A committee appointed to review the effectiveness of the Western Australian Meat Marketing Corporation and the WA Meat Commission has recommended to Agriculture Minister Ernie Bridge that both be scrapped.
The four-man committee headed by Professor David Lindsay was appointed in March this year to conduct the review of the two organisations.
Mr Bridge released the committee's final report during a breakfast address to the Rural Press Club of WA in the Members Pavilion at the Royal Agricultural Society showgrounds this morning.
"Under the Acts which govern the WAMMC and the WAMC, we are obliged to conduct reviews every five years to monitor performance," Mr Bridge said.
"I will examine the committee's recommendations very carefully before making any final decisions regarding the future of either organisation.
"The most important factor is to do what will best benefit the meat industry and the community at large," he said.
Mr Bridge stressed that the final outcome of the report would in no way affect existing meat contracts.
"It is essential that buyers are aware that the Corporation will continue to trade as normal for the time being and that any current or future commitments will be honoured," he said.
"It must be remembered that, in the case of the WAMMC, we are talking about an existing $25 million export industry."
In its report the committee also recommended:
· Until June 1994 the WAMMC be allowed to continue to trade in lamb and other meats under the provisions of the Marketing of Meats Act;
· The assets of the WAMMC, including land, buildings and vehicles remain the property of the meat industry and be used to achieve the privatisation of the WAMMC by June 30, 1995; and
· The Abattoir Act be repealed and the operations of the WAMC cease by December 31, 1994.
