Angry and frustrated stock agents have called on the Andrew’s State Government to delay its planned introduction of mandatory scanning of electronic ear-tags in the state’s sheep saleyards, a move set to begin from mid-2017. The call for patience, and a trial to test the available technology at a major regional saleyard, surfaced during a hostile meeting of agents in Ballarat last Friday, where some rather colourful language was used to describe the fragmented messages being heard at the consultative meetings be conducted around the state by Agriculture Department representatives. Organised by Australian Livestock and Property Agents Association (ALPA) southern division, and chaired by ALPA national executive officer, Andy Madigan, the gathering of approximately 40 agents outlined their concerns that current technology, in its present form, could disrupt the natural flow of heavily-laden sales.  Addressing the gathering southwest stock agent, Andrew Gunn, a partner in Kerr & Co Livestock, Hamilton said it would not the end of the world if scanning of sheep and lambs were introduced; but common sense needs to prevail as all of industry knows electronic scanning will, some in the near future, be introduced. But as agents we must understand our role he said as he compared agents’ duties to their counterparts within the share market? The makeup of entities within the share market and our livestock industry are similar, Mr Gunn said. “Within the share market we have brokers acting as agents for their clients, purchasing or selling shares and conciliating sales. And, on our side we are doing the same role but with a different asset class”. Then the next step down is ASIC (Australian Securities and Investment Commission), Mr Gunn continued. ASIC is Australia’s corporate; markets and financial services regulator to the share market – a department of government nonetheless – and our ASIC is the Department of Agriculture in Victoria. It is interesting to note, compare and understand ASIC’s role, Mr Gunn said. “It is to maintain, facilitate and improve the performance of the financial system and entities within; promote confident and informed participation by investors and consumers in the financial system; administer the law effectively and with minimal procedural requirements enforce and give effect to the law; receive, process and store, efficiently and quickly, information that is given to us; and finally, make information about companies and other bodies available to the public as soon as possible. It is not dissimilar to the role in which our Department of Agriculture should stand by us? and what is the charter of Ag Department he then asked. Quoting from its webpage Mr Gunn said “Agriculture Victoria Services is the commercial interface between DEDJTR and private industry”. “It protects, manages and commercialises new technologies generated by the agriculture research and development divisions” End of quote. So why does not the Department of Agriculture in Victoria live and work by its charter? Mr Gunn queried “But it is indeed difficult to negotiate with any organisation or government department if they have little working knowledge of the industry, and this is what we are dealing with” he said. “We must be united as agents. We must not let bureaucrats undermine our industry nor let self-interested processors manipulate the livestock market or markets”. “We must have a professional and mature understanding of the implementation of electronic tags but before that happens we must have a case study or case studies comparing other industries. Mr Gunn then cited organisations such as Australia Post and its tracking of parcels, and the airline industries’ use of a combination of devices that allows customers to track their baggage using GSM, GPS and Bluetooth technologies, so why not compare these similarities to our industry? he asked “So let’s please be patient; in a few years we will have the technology we require to scan sheep and goats in Victoria, let alone in Australia. On Monday Mr Gunn informed Stock & Land he has since written to Minister Jaalna Pulford declaring he and his company Kerr & Co Livestock are in support of her recommendation. However, he believes it is premature due to the lack of technology, and the vast numbers, to make the decision compulsory in saleyards at this point. Mr Gunn has suggested a trail in one set of saleyards within the state was conducted. He declared Horsham Regional Livestock Exchange would be a likely venue, and suggested a minimum trial of 18 months be observed so all relevant parties can test the available current technology in vast numbers required. He said this would help iron out all the hitches before the scheme is rolled out to all selling centres within the state and it would elevate an enormous blow out in unnecessary costs for those involved. “And, being patient and doing our homework diligently we will appease such group as Animal Welfare, Livestock & Rural Trucking Association Victoria (LRTAV) & Work Safe Victoria”, he added