Cattle Australia (CA) instigated the review of the Cattle Transaction Levy (CTL) as the health of the levy has not been checked since 2009. The levy itself has not been changed since 2006, with some streams within the levy not amended since 1998. To ensure the levy remains fit for purpose and is delivering upon the aspirations of the grass-fed cattle industry, the review was prioritised upon the establishment of CA.
The Review Committee includes three CA Directors and, following an open call for nominations, five producers and two independent committee members were appointed.
CA Directors: Bryce Camm (Committee Chair) Elke Cleverdon, Garry Edwards
Southern region: Hugh Nivison, Harry Youngman
Northern region: Rob Atkinson, Julie McDonald
Western region: Dean Ryan
Independent specialist government systems: Colin Hunter
Independent specialist research and development corporations: Jason Strong
The Committee has been tasked with engaging across industry and collecting views on the current cattle transaction levy arrangements and identifying the challenges and opportunities for maximising the value and impact of the levy into the future.
The Committee will publish discussion papers and undertake stakeholder surveys to seek views on the effectiveness and value of current levy investments, and an independent economic analysis report expected to be completed in early June.
Once feedback has been provided, further consultation will be undertaken, including in person and online events, prior to finalising recommendations for any resolutions to be considered at the MLA Annual General Meeting in November.
15 May 2026
Discussion paper one: Principles guiding the review of the grassfed Cattle Transaction Levy – Click here to view
Summary of discussion paper one – Click here to view
June 2026
Stakeholder survey – Perspectives on CTL performance – Click here to view
12 June 2026
Discussion paper – Draft economic report on CTL
26 June 2026
Stakeholder survey – Perspectives on the CTL economic report
July – August 2026
In-person and online event – details to be advised
31 August 2026
Recommendations finalised by CTL review committee
24 November 2026
MLA Annual General Meeting
There will be multiple avenues for producers to be involved in the review, with online and face-to-face engagement schedules currently being developed. If you would like to stay informed regarding when these events will be, please follow the Cattle Australia social media accounts and sign up to the mailing list here.
The Grassfed Beef Levy is collected by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and distributed to industry service providers, Meat and Livestock Australia, Animal Health Australia and the National Residue Survey.
Cattle Australia does not collect levies but ensures levy funds are used in an accountable way.
To find out more about the organisations putting your levies to work, click the icons below:
Australian grassfed cattle producers pay a $5 per head levy at the point of sale. This usually forms just part of the fees and charges a producer will pay.
This is divided between industry research and development, marketing, animal welfare, biosecurity and pays for our involvement in the National Residue Survey.
Industry advises the Minister for Agriculture how it wants levy is distributed, and it is approved provided it meets all legal criteria.
The current distribution is set out below.
The livestock transaction levy is a mandatory, statutory charge collected on the sale, transfer of ownership, or slaughter of cattle, sheep, and goats in Australia. The Federal Government collects the levy through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) to fund research, marketing, biosecurity, and residue testing.
For more information on how the Federal Government collects the levy through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) please see Cattle transaction levy – DAFF
Cattle Australia does not collect levies but, represents the industry to ensure grassfed cattle transaction levy funds are invested in an efficient and accountable way to maximise benefits to grassfed cattle producers.
The cattle transaction levy is an industry led system that has been in place since the 1990s. The levy enables industry-wide, coordinated investments to benefit industry, that individual producers cannot effectively fund alone, including:
Since 2006 the $5.00 grassfed cattle transaction levy has been divided and allocated according to the table below.
Organisation / Program | Amount | Share |
MLA domestic and international beef marketing programs | $3.66 | 73% |
MLA Research & Development programs | $0.92* | 18% |
Animal Health Australia (AHA) for animal health, disease surveillance and preparedness programs | $0.13 | 6% |
National Residue Survey (NRS) monitoring residues and contaminants in products to protect domestic and international market access | $0.29 | 3% |
*Note that every $0.92 allocated to MLA research & development programs is able to be matched with funding from the Australian Government to reach total value of $1.84.
In 2024-25, $75 million in transaction levies were collected from Australia’s grassfed cattle sector and invested as follows:
Organisation / Program | Amount |
Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) | $61.6m total |
MLA marketing | $39.83m |
MLA research & development | $10.41m |
Animal Health Australia | $8.7m |
National Residue Survey | $5.1m |
You can find more information at the suggested links below:
Meat & Livestock Australia
MLA grassfed cattle levy investments
MLA annual report 2024-25
MLA annual investment plan 2025-26
Animal Health Australia
Home – Animal Health Australia
National Residue Survey
National Residue Survey – DAFF
The grassfed cattle transaction levy of $5.00 per head was implemented at the last review in 2006 and has remained at that level. Cattle Australia instigated this review in 2025 to ensure it remains fit for purpose and delivering benefits to the grassfed cattle industry.
The review aims to ensure the levy:
The cattle transaction levy was last reviewed in full in 2006.
It is generally agreed that a review of the levy should be undertaken on a more regular basis, in order for the levy to be best set up to continue to deliver maximum benefits to industry.
The levy review committee is consulting with industry on establishing fixed review periods.
The Review is being led by an industry Committee which includes three Cattle Australia Directors and, following an open call for nominations, five producers and two independent committee members.
CA Directors: Bryce Camm (Committee Chair) Elke Cleverdon, Garry Edwards
Southern region: Hugh Nivison, Harry Youngman
Northern region: Rob Atkinson, Julie McDonald
Western region: Dean Ryan
Independent specialist government systems: Colin Hunter
Independent specialist research and development corporations: Jason Strong
The Cattle Transaction Review Committee has been tasked with engaging across industry and collecting views on the current cattle transaction levy arrangements and identifying the challenges and opportunities for maximising the value and impact of the levy into the future.
The Review Committee will publish discussion papers and undertake stakeholder surveys to seek views on the effectiveness and value of current levy investments, and an independent economic analysis report.
Once feedback has been provided, further consultation will be undertaken, including in person and online events, prior to finalising recommendations for any resolutions to be considered at the MLA Annual General Meeting in November.
Timeframe | Activity |
February | Independent Cattle Transaction Levy Review Committee appointed |
April–May – June | Analysis: Independent economic analyses; consultation on discussion papers; producer surveys |
July–August | Industry consultation events |
September | Reporting: Draft recommendations; Final report |
November | MLA AGM – producer voting opportunity on potential recommendations |
December | Government consideration and potential implementation |
The Committee is reviewing how cattle levy funds are distributed and whether expanding investment into additional areas could address emerging or underfunded issues, improve alignment with industry priorities, and ensure all major drivers of industry impact are appropriately funded.
It is also considering whether adjustments to current allocations may be needed to keep the levy aligned with industry priorities and objectives.
These considerations are guided by effectiveness and impact, transparency and accountability, alignment with policy objectives, and value for money.
There are current system has restrictions in place that do not allow for the levy to be moved between these four areas without undertaking considerable review and consultation processes. The option of increased flexibility to allocate funds between levy streams in certain circumstances is under consideration as part of the review process.
The review will consider the full range of options and undertake industry consultation in relation to those options. Possible recommendation may relate to:
Will Evans brings extensive leadership, advocacy and policy experience to the role of Cattle Australia CEO.
Prior to joining CA in July 2025, he held the role of CEO of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association.
Prior to leading the NTCA, Will held industry positions in the areas of policy development with the former Cattle Council of Australia and for the Northern Territory Live Exporters Association.
Garry was born and raised on a commercial beef cattle property south of Gloucester in New South Wales. Garry has personal cattle production interests in this region today as well as his corporate role as the Managing Director and CEO of AAM, a business that has a significant focus in continuing to expand beyond our cattle production interests in Central West NSW, near Forbes and Bective Station near Tamworth, NSW.
Garry has over 25 years’ experience in large scale livestock production management within the Australian agribusiness sector. His experience spans across a vast array of areas of the agricultural supply chain and includes managing businesses involved in livestock breeding, growing and finishing, financing of agricultural projects, implementation of precision agriculture practices, investigation and implementation of sustainability and innovation initiatives and developing and operating integrated agricultural businesses.
In 2007, Garry founded the company that today is AAM, commencing the development, operation and management of a portfolio of agricultural assets valued at $887 million and he remains the major shareholder of AAM.
Garry has a unique skill set across multiple facets of the grass-fed cattle production supply chain, from production through to finishing, as well as a unique perspective of the challenges facing all grass-fed producers within Australia through his involvement in the modernisation and development of livestock marketing facilities throughout Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
George is married with four (4) children, Harry 24, Emma 22, Dave 15 and Tom 13. He also enjoys flying and has his pilot’s license.
George is also a Founding Director of The Wellness House and a Founding Director of ONFARM CO. He has a strong voluntary involvement with his community including as the NSW Rural Fire Services Senior Dept Capt. and Chairman of St Paul’s Carcoar.
Bryce Camm hails from Dalby in Queensland’s Darling Downs region where he oversees his family’s company Camm Agricultural Group; an integrated beef and cropping enterprise with interests across Queensland.
Bryce has been CEO of the group for the past eight years. Prior to that he was the Manager of the group’s award winning Wonga Plains Feedlot for eight years where he oversaw the operation triple in size. Growing up on “Natal Downs” Station in north Queensland Bryce undertook a dual degree in Business Administration and Communications at Bond University and is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program as well as the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course.
Bryce is currently the Chairman of Beef Australia Ltd and the Immediate Past President of the Australian Lot Feeders Council, as well as a previous Director of the Red Meat Advisory Council.
Elke Cleverdon is an experienced non-executive director and long-term cattle producer from Harden in regional NSW.
As Joint Owner & Director of Cleverdon Agriculture since 1993, she has managed a self-replacing Black Angus herd, raising and trading cattle with her family. Her deep connection to the land ensures she brings a genuine producer perspective to national industry leadership.
Elke has chaired Cattle Australia’s Audit & Risk Committee for the past three years, strengthening governance, financial accountability, and member confidence during a critical stage of the organisation’s development. She is passionate about ensuring producers have a strong, credible voice and that their interests are advanced in a fair, profitable, and sustainable supply chain.
Her professional background includes more than 16 years in executive leadership in customer-owned banking and eight years as a rural financial coach, supporting farming businesses across NSW. She has also been recognised nationally through the National Farmers’ Federation Diversity in Ag Leadership program.
Elke currently serves as a non-executive director with Horticulture Innovation Australia, Murrumbidgee Local Health District (NSW Health), and SWS Bank. She is a Fellow CPA, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Master of Business Administration.
Elke brings critical thinking, strong financial and risk management skills, and a passion for strategy and sustainability. She is committed to advancing the long-term interests of Australia’s cattle producers by ensuring Cattle Australia remains a trusted, effective, and transparent advocate for the industry.
Nominated by: Peter Hall, Troy Setter, Bryce Camm, David Hill, Adam Coffey
For the past 45 years, David has held rural property management, executive and senior management positions across all mainland states in areas of; beef cattle & sheep breeding, growing and lot feeding, meat retailing, small seed growing, irrigated fodder, and the further processing and exporting of primary products such as meat, grain and fodder.
His export experiences which started in 1989 included a role with Stanbroke Pastoral Company to help develop Stanbroke’ s Live cattle export program. Additionally, David managed the integration of Bottle Tree feedlot grain feeding in the production system while developing and launching their now globally recognised Diamantina beef brand.
David has been in a leadership role at the Lee Family’s, Australian Country Choice group of Companies since 1999 and progressed in that time from General Manager Properties & Livestock to Group Managing Director until stepping back in December 2020 from a full time role to a strategic advisory and board role.
Headquartered in Brisbane and employing over 1,400 staff across 42 operations, Australian Country Choice (ACC) operates Australia’s largest vertically integrated beef supply chain; encompassing cattle breeding, cattle growing and feedlotting to supply its integrated food processing facility in Brisbane that incorporates beef slaughter, beef boning, value-adding and case ready beef packing.
ACC’s cattle property portfolio of around 4 million acres in Queensland & NSW encompasses operations from the Barkly Tableland, CQ coalfields, Carnarvon ranges, Augathella, Blackall, Roma, and Moonie districts of Queensland, with a carrying capacity of 300,000 head. of cattle to support the Company’s 3 feedlots.
Additionally, David represents Agricultural & Cattle industry interests in his role as; Non-Government member Australia Indonesia Red Meat & Cattle Partnership, member SmartSat CRC, member Cattle Australia -Policy Council, member Australian Meat Industry Council -China & Halal Trade Groups, Chair Workplace Health & Safety Queensland -Rural Industry Sector Standing Committee, Deputy Chair Laguna Bay Pastoral investment committee and Board Member lnventia Genetic Technologies (IGT).
Away from work David has a small cattle property in the Mt Kilcoy (Qld) district running Charolais & Charbray breeders to the delight of his four grandchildren.
David wishes to continue into a second term to help build a strong and successful Cattle Australia to represent the interest of all cattle producers
