Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Small-scale livestock farming

Martha HAYLETT (Ripon) presented a petition bearing 2428 signatures:

Issue:

This petition of residents in Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Assembly the small-scale livestock farmers in Victoria are facing a devastating blow as Hardwicks (owned by Chinese multinational Kilcoy), has announced it will close its doors to service kills on 1 February 2025. This will decimate small-scale livestock farming and access to local meat in Victoria.

Action:

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly

1) That the Victorian Government urgently implement Recommendation 27 of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Securing the Victorian Food Supply

2) That the Victorian Government apply the standards set out in AS4464:2007 the Australian Standard for the Hygienic Production of Wild Game Meat for Human Consumption, which could be safely applied to domestic livestock, enabling them to be slaughtered on farm, chilled and inspected, and subsequently transferred to a licensed butcher for further processing.

This would support the survival of small-scale livestock farmers.