Industry mourns the passing of John Kerin AO

It is with sadness that we mourn John Kerin AO (pictured), who died last week at the age of 85.

Mr Kerin was considered by many as Australia’s greatest Agriculture Minister, serving during the Hawke government and establishing several long-lasting reforms that continue to have a positive impact on the sector today.

One of his standout achievements includes being the architect of the modern agricultural research and development system by establishing the Research and Development Corporations (of which MLA is one). Through the RDC system, levy-payers (primary producers) invest in research and marketing activities through a partnership with government.

This partnership has driven innovation and progress across agricultural commodities in Australia to the point where the overall agricultural sector was worth $90 billion in 2022.

When we look at many of the innovative practices and technologies that have become common on Australian farms over the last 30 years, many of them were introduced because of the work of the RDCs, or at least enhanced by them.

The system is thought of highly in Australia and around the world and is one of the many reasons behind the success of agriculture. It has helped the sector ride the ups and downs of productivity and profitability through droughts, floods, other disasters, and volatile commodity markets.

As well as being Australia’s longest-serving Agriculture Minister, Mr Kerin was also a previous Chairman of the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation (an MLA-predecessor company) and as a Director of CSIRO, among numerous others.

Mr Kerin will be missed by many and he leaves an immense and proud legacy for the Australian agricultural sector.

Alan Beckett
Chairman
Meat & Livestock Australia