Performance review response - 2023
Welcome to Meat & Livestock Australia’s (MLA) 2023 Review of Performance implementation progress report. Performance reviews are a requirement of MLA's statutory funding agreement with the Australian Government which covers key areas of strategy setting, stakeholder consultation and corporate governance.
The latest independent review, conducted by GHD, covers MLA’s governance, stakeholder engagement, planning and operation for the three-year period to 2023.
The review finds that MLA and its subsidiaries, Integrity Systems Company (ISC) and MLA Donor Company (MDC) are considered to be delivering value for red meat producers and those across the value chain.
The review identifies several recommendations for MLA to implement and/or continue in pursuit of ongoing improvement.
|
Recommendation MLA should publish the terms of reference for the consultative and advisory forums it convenes. |
|
Response MLA acknowledges the importance of transparency and stakeholder engagement, and we are committed to enhancing our consultative and advisory processes. As part of this commitment, moving forward, we will ensure that the terms of reference for all consultative and advisory forums are always published and readily accessible to all stakeholders. This initiative aims to foster greater clarity, accountability and collaboration with industry. Terms of reference for current industry groups can be found at Industry Consultation | Meat & Livestock Australia (mla.com.au) |
|
Recommendation MLA should pursue opportunities to continue to improve communication of its evaluation results to internal and external stakeholders, including real-time dashboards and tools to assist in investment planning and decision-making. |
|
Response MLA is dedicated to enhancing the transparency and accessibility of our evaluation results. We recognise the importance of effective communication with both internal and external stakeholders. To this end, we will actively explore opportunities to implement real-time dashboards as well as other innovative tools. These initiatives will support informed investment planning and decision-making, ensuring that our stakeholders are well-equipped with timely and relevant information. |
|
Recommendation Integrity Systems Company (ISC) should continue to provide regular status updates and consult with stakeholders to ensure they remain informed and engaged throughout the delivery of the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) Uplift Project. |
|
Response ISC has developed a comprehensive stakeholder engagement and communication plan to underpin the delivery of the NLIS Database Uplift Project. Stakeholder engagement is embedded in the project consultation framework through the industry and government co-design groups, the technical reference committee and end user-focus groups. A webpage has been developed to house key information about the project, the governance and consultation frameworks that have been established, and activities that are underway. Regular updates are being shared through ISC’s Integrity Matters newsletter and through a dedicated newsletter on the NLIS Database Uplift Project. Regular forums and showcases will be held throughout the project to keep stakeholders and end users informed of how the project is progressing. |
|
Recommendation MLA should continue to work with Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) and LiveCorp to ensure appropriate oversight of jointly funded programs, including representation on joint funded program steering committees and consultative forums. |
|
Response MLA is committed to maintaining robust partnerships with the Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) and LiveCorp and we recognise the importance of appropriate oversight for jointly-funded programs. MLA will continue to ensure active representation on joint-funded program steering committees and consultative forums. This collaborative approach will enhance the effectiveness and accountability of our initiatives, benefiting industry, as well as all stakeholders involved. |
|
Recommendation MLA should consider, where appropriate, sharing learnings and intellectual property (IP) on its monitoring and evaluation approach with other research and development corporations (RDCs). |
|
Response MLA acknowledges the importance of knowledge exchange within industry and is committed to fostering collaborative learning opportunities with other RDCs, where applicable. MLA will continue to leverage its important role within the council of RDCs to share best practice. This initiative aims to foster innovation, enhance collective expertise, and drive continuous improvement across industry. |
|
Recommendation MLA should continue its work to establish data collection, collation and reporting for non-economic (environmental and social) impacts in line with the triple bottom line (TBL) evaluation framework. In particular, priority should be given to establishing an improved methodology for evaluating investment in its CN30 (carbon neutral by 2030) projects. |
|
Response MLA is proud of the progress that has been made with our triple bottom line (TBL) framework and will continue to refine and further develop evaluation across the portfolio. MLA is dedicated to advancing data collection, collation and reporting practices to encompass non-economic impacts, including environmental and social dimensions, in alignment with the triple bottom line (TBL) evaluation framework. We recognise the critical importance of these efforts, particularly in relation to our CN30 (carbon neutral by 2030) projects. As such, we will prioritise the development of an improved methodology for evaluating investments in these initiatives. Environmental sustainability is a key pillar of Red Meat 2030. Working to both evaluate and communicate the progress in this space is and will continue to be a key focus for MLA. This commitment underscores our dedication to sustainability and our goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. |
