MEDIA RELEASE Friday 27 August 2021
The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) is delighted by the Morrison Government’s announcement today that the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM) has been further extended, until 30 June 2022, with an operational tail to the end of July 2022.
The Coalition Government is providing an additional $260.9 million to retain ongoing airfreight links between Australian businesses and international customers, to ensure the global supply chain remains open.
Since IFAM commenced on 1 April 2020, it has supported 35,000 jobs and 120,000 jobs indirectly reliant on airfreight and delivered Australian produce to 58 international destinations.
“AMIC is thrilled by the announcement of the IFAM extension, which has been essential to the whole Australian red meat supply chain over the past 18 months. It comes at a critical time for the industry which is currently facing a number of key issues including worker shortages and COVID-19 restrictions on workforce limits for high-risk industries,” said AMIC CEO Patrick Hutchinson.
“The extension of IFAM provides ongoing acknowledgment of the importance of reconnecting crucial global supply chains. It is essential in delivering highly valuable, and time-sensitive perishable, protein to a range of international markets.”
“AMIC has been working very closely with the IFAM team since the beginning of the program, on behalf of the whole red meat and pork supply chain. This positive outcome reflects the ongoing collaborative and consultative nature of the program.”
“AMIC would like to thank the Morrison Government for extending the program in the face of ongoing meat supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mr Hutchinson.
ENDS
About
The Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC), is the sole Peak Industry body representing the post-farm gate meat industry, including processors, smallgoods manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors through to independent retail butchers and exporters.
Media contact
Catharine Heffernan, General Manager, Communications
AMIC
