Governance
The Australian Beef Sustainability Framework (ABSF) is an initiative of the Australian Beef Industry, and is governed by an Advisory Board and Steering Group (SG). The ABSF Advisory Board appoints the SG, which is an independent body appointed based on their individual skills, expertise, and their ability to operate strategically using a whole-of-industry lens.
When determining the membership, consideration is given to the geographic location to ensure that northern and southern cattle farming systems are adequately represented. Members are not appointed as representatives of any bodies, companies, or organisations. This ensures the SG remains independent, objective, and non-partisan. The SG is appointed for a specified term per individual, ensuring knowledge rollover between members. The purpose, composition, role, and term of the group is reviewed by the ABSF Advisory Board periodically. MLA acts as Secretariat to assist the SG. The SG Chair is not an executive of any industry body or MLA.
The full governance structure and responsibilities can be seen in the image below.
PRINCIPLES
The ABSF is underpinned by five guiding principles – relevancy, inclusivity, credibility, practicality, and transparency. These principles guide the SG decisions around implementation, engagement, and reporting.
