The North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency (the Agency) Advisory Board held its monthly meeting in on 13 May 2019 in Mossman, Queensland.

The Board meeting was attended by invited guest Major General Stuart Smith (Ret’d) AO DSC, the Queensland Government State Recovery Coordinator. Major General Smith advised that there has been considerable work undertaken with each of the affected local government areas to identify longer-term recovery priorities and that these would be reflected in a Recovery Plan due June 2019.

The Board acknowledged the close working relationship with Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority and the Rural Financial Counselling Service, to promote the Restocking, Replanting and On-farm Infrastructure Grants Program. The $400,000 grant scheme was promoted at local community events through the affected Local Government Areas throughout Queensland, during the week of the 13 May 2019.  Community engagement activities were attended by Board members and NQLIRA staff in Ayr, Cloncurry, Hughenden, Ingham, Julia Creek, Longreach, Mossman, Normanton, Richmond, and Winton. 

The Board noted the challenges of rural and small businesses due to recent flood and drought events in Queensland and reflected on the short and long term recovery assistance available for affected small businesses, particularly those indirectly impacted by the floods.

The Board discussed the importance of knowledge transfer and agreed the importance of succession planning and farm management benchmarking and agreed that these issues were to be addressed in the long-term recovery strategy.   

The Chair of the Advisory Board met with Mayors and local pastoralists on their properties, visiting the Douglas, Hinchinbrook and Burdekin Shires.

The Advisory Board supports the Head of the Agency, the Hon Shane Stone AC QC, and comprises members with on-the-ground livestock industry experience, stakeholder groups, and representatives of federal and local governments. The role of the Board is to provide advice to Government about whether its policy intent is being realised on-the-ground and, if not, what changes to the policy are needed.

Members of the Advisory Board are:

• The Hon Shane L. Stone AC PGDK QC (Chair) - CEO North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency
• Tracey Hayes – former CEO of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association and board member of the CRC for Developing Northern Australia
• Don Heatley OAM – pastoralist and former Chair of Meat and Livestock Australia
• Greg Campbell – pastoralist and Mayor of Cloncurry Shire Council
• David Galvin - former Chair of LiveCorp
• Daryl Quinlivan - Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

The Board will continue to meet monthly, and will meet at other times as required.

Visit the Advisory Board and the North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency for more information.