The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) welcomes the Albanese Government’s announcement of a 12-month delay to its implementation of increases to fees and charges associated with its export regulatory services.
AMIC CEO Tim Ryan said, “AMIC expresses its appreciation to the Albanese Government including Minister Collins and the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) for listening and responding to industry concerns by delaying plans which would have affected Australia’s international competitiveness and the economic viability of red meat export businesses at a time of particular challenges and uncertainty.”
AMIC has raised serious concerns since the December 2025 announcement of the government’s intention to charge export businesses for a greater suite of government activities and significantly increase fees and charges to cover the rapidly expanding costs in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
“AMIC has persistently raised industry’s concerns with the Government’s proposed changes, and this announcement is a reflection of our work to ensure that the challenges faced by Australian meat businesses are known and heard by the Australian Government,” Mr Ryan said
Despite today’s announcement, the proposed changes ultimately represent a tax on agricultural exports at a critical time of international trade uncertainty and restriction, with red meat businesses currently facing significantly increased costs, loss of critical overseas markets, and genuine risks to the viability of meat businesses and regional jobs.
AMIC has advocated strongly against the expansion of government cost recovery to additional areas of government export regulatory services and insisted on the need to review DAFFs expenses.
“While AMIC welcomes the 12-month delay, we remain committed to working with government to drive agricultural productivity, particularly through efficient trade and access to overseas markets. In this respect, AMIC reaffirms our call for an independent review of DAFF’s cost base to be carried out during this transition period to provide transparency and prioritise areas to drive productivity in regulatory services,” Mr Ryan said
ENDS
About AMIC
The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC), is the sole Peak Industry body representing the meat industry, including processors, smallgoods manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors through to independent retail butchers and exporters.
Media contact:
Jemma Harper – General Manager Corporate Affairs
M: 0429 040 128
E: [email protected]
