• $861,773 (GST incl) to Seafood Industry Australia to harmonise audit standards.
• Part of $5.94 million (GST incl) for projects to improve market transparency across perishable agricultural goods (PAG) supply chains.

A grant of $861,773 will back the Coalition Government’s commitment to strong and fair supply chains across the seafood sector.

Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said Seafood Industry Australia would now work with industry and the retail sector to streamline and harmonise audit requirements and improve market transparency.

“Every Australian producer deserves a fair negotiation process for their goods and we are working to ensure better market transparency across the seafood industry,” Minister Littleproud said.

“This project directly addresses key recommendations made by a recent Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Inquiry into Perishable Agricultural Goods industries.

“And it directly supports our plan to help industry realise it’s goal of $100 billion in value by 2030.”

Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam said the project would benefit both the seafood industry and Australian consumers.

“Australians consumed 335,000 tonnes of seafood in 2019–20, which equates to 12kg of seafood per person on average,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.

“This grant will help to reduce administration and therefore costs for our fishers by making audit requirements more straightforward.

“Ultimately this means that it will be easier for them to deliver our sustainable, high-quality Australian seafood to markets, which is great for them and great for Aussies wanting to get their hands on this product on the market shelf.”

Liberal Candidate for Lyons Susie Bower said that growing primary industries was a key part of her plan for Lyons.

“I am proud to be a part of a team that has shown unwavering support for the agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture industries,” Ms Bower said.

“This investment is a really important step to helping our fishers get their product to market more easily, which is great for fishers and seafood producers across Lyons.

“These investments are only made possible by having a strong economy, and only the Coalition has a plan for a strong economy and a stronger future for Tasmania.”

Seafood Industry Australia CEO Veronica Papacosta said the project would see industry work closely with supermarkets to simplify multiple audit requirements into a single set of standards.

“Improving market transparency improves both consumer and retailer confidence in the industry. It creates stronger trust between producers, wholesalers and retailers; and drives productivity and competition,” Ms Papacosta said.

“To achieve greater market transparency, increase competition, and open supply opportunities to more Australian seafood producers, this project will harmonise the food safety and sustainability standards into one single audit system across all major Australian retailers and their suppliers.

“This project is good for the seafood industry, and it’s good for our great Australian seafood consumers.”

Fast facts:

• The Australian Government is investing $5.94 million (GST incl) in projects to improve market transparency across perishable agricultural goods supply chains.
• The ACCC inquiry into PAG recommended that governments and industries explore measures to increase price transparency in perishable agricultural goods industries, to increase competition in those industries.
• Workshops were held in late 2021 with the chicken meat, dairy, horticulture, pork, red meat, seafood, and wine grapes sectors, providing opportunities to identify price and market transparency issues and explore tools and processes to address them.