Question Time

Sheep and Goat Electronic Identification

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries on the topic of the rollout of the sheep and goat electronic identification.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Currently, there is a key date for the movement of sheep and farm goats born on or after 1 January 2025 requiring an NLIS-accredited eID tag before leaving their property of birth from January 2025 and the date of saleyard operators to be ready to scan sheep and farm goats identified with eID tags and to record individual movements on the NLIS database is set for July 2025. My questions to the minister are:

1. Are the saleyard infrastructure upgrades on track for the key eID rollout date of July 2025? If they are not on track for the key date of July 2025, when will the minister make the call on the producers' January 2025 date?

2. Has the minister resolved concerns raised by the saleyards about quantity limits put on infrastructure by the department for the rebate and, if not, why not?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:20): I thank the honourable member for her question. In terms of the saleyards, members may recall that there has been a process in place where, consistent with the national guidelines, set amounts of types of infrastructure were outlined. For those who did not consider that their saleyards were appropriately covered by those guidelines and, therefore, by those recommendations in terms of essential infrastructure, they were able to have an independent assessment of that on the particular circumstances around their saleyards.

The total eligible amount is 75 per cent, which is consistent with what has been announced since day one in terms of the government commitment to assisting the industry in terms of implementing eID, remembering of course that the implementation of eID is to support a national approach to the individual tracking of sheep and farmed goats to improve traceability. Improved traceability is increasingly important. It has always been important, but it's getting even more so, given the increases in biosecurity risks with greater global movement, trade movement and so on.

A number of needs analyses were received and technical assessments were completed. There were a number which sought additional information, or to provide additional information, and those circumstances are being taken into account. As I understand it, I think from memory, two out of the three have, I believe, accepted where things are now at. We have had some useful periods of discussion and additional information provided. I will have to check where the third one is at because it did still have some questions around it.