Unique to NSW, the Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPAs) have a 150-year tradition of landholder-funded, district-based delivery of livestock health and pest management programs to safeguard agricultural production and contribute to the national biosecurity system.

The 14 LHPAs have staff at almost 60 locations across the state. Core areas of responsibility are animal health, pest animal and insect control and travelling stock reserves. LHPA’s assist producers in ensuring they have correctly identified stock and that stock movement is carried out in accordance with requirements. They also assist with the administration and delivery of drought support and natural disaster relief.

Widespread landholder and industry concerns lead to the deferral of certain changes to the LHPA rating system implemented from 1 January 2009. The LHPAs are established under the Rural Lands Protection Act 1998 and a review of this Act delivers on an election commitment of the NSW Government to conduct a comprehensive review of the LHPAs before the implementation of any new rating system.

The review will examine the objectives of the Rural Lands Protection Act 1998 and whether the provisions of the Act and the associated Rural Lands Protection Regulation 2010 are the best way to achieve those objectives. The review’s Terms of Reference are available below.

The review is being conducted by an independent consultant, Mr Terry Ryan, and will involve a series of regional consultation meetings, targetted meetings with key stakeholder groups, the release of an Issues Paper and a call for public submissions.

The review process is being oversighted by a joint industry and government Steering Committee comprising:

• Dr Richard Sheldrake - Director General, NSW Department of Primary Industries
• Ian Donges – Representative of State Council LHPA
• Charles Armstrong – Representative of NSW Farmers’ Association

A final report will be presented to the NSW Minister for Primary Industries.

Review of LHPA - Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference

A fundamental review of the Rural Lands Protection Act 1998 is to be undertaken. The review will:

1. clarify and assess the appropriateness of the Government’s objectives associated with the Rural Lands Protection Act 1998 and the Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPAs);
2. assess whether the provisions of the Act and the associated Rural Lands Protection Regulation 2010 are those which enable the Act’s objectives to be most efficiently achieved;
3. consider whether the objectives and functions of LHPA’s reflect contemporary biosecurity needs and State and national biosecurity priorities;
4. assess whether the LHPAs current biosecurity and land management responsibilities should be broadened;
5. determine the appropriate size and method of levying of rates upon landholders, including the size of minimum rateable landholdings and the base upon which rates are levied;
6. identify whether there are alternative governance models which may be more cost effective and would enhance regional service delivery for a range of services, including the services provided by the LHPA’s; and
7. investigate whether the proportion of public and private benefits generated by LHPA’s is reflected in the system’s funding sources.

In considering the objectives of the Act, the review will clearly identify those issues of ‘market failure’ which are being addressed and whether the scope of those objectives should be changed to capture other regionally-managed activities, such as other aspects of animal and plant health or certain aspects environmental management, where there would be ‘under-investment’ in the absence of effective government/industry partnership arrangements.

Review team

The review is being conducted by an independent consultant advised by a Government/industry Steering Committee. The consultant, Terry Ryan, has been engaged by the NSW Department of Trade & Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services under normal public sector terms and conditions.

Review process

In recognition of the fundamental importance of the Act to stakeholders, the review will consult widely and effectively to ensure all relevant stakeholder issues and potential solutions are considered.

The review will involve:

1. preparation of an Issues Paper by the NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services as a background document for the consultant and as a basis for regional consultation meetings and public submissions.
2. industry consultation – regional public meetings and targetted meetings with key stakeholders to discuss the Issues Paper, obtain preliminary feedback and invite submissions;
3. a public call for written submissions;
4. a draft report to the Steering Committee; and
5. a final report to the NSW Minister for Primary Industries.