Summary - Meeting with Ms Jodie Hanns MLA to discuss outcomes from a Meat Industry Forum on 28 October.

Some of the attendees at the original Meat Industry Forum in Bunbury.

FFTITC CEO, Tony Palladino has provided an update on the meeting held Monday, 1 December 2025 with Ms Jodie Hanns MLA, Parliamentary Secretary to the Hon Amber Jade Sanderson MLA (Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation; Manufacturing; Skills and TAFE; Pilbara), and the Member for Collie Preston.  Ms Hanns was supported by Ms Olivia Mayo from the Minister’s Office.  Following a request for a meeting with the Minister, a meeting was arranged with the Parliamentary Secretary to receive the industry’s workforce and training issues and to consider the recommendations endorsed at the 28 October 2025 Meat Industry Forum.

Our delegation comprised Matt Journeaux (FFTITC Board Member and AMIEU), Chris Kelly (AMIC), Mick Crouch (MINTRAC) and Tony.  We presented the key challenges affecting Western Australia’s meat industry, particularly around attraction, retention and upskilling.  We outlined the severe shortages across processing, slaughtering, butchery and frontline supervisory roles, especially in regional and remote areas where most of the workforce is located.  We also highlighted the constraints caused by limited regional training delivery, trainer shortages, infrastructure gaps and cost barriers, as well as the absence of fee free and existing worker pathways for many Australian Meat and Processing (AMP) Training Package qualifications.  These factors continue to restrict recruitment, retention, upskilling and long-term workforce development.

We also discussed the increasing pressures resulting from the Federal Government’s live sheep export phase out.  With more livestock entering domestic processing channels, WA processors are already experiencing increased throughput.  We emphasised that without improved access to training and stronger regional workforce pipelines, the industry faces heightened risks relating to food safety, food security, animal welfare, export readiness and market competitiveness.

A central recommendation from the Meat Industry Forum, reiterated at the meeting, was the request for the establishment of a WA Meat Industry Skills Round Table involving DPIRD, DTWD, DFAT and industry representatives.  It was envisaged that this collaborative forum would bring together senior personnel to help develop practical solutions that support attraction, recruitment and retention in regional WA, expand training access, and ensure the meat industry remains safe, skilled and competitive during the transition away from live export.  We also indicated we would be open to broadening the scope beyond the meat industry, acknowledging potential resourcing constraints for government.

The delegation had a constructive meeting and felt that our concerns were genuinely heard.  Ms Hanns and Ms Mayo confirmed that the outcomes of the meeting, together with the Forum recommendations, would be reported to the Minister, with a formal response expected early in the new year.

We thank the Minister, the Hon Amber Jade Sanderson MLA, for facilitating the meeting, and we thank industry for coming together to develop a coherent body of information outlining the challenges being experienced in workforce development, training and upskilling.

We will keep you informed as further outcomes are received.  Please feel free to contact Tony, if you would like to discuss the meeting or any related matter.

Tony Palladino

Tony@fftitc.com.au