Meat processors warn Covid restrictions could harm supply

A change to Victoria’s Covid restrictions on meat processors in Melbourne could impact the supply chain, the state farming body fears.

Meat processors have flagged concerns about enforced restrictions on processing capacity as the annual spring turn-off of sheep, lambs and cattle gets underway in Victoria.

Meat processors fear new Victorian Government Covid-19 restrictions could reduce processing capacity this spring, leaving up to one million surplus lambs unable to be processed.

As the annual spring flush kicks into gear, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews unexpectedly announced at the weekend that processors in metropolitan Melbourne would be subject to new workforce restrictions.

The Australian Meat Industry Council and the Victorian Farmers Federation have blasted Mr Andrews for his government’s lack of consultation over the change and lack of a road map forward.

According to AMIC, the industry was not contacted by the government about the change, but only found out after the announcement via the Premier’s website that there would be a 20 per cent reduction in workforce.

VFF president Emma Germano said the workforce restrictions were a “slap in the face” after the sector had committed so much to reducing risks.

“It is a major concern that processors may not be able to handle the spring flush of lambs,” she said.

AMIC chief executive Patrick Hutchinson “challenged the Victorian Government on their lack of information, lack of understanding of our industry, lack of respect, and lack of consultation to the meat processing and manufacturing industry”.

Mr Hutchinson said the industry’s on-site vaccination rates had not been considered, even with some facilities staff at 80-90 per cent fully vaccinated.

“It beggars’ belief that they would turn their back on an industry investing its own money in getting people vaccinated,” he said.

“Our industry has been at the forefront of testing and vaccination, with businesses investing heavily in private providers of these services, along with workforce vaccination incentives.”

Mr Hutchinson said Meat and Livestock Australia figures showed the restrictions, if applied across all Victoria, could see a surplus of almost one million lambs during spring.

“Even at the current restrictions on metro abattoirs, this would be approximately 350,000 surplus lambs, which would not be taken up by NSW processors as happened to some point last year,” he said.

AMIC also predicted a risk of reduced supply now and towards Christmas on all meat categories.

A Victorian Health Department spokesperson said “abattoir and meat processing facilities represent a uniquely high-risk”.

“The Victorian Government has been working closely with businesses in this industry and is grateful for their ongoing efforts to keep workers and the community safe.”

Meanwhile, in NSW the Dubbo saleyards has closed for two weeks after three people who attended the centre tested positive for Covid-19.

Meat processing facility, Fletchers from Dubbo, shutdown a fortnight ago due to concerns about the high cases in the community, and are still not buying this week.