping study for a gene bank for sheep reproductive materials to be developed in Australia for EAD recovery

 

Matters Arising

 

ACTION

Send SFOs update on GIC and also a point of contact with Grant Thornton

 

President’s Report

The President’s Report was noted with the following points of note:

• AWI Review
• Staff arrangements

CEO’s report

The CEO’s Report was noted. Points of note included:

• Staffing arrangements
• Defamation threat against WPA
• GIC
• APH meetings
• AHA Service Level Agreement

 

Financials

Animal Health Australia

A comprehensive overview of the wool levies and the new service level agreement.

 

AHAs Financial Team presented to the Board on the back-office services being provided to WPA and an overview on AHA finances.

 

Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Report (Confidential)

The CEO spoke to the tabled report in conjunction with the unaudited fourth quarter and 2017/18 financial reporting.

 

The audit process has started earlier than usual in order to try and provide AHA with baseline figures to start the financial reporting.

 

Member issues – WA Farmers

 

ACTION

Request AuctionsPlus to present at our next board meeting regarding WoolTrade

 

ACTION

Refer the WoolMark question to ICC, seeking clarification on if the WoolMark has been removed from broad wool products

 

ACTION

WPA to seek an update from NSW Farmers on the Consumer Perceptions and NFF Building Trust Committee

 

Policy Determination

AWI

Review

 

Discussion to develop a strategy for WPA to handle the issues surrounding the review, the lead up to the AGM, collaborate and take other industry groups along as we implement the strategy, and work for a good outcome for wool growers.

 

End goal:

To have all 82 recommendations implemented as there is a need to modernise the organisation; recommendations were handed down by an independent review to better the organisation.

 

AWI WoolPoll

Discussion around the WoolPoll levy and why WPA would advocate for 1.5% as the recommended rate:

• It is the amount wool growers decide they want to contribute to industry RD&E
• It shows leadership from WoolProducers
• It enables a sufficient sum of money to be provided to RD&E
• It enables good growers to have money reserved for increasing production

 

MOTION

WPA recommend 1.5% as the levy option that wool growers should vote for

 

SheepCRC

 

The tabled paper was noted, including the numerous times that WPA has raised these unresolved questions with CRC or SPA to no avail.

 

Wool RD&W Strategy

A verbal update on the recent meeting held on 22 August. There are likely to be strategies that WPA can fund independently. Potential to collaborate with AWI and other bodies including SPA and SAMRAC.

 

WPA has followed up with SPA and SAMRAC on lamb mortalities and the future SISP.

 

National Representation

Sheep Producers Australia – Chris Mirams and Graham Smith

SPA gave an overview of the red meat industry structure. Red meat MOU is under review.

 

Merge discussions:

• Review of all the discussions
• SPA Board committed to this process, want to form sub-committee to progress this
• Need to develop a strategy and decide what the vision of a merged entity looks like

 

WPA and SPA CEOs have met and taken account of previous meeting minutes. SPA resolved to form a sub-committee. SPA would volunteer the Chair, CEO and one other Director to work together to develop a strategic pathway to commence looking into a merger.

 

MOTION

That WPA participate in a joint subcommittee to investigate a merger with SPA.

 

The chair spoke that the financial considerations of the merger must form part of the joint subcommittee’s Terms of Reference.

 

Representation

AWEX

The tabled report was taken as read, including:

• Woolclasser training
• eBale
• WoolClip
• NWD updates

ISAC

A verbal update was provided. ISAC has not met since the last meeting. The review is not completed but is due by end of August. This was taken as noted.

 

AWTA

The tabled report was taken as read, including:

• Raw Wool Australia
• Product Testing
• Agrifood Technology
• New Zealand Wool Testing Authority

 

ICC

Likely that there will be an October ICC. WPA will send a reminder to States to provide issues/concerns once notification from AWI is received.

 

ACTION

WPA to provide shearing shed design and seek clarification on if the WoolMark logo is used on broad wool products at the next ICC meeting

 

FAWO

The tabled report was noted. A further update including that FAWO are undergoing a restructure.

 

MOTION

That WPA pay the 2018/19 membership subscription to FAWO.

 

General Business

NFF Trade Committee

China-USA trade war and effects on wool have been discussed.

 

NFF Farming Systems

• Animal welfare policy is vague.
• Office of Animal Welfare – it could potentially be established

 

 

Footrot

Estimated Breeding Value for Footrot in NZ

• Research being conducted in Australia
• WA didn’t believe it was an issue but the work would be done on behalf of the industry

 

Next Meetings

• 21 (H&W) & 22 (Exec & AGM) November, Sydney
• 28 (H&W) February & 1 March (Exec), 2019
• 30 (H&W) & 31 May (Exec), 2019

 

 

WPA H&W Committee Meeting – Executive Summary
22 November 2018

Matters Arising
ACTION WPA to recirculate paper on valuation and compensation to members.
ACTION WPA to put forward potential names of journalists to send for Real-time FMD training and send to DAWR.

Member Issues
Members provided a brief update on activities they have undertaken since last meeting and issues they are facing. Issues included shearing shed safety, drought and biosecurity. Other issues are outlined below.

SA OJD Trading Rules
AVA requested an update from South Australia given they suggested there would be a decision point around this time. Livestock SA reported that the issue has not advanced other than that the regional biosecurity areas are recognised as they have been. SA is still one large biosecurity area. It is thought there is not enough robustness in the regional biosecurity area for SA to have sufficient control or claim higher assurance, however SA will promote a buyer beware approach.

Animal cruelty allegations in industry
The AVA flagged they are continuing to receive footage from activists taken in abattoirs and shearing sheds of animal cruelty and suggested activists do not believe the issue is lessening.
The AVA believes action is required to produce changes to protect the industry. Targeting shearing is at the fundamental level of wool production.

The recent PETA campaign was discussed and noted that the shearing footage is old but the lamb marking footage is new. The issue is that when animal husbandry procedures are taken out of context with no explanation of why it is being done it can be detrimental to industry.

WPA provided an interview with ABC Country Hour regarding the footage and maintained our position that cruelty is not condoned and anyone who inflicts cruelty onto an animal should be prosecuted. WPA also raised in this interview that groups who receive this footage need to encourage the providers to take it to the relevant authority.
ACTION WPA to raise in shearing labour working group that a desktop study into the cost of different pay rates be conducted that looks at ways different wages can be considered to provide good animal welfare outcomes.

Policy Manager Report
The Committee noted the Policy Manager’s report. Verbal updates were provided on WPA’s work with AHA, the NFF Trade Committee, the DAWR
Levies Review and Lamb Survivability work with SPA.

National mulesing accreditation update
The committee noted the update. Work is progressing on finalising the current documents for publishing.

Animal welfare statement
Rowan McMonnies from Australian Eggs presented on the process the egg industry has been involved with in response to consumer perceptions about caged eggs and other intensive practices. The H&W Committee worked through the WPA draft animal welfare statement and approved for it to be forwarded to the WPA Executive for endorsement.

MOTION That the WPA H&W Committee endorses the current draft animal welfare
statement and seeks WPA Board approval for the statement to be adopted
as policy.

Ram sedation
The issue was discussed and it was decided that WPA will monitor the situation but it is not necessary to progress the issue.

Pain relief and mulesing discussion
The H&W Committee agreed that for mulesing to continue to be accepted as a fly strike mitigation procedure, pain relief for mulesing will need to be mandated. Given the WPA Animal Welfare Statement highlights our policy that husbandry procedures be conducted to the highest standard, it is now necessary to mandate pain relief. The argument of increased production costs from using pain relief was discussed, but given the small cost
this imposes on production, the argument was deemed not strong enough to present a risk to mandatory pain relief being taken as WPA’s policy position.

Breed groups sitting on the H&W Committee supported the argument that increased production costs are redundant. The Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders believe there should be a push from WPA and other Merino groups to state governments seeking the use of pain relief when mulesing is made mandatory. The Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association’s position is that pain relief is used when mulesing.

Given the looming appointment of an Inspector General for Animal Welfare, the group agreed that the industry will hold more opportunity for continuing mulesing if industry proactively leads to mandate compulsory pain relief. The group agreed that a sound implementation strategy will need to be developed for implementing mandatory pain relief if it is endorsed by the WPA Executive as policy for the organisation.

It was determined that the benefits of mandating pain relief for mulesing far outweigh the risks identified by the H&W Committee, particularly in the current social licence climate being experienced in agriculture.

MOTION WPA calls for the mandatory use of pain relief for mulesing.

Feral pig plan
ACTION WPA to formulate a feral pig action plan proposal in collaboration with relevant industry groups.

National biosecurity statement update
ACTION WPA to write a letter to the pre-budget allocation consultation to allocate funding to the NBS implementation.

National Sheep Industry Biosecurity Strategy (NSIBS) implementation
The H&W Committee noted the update on the implementation strategy for NSIBS.

CISS presentation
Andreas Glanznig, CEO and Helen Cathles, Chair, Centre for Invasive Species (CISS) presented an overview of the structure and RD&E portfolio of the Centre. WPA raised that the Centre should not isolate control by species but instead use the vertebrate pest portfolio for all vertebrate pests, such as pigs, deer and dogs.

Sheep Health Project (SHP) update
An update on the SHP was provided to the H&W Committee. The H&W Committee considered the candidates who were provided by AHA to be considered for Chair of the Sheep Health Project.

National wild dog action plan
A request for funding of a Review of the NWDAP was discussed.
MOTION That WPA agree to fund the review of the NWDAP through AHA wool industry funds.
ACTION WPA to write to the NWDAP Chair agreeing to fund wool industry share of the Review of the NWDAP through AHA wool industry funds.
ACTION WPA to write to Cattle Council that they will need to provide equal financial co-contribution to the Review of the NWDAP if they wish to be identified as supporters of the Review.

Report on the Traceability Trip – Victoria
Representatives of WPA attended the Traceability Trip to Victoria, which sought to provide an overview of EID implementation. The presentation was noted.

Sheep Gene Bank
The committee noted the paper and agreed not to progress the issue.

Lamb survivability
The group noted the information provided in the paper. A draft briefing paper will be sent to the WPA H&W Committee for comment. The H&W Committee noted the briefing paper.

Sheep sustainability reporting
Background on the Sheep Sustainability Reporting proposal was provided. WPA will attend the February meeting. The H&W Committee noted the update.

Other business
Update on LCA Direction
ACTION WPA to write a letter of support for LCA to obtain funding for lamb marking awareness.

Drought
An update on drought work through the NFF committee was provided. H&W Committee members provided updates from their states and general involvement in the drought policy space. Grain stocks reporting was discussed as a means to provide grain price transparency particularly in times of drought. It was agreed that stocks reporting by the bulk handling
companies should be required, but growers should not have to report stocks held on-farm.
ACTION WPA to provide its position on stocks reporting to the enquirer (who seeks to remain anonymous).
ACTION WPA to raise the drought issues identified by the H&W Committee at the next NFF drought working group meeting.

CISS general election – letter of support
Following the presentation from CISS, a letter of support was asked for from WPA to assist CISS in seeking ongoing funding at the next election. The H&W Committee noted this request.
ACTION WPA to write a letter of support for CISS for ongoing funding.

WPA Executive Meeting – Executive Summary
22 November 2018

Animal H&W Resolutions
Mulesing and Pain Relief
The Board discussed the H&W resolution, That WPA calls for the mandatory use of pain relief for mulesing at length. It is important to have a strategy to introduce the mandatory use of pain relief. It is important to bring the breed groups along.

Timing of the implementation strategy will be important and the strategy will need to filter the information sensitively to woolgrowers. Leveraging off media around the WPA Animal Welfare Statement will be a way to quieten the mandatory pain relief policy implementation. The following motions were carried.
MOTION WPA calls for the mandatory use of pain relief for mulesing.
MOTION The WPA Board endorses the animal welfare statement to be adopted as
policy.
MOTION That WPA agree to fund the review of the NWDAP through AHA wool industry funds.

President’s Report
The Board noted the President’s report, including a retrospective of the achievements and challenges over the past 4 years.

CEO’s report
The Board noted the CEO’s report, including:
– Graziers Investment Company
– AWI Review
– WoolPoll
– Wool RD&E Strategy
– Sheep Sustainability

The CEO thanked the Board for their work throughout the year.

Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Report
The tabled report was spoken to in conjunction with the unaudited first quarter financials.

Audit management letter
The positive outcome from the audit management letter was noted.
A profit was made by the organisation this year. The CEO was thanked for her efforts in facilitating the transition of the organisation’s financial management to AHA.

Member issues – WA Farmers
ACTION WPA to raise the funding request for an agriculture promotion campaign from WA Farmers at the next ICC meeting.

Governance documents
The six-year term would enable Directors to stand for election as Vice President or President with additional four-year terms for each of these positions. Contested elections could arise for leadership positions and this would ensure a good culture remains in the organisation as the Board would then be responsible for determining who the most suitable candidate for these positions is. It maintains a skills-based board and maintains directors’ independence.
MOTION That the changes to 7.2 and 7.4 regarding tenure in the Board Charter be accepted.

Youth Ambassador Policy Plan Presentation
A presentation to the Board as part of the Youth Ambassador role through WPA’s ‘Raising the Baa’ Project was provided.

Two extremely detailed action plans for the two issue-based projects:
– Youth in the Wool Industry
– Animal Health Communications

The Board offered to assist in any way possible on both of these projects and congratulated the Youth Ambassador on the presentation.

NSW Farmers Wool Committee Joint Session
AWI Review
The joint session discussed a strategy moving towards the AWI EGM.

Views from the persons present in the joint session were sought on the recommendations with the objective to work towards the best way forwards for these recommendations to be implemented.
ACTION WPA is to put together approaches to be taken by SFO members regarding recommendations from the EY Review of Performance that AWI are seeking shareholder vote on.

5-year R&D cycle
Recommendation 1.14.1 in the EY Review of AWI Performance recommends changing the frequency of WoolPoll to five years instead of every 3 years. WPA’s current position is that a full review of WoolPoll, including the regulations under which it operates, needs to be conducted. As part of this review, the frequency of WoolPoll can hopefully be undertaken as part of the review.

Unless the five-year cycle aligns with MLA’s R&D cycle, it is unlikely that the full benefits of moving the cycle to five-year terms will be experienced. NSWFA proposed that the cycle needs to align with MLA’s. This would mean more effective and efficient expenditure of levy funds for RD&E.
ACTION WPA is to discuss the recommendation to change the frequency of the WoolPoll vote to five years and the need for WoolPoll to align with the MLA RD&E cycle with Sheep Producers Australia.

WoolPoll
WPA provided an overview of what activities the organisation undertook during WoolPoll 2018 to promote voting. NSWFA distributed the WPA
preferential voting video and communications page. The WoolPoll Roadshow did not work with wool brokers. Doing so would have provided better opportunity for the Roadshow to reach more woolgrowers. The Panel members
spoke they did not recommend the Roadshow occur as they did not feel it was the best use of time or staff resources. Instead, they proposed SFO’s be approached by AWI to hold events in woolgrower states. However, this was left too late to organise by AWI and these events did not occur.

Mulesing and Pain Relief
An overview from the WPA H&W Advisory discussions on mulesing and pain relief was provided to NSWFA. The WPA Board had earlier resolved to call for the mandatory use of pain relief when mulesing. NSW Farmers’ policy is similar to WPA’s previous policy in that they want mulesing to remain an option for the industry and strongly encourage pain relief to be used when
mulesing. NSW Farmers spoke that prevention of flystrike should be discussed instead of discussing mulesing as the primary messaging regarding the procedure. Members of both WPA Board and NSWFA Wool Committee were in agreement that they want to preserve current fly strike prevention procedures. NSWFA Wool Committee do not want to see pain relief mandated, however understand the positioning from which the policy decision was made by WPA.

SheepCRC
A verbal update was provided on a proposal put forward by SPA on the morning of the SheepCRC AGM, whereby if there were significant funds left over from the AIC that WPA and SPA could look at managing those jointly. More details will be provided once they are provided.

SPA/WPA Reform
The Terms of Reference were provided for consideration and agreed to by the Board.

NFF Membership
The letter received from NFF regarding WPA’s membership was noted. The WPA Board discussed that membership fees had not been increased for 11 years and that no member is currently paying full membership fees to WPA. WPA does not support NFF approaching SFO’s directly to discuss WPA’s financial position.

Auctions Plus
Tom Rookyard presented on Auctions Plus (AP) wool trading platform. AP has the ability to enforce the NWD for wool trading but need to work with brokers on this issue and have their support to do so. Discussion around WoolQ and AP’s involvement was also spoken about. AP had said they were happy to be involved in the process but did not hear back from AWI.

Currently AP is uncertain whether premiums are being paid/what amount of premium is being paid for non-mulesed wool.

ICC issues
The minutes were taken as read. WPA is to raise the points below at the next ICC meeting:
• WPA to raise National Mulesing Accreditation and the one-stop-shop shearing shed safety information.
• Concern around shearers flying in and out of NZ to be raised – with their shearing rate at about 80 per cent of ours and the current exchange rate, increasing efforts in the training programme to be raised.
• The bluelight shearing school-based apprenticeship to be raised as the convenor needs assistance to run the programme.
• The footrot EBV project proposal.

FAWO
The report was taken as read. WPA has kept oversight over the rewrite of the FAWO Constitution.

General Business
Shearing Shed Safety
The TFGA Wool Council discussed woolshed safety and OH&S. While markets are high it is opportune to make investments in shearing shed safety and provide information on improvements to sheds. AWI should put resources in one stop shop. This will be raised by WPA at ICC.

Funding proposal for a footrot EBV programme
Dr. Andrew Thompson, working with Dr. Mark Ferguson is working on a footrot EBV programme. The outcomes from the investment would be validation of NZ derived breeding values in Australia within related and unrelated bloodlines, and eventually provide Australian ram buyers in the high rainfall zone with a commercial tool to assist breeders to select rams that are more resistant to footrot.
ACTION WPA to discuss the Footrot EBV research project proposal and funding from wool levies with AHA.

WASIA Shearing Safety Assessment Programme
A letter of support for the Shearing Safety Assessment programme has been requested to be supplied by WPA.

Tail stripping excluded from definition of mulesing
Tail stripping is already included in the definition of mulesing however some producers are declaring flocks as non-mulesed even though they are tail stripping.
ACTION WPA will raise with AWEX that auditing for tail stripping needs to be increased and that the definition of mulesing be reiterated to producers.

WPA H&W Committee Meeting – Executive Summary*
28 February 2019

Matters Arising

ACTION

WPA to distribute contact details to H&W Committee members to write to ISC and seek a full seat at the Integrity Systems Taskforce.

 

ACTION

WPA to provide dot points to the H&W Committee to use in writing a letter of support for WPA to obtain a voting seat at Integrity Systems Taskforce.

Member issues

ASWGA – Pain relief and pre- and post-analgesia terminology

MOTION

WPA support ASWGA in requesting AWEX to amend the National Wool declaration to replace the term “Pain Relief or PR” with the term “Analgesia or A”

 

ACTION

WPA will request AWEX to consider replacing the term ‘pain relief’ with the term ‘analgesia’ in the National Wool Declaration review

 

ASWGA –  ‘Pre-Analgesia ’ and ‘Post-Analgesia ’ options on the National Wool Declaration

MOTION

WPA support ASWGA in requesting AWEX to consider amending the National Wool declaration to include the provision to identify Pre Analgesia (Pre A) & Post Analgesia (Post A) in the National Wool Declaration.

 

ACTION

WPA to request AWEX to consider amending the NWD to include the provision to identify pre-analgesia and post analgesia in the NWD review

 

AASMB – Shortage of Pregnecol and WPA Executive Summary process

ACTION

WPA is to write to the APVMA and NFF Farming Systems committee to seek expedited approval for Pregnecol for Venoquil.

 

AASMB – WPA H&W Executive Summary process

The H&W Committee supported continuation for the prompt release of the WPA H&W Committee Executive Summary and no change be made to the WPA process.

 

Livestock SA – development of guidelines for transport of sheep in extreme sheep

Livestock SA is developing transport guidelines for sheep during extreme heat with the RSPCA. Livestock SA raised the development with WPA to determine if there was interest to work with Livestock SA on the guidelines and facilitate a national rollout. WPA spoke that in the land transport and sheep and cattle standards there is an existing standard already and the fit to load workbook includes a section on heat stress. WPA will keep this on the policy radar. WPA did not agree to work on the guidelines.

 

WA Farmers

The motion was withdrawn.

 

Policy Manager report

The Committee noted the Policy Manager report. The WPA CEO and President provided an update on a meeting held with RSPCA on mulesing to discuss changes in their mulesing policy.

National Mulesing Accreditation Update

The paper was taken as read.

 

AVA antimicrobial prescribing guidelines

WPA met with AVA to discuss the development of AMR guidelines. There was a request for funding a project to develop these guidelines.

MOTION

WPA funds $7500.00 of the $15,000.00 (50 per cent) required to develop the AVA antimicrobial guidelines contingent on AHA approval to access money from the levies. WPA will fund the $15,000 in full (contingent on AHA) should SPA not co-fund.

 

ACTION

WPA to inform SPA and the AVA of our commitment to funding 50 per cent ($7500.00) towards the development of Antimicrobial Guidelines for the Australian sheep industry contingent on funding approval from AHA.

 

Virbac data access request

MOTION

WPA provides the data to Virbac free of charge.

 

Traceability update

Updates were provided on WPA’s involvement in the Sheep Traceability Working Group, SAFEMEAT and the Integrity Systems Taskforce.

ACTION

WPA to write to SPA to request the review of the Victoria EID system be postponed until the system has been implemented for a longer period.

 

ACTION

WPA to be represented by the Policy Manager in place of a producer representative at SAFEMEAT meetings.

 

Pain relief

An overview of the previous meeting and the work that has arisen since was provided to the H&W Committee. WPA will use the implementation plan at a national level and now begin promoting the policy position and its associated documents.

 

ACTION

WPA to investigate changing the policy documents and where there is reference to ‘pain relief’, the term be replaced with ‘analgesia’.

 

AWI Breech strike prevention

Jane Littlejohn and Emma Gittoes from AWI Zoomed the meeting and updated the H&W Committee on RD&E being undertaken on breech fly strike prevention. The H&W Committee requested more information on the Steining process. Points for inclusion in WPA’s submission to the AWI RD&E Strategy were discussed.

ACTION

WPA to invite John Steinefort to present on the steining method at the next H&W Committee meeting.

 

NWDAP update and muzzle project funding request

Greg Mifsud, National Wild Dog Action Plan Coordinator Zoomed the meeting and provided an overview of the National Wild Dog Action Plan programme, how it is funded and collaborates with WPA, and gave an overview of the muzzle project funding request.

MOTION

WPA will provide funding to the education component of the muzzle project funding request to the amount of $5625.00 contingent on AHA approval.

 

ACTION

WPA to inform NWDAP Coordinator that funding of the muzzle project for $5625.00 will be provided contingent on AHA approval.

 

NSIBS update

The paper was taken as read.

MOTION

WPA H&W Committee approves the quote from Glanville and Millar to prepare NSIBS for public tender.

 

Footrot Working Group update

The committee noted the update. AHA provided an update on continuation of the request WPA put forwards to consider a footrot project as discussed in the November 21 meeting.

ACTION

WPA to continue exploring whether the is opportunity to provide funding to the Footrot EBV project.

 

Sheep Health Declaration update

An update on the Sheep Health Declaration (SHD), the revised draft SHD, and Regional Biosecurity Plans (RBP) was provided.

MOTION

WPA H&W Committee resolve to not recognise Regional Biosecurity Plan areas.

 

ACTION

WPA H&W Committee to provide feedback to the WPA Policy Manager on the Sheep Health Declaration by 8 March 2019.

 

Industry recovery following an EAD

The proposal to undertake working on industry recovery policy following an EAD was taken as read.

MOTION

WPA H&W Committee supports WPA working on an industry recovery policy following an EAD.

 

Youth Ambassador policy update

The policy updates from the Youth Ambassador were noted.

ACTION

WPA H&W Committee support continuation of the Youth in Wool project to the execution phase and ensure it is appropriately resourced.

 

Lamb survivability initiative update

The committee noted the information provided in the update.

 

Other business

AWI funding of LCA training days

ACTION

WPA is to contact AWI and confirm their position on support for the National Mulesing Training being developed by WPA, AWI and LCA.

Next Meetings

• 22 May 2019
• 28 August 2019
• 13 November 2019

Meeting close: 4.08pm

 

*All motions and action items from the Health and Welfare Advisory Committee are subject to ratification by the WoolProducers Australia Executive. For ratified motions and action items, please refer to the associated WoolProducers Australia Board Meeting Executive Summary.

WPA Executive Meeting – Executive Summary
1 March 2019

Animal H&W Resolutions

Mulesing and Pain Relief

The Board discussed the H&W resolution, That WPA calls for the mandatory use of pain relief for mulesing at length.   It is important to have a strategy to introduce the mandatory use of pain relief. It is important to bring the breed groups along.

 

Timing of the implementation strategy will be important and the strategy will need to filter the information sensitively to woolgrowers. Leveraging off media around the WPA Animal Welfare Statement will be a way to quieten the mandatory pain relief policy implementation. The following motions were carried.

 

MOTION

WPA calls for the mandatory use of pain relief for mulesing.

 

MOTION

The WPA Board endorses the animal welfare statement to be adopted as policy.

 

MOTION

That WPA agree to fund the review of the NWDAP through AHA wool industry funds.

 

President’s Report

The Board noted the President’s report, including a retrospective of the achievements and challenges over the past 4 years.

 

CEO’s report

The Board noted the CEO’s report, including:

• Graziers Investment Company
• AWI Review
• WoolPoll
• Wool RD&E Strategy
• Sheep Sustainability

 

The CEO thanked the Board for their work throughout the year.

 

Finance, Audit and Risk Committee Report (Confidential)

The tabled report was spoken to in conjunction with the unaudited first quarter financials.

 

Audit management letter

The positive outcome from the audit management letter was noted.

 

A profit was made by the organisation this year. The CEO was thanked for her efforts in facilitating the transition of the organisation’s financial management to AHA.

 

Member issues – WA Farmers

 

ACTION

WPA to raise the funding request for an agriculture promotion campaign from WA Farmers at the next ICC meeting.

 

Governance documents

The six-year term would enable Directors to stand for election as Vice President or President with additional four-year terms for each of these positions. Contested elections could arise for leadership positions and this would ensure a good culture remains in the organisation as the Board would then be responsible for determining who the most suitable candidate for these positions is. It maintains a skills-based board and maintains directors’ independence.

 

MOTION

That the changes to 7.2 and 7.4 regarding tenure in the Board Charter be accepted

 

Youth Ambassador Policy Plan Presentation

A presentation to the Board as part of the Youth Ambassador role through WPA’s ‘Raising the Baa’ Project was provided.

 

Two extremely detailed action plans for the two issue-based projects:

• Youth in the Wool Industry
• Animal Health Communications

 

The Board offered to assist in any way possible on both of these projects and congratulated the Youth Ambassador on the presentation.

 

NSW Farmers Wool Committee Joint Session

AWI Review

The joint session discussed a strategy moving towards the AWI EGM.

 

Views from the persons present in the joint session were sought on the recommendations with the objective to work towards the best way forwards for these recommendations to be implemented.

 

ACTION

WPA is to put together approaches to be taken by SFO members regarding recommendations from the EY Review of Performance that AWI are seeking shareholder vote on.

 

5-year R&D cycle

Recommendation 1.14.1 in the EY Review of AWI Performance recommends changing the frequency of WoolPoll to five years instead of every 3 years. WPA’s current position is that a full review of WoolPoll, including the regulations under which it operates, needs to be conducted. As part of this review, the frequency of WoolPoll can hopefully be undertaken as part of the review.

 

Unless the five-year cycle aligns with MLA’s R&D cycle, it is unlikely that the full benefits of moving the cycle to five-year terms will be experienced. NSWFA proposed that the cycle needs to align with MLA’s. This would mean more effective and efficient expenditure of levy funds for RD&E.

 

ACTION

WPA is to discuss the recommendation to change the frequency of the WoolPoll vote to five years and the need for WoolPoll to align with the MLA RD&E cycle with Sheep Producers Australia.

 

WoolPoll

WPA provided an overview of what activities the organisation undertook during WoolPoll 2018 to promote voting. NSWFA distributed the WPA preferential voting video and communications page.

 

The WoolPoll Roadshow did not work with wool brokers. Doing so would have provided better opportunity for the Roadshow to reach more woolgrowers. The Panel members spoke they did not recommend the Roadshow occur as they did not feel it was the best use of time or staff resources. Instead, they proposed SFO’s be approached by AWI to hold events in woolgrower states. However, this was left too late to organise by AWI and these events did not occur.

 

Mulesing and Pain Relief

An overview from the WPA H&W Advisory discussions on mulesing and pain relief was provided to NSWFA. The WPA Board had earlier resolved to call for the mandatory use of pain relief when mulesing.

 

NSW Farmers’ policy is similar to WPA’s previous policy in that they want mulesing to remain an option for the industry and strongly encourage pain relief to be used when mulesing.

 

NSW Farmers spoke that prevention of flystrike should be discussed instead of discussing mulesing as the primary messaging regarding the procedure.

 

Members of both WPA Board and NSWFA Wool Committee were in agreement that they want to preserve current fly strike prevention procedures.

 

NSWFA Wool Committee do not want to see pain relief mandated, however understand the positioning from which the policy decision was made by WPA.

 

SheepCRC

A verbal update was provided on a proposal put forward by SPA on the morning of the SheepCRC AGM, whereby if there were significant funds left over from the AIC that WPA and SPA could look at managing those jointly. More details will be provided once they are provided.

 

SPA/WPA Reform

The Terms of Reference were provided for consideration and agreed to by the Board.

 

NFF Membership

The letter received from NFF regarding WPA’s membership was noted. The WPA Board discussed that membership fees had not been increased for 11 years and that no member is currently paying full membership fees to WPA. WPA does not support NFF approaching SFO’s directly to discuss WPA’s financial position.

 

Auctions Plus

Tom Rookyard presented on Auctions Plus (AP) wool trading platform. AP has the ability to enforce the NWD for wool trading but need to work with brokers on this issue and have their support to do so.

 

Discussion around WoolQ and AP’s involvement was also spoken about. AP had said they were happy to be involved in the process but did not hear back from AWI.

 

Currently AP is uncertain whether premiums are being paid/what amount of premium is being paid for non-mulesed wool.

 

ICC issues

The minutes were taken as read. WPA is to raise the points below at the next ICC meeting:

• WPA to raise National Mulesing Accreditation and the one-stop-shop shearing shed safety information.
• Concern around shearers flying in and out of NZ to be raised – with their shearing rate at about 80 per cent of ours and the current exchange rate, increasing efforts in the training programme to be raised.
• The bluelight shearing school-based apprenticeship to be raised as the convenor needs assistance to run the programme.
• The footrot EBV project proposal.

 

FAWO

The report was taken as read. WPA has kept oversight over the rewrite of the FAWO Constitution.

 

General Business

Shearing Shed Safety

The TFGA Wool Council discussed woolshed safety and OH&S. While markets are high it is opportune to make investments in shearing shed safety and provide information on improvements to sheds. AWI should put resources in one stop shop. This will be raised by WPA at ICC.

 

Funding proposal for a footrot EBV programme

Dr. Andrew Thompson, working with Dr. Mark Ferguson is working on a footrot EBV programme. The outcomes from the investment would be validation of NZ derived breeding values in Australia within related and unrelated bloodlines, and eventually provide Australian ram buyers in the high rainfall zone with a commercial tool to assist breeders to select rams that are more resistant to footrot.

 

ACTION

WPA to discuss the Footrot EBV research project proposal and funding from wool levies with AHA.

 

WASIA Shearing Safety Assessment Programme

A letter of support for the Shearing Safety Assessment programme has been requested to be supplied by WPA.

 

Tail stripping excluded from definition of mulesing

Tail stripping is already included in the definition of mulesing however some producers are declaring flocks as non-mulesed even though they are tail stripping.

 

ACTION

WPA will raise with AWEX that auditing for tail stripping needs to be increased and that the definition of mulesing be reiterated to producers.

 

Next Meetings

• 28 (H&W) February & 1 March (Exec), 2019
• 30 (H&W) & 31 May (Exec), 2019