Devonport abattoir, located in Tasmania and owned by JBS, a multi species abattoir with a checkered past.
Other Names
- North West Rendering8
- Devonport City abattoir.
Current Operation
- Aus Meat Accreditation registration dated 29/12/2015 #13T – JBS Australia Pty Ltd (Devonport).18
- registered as a Beef, Sheep and Pig, Domestic facility.16
- Direct employment enquiries to www.jbssa.com.au
Location
- Devonport is located approximately midway on the Northern coast of Tasmania
Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas.
Owner
- North West Rendering and Devonport City abattoir (1980)8
- Co-owner Dale Grey8
- Co-owner – John Brown9
- Tasman Group (2005)9
- JBS (2008)1
- Abattoirs owned by JBS in Tasmania
- Devonport abattoir (Tas) (2008) – another multi species abattoir.
- Longford (Tas)
- King Island abattoir (Tas) (2008) – closed in 2012.
- Abattoirs owned by JBS Queensland.
- Townsville (QLD)
- Rockhampton (QLD)
- Dinmore abattoir (QLD)
- Riverview (QLD)
- Toowoomba (QLD) – more commonly known as Beef City
- Abattoirs owned by JBS in Victoria
- Brooklyn (Vic)
- Cobram (Vic)
- Abattoirs owned by JBS in New South Wales
- Yanco (NSW)
- Scone abattoir (NSW)
- Abattoirs owned by JBS in South Australia
Operation
- Multi species abattoir located ajacent to Devonport saleyards1
- Processes beef, sheep and pork1
- Capacity 150 beef daily and 1,200 Smallstock daily (Lamb, mutton, Veal and Pork)1
- Employs 150 people1
History
1977
- Devonport rendering plant had been in operation6
- Note – some conflict of when abattoir operations began, not sure if 1977 was a previous owner prior to Devonport City abattoir acquisition.
1980
- Meatworks operation began9
1995
- August. Employee Ian Sutton sacked by abattoir for mistreatment of sheep, Industrial relations hearing of Ian Sutton was supported by AMIEU for unfair dismissal – court dismissed and sacking held.10
1997
- Expanded rendering works.5
2000
- October. Quoiba Progress Association Ltd v North West Rendering Pty Ltd. – Resource Management and Planning appeal tribunal found that the rendering works had caused material harm in breach of section 52 of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act.5
- Facility was to cease operating unless after 12 months it could reduce emissions of odour by 2 odour units.5
- NWR given 18 months to fix odour problems7
2001
- Rendering works was the only facility in Tasmania taking external meat waste from around the state to5
2002
- March. Contested hearing conducted – regarding Rendering works – to consider if had complied with tribunal orders5
- residents still experiencing odour problems7
- Works operators and Director of Environmental management submitted to hearing that rendering works had “substantially complied”5
- Quoiba Progress association disputed claim.5
- Tribunal found rendering works hadn’t complied – effectively ruling that after 27 April 2002 operation of the rendering works at the current premises in Quoiba was unlawful5
- Given 12 months to relocate7
- NWR commenced supreme court action challenging original decision5
- Judge ruled testing regime for acceptable odour emissions as set out in original orders was too unclear7
- Matter set back to original tribunal panel to decide if any fresh orders should be made.7
- June. Smithton abattoir (Tas) retrenches 21 workers.11
- Blue Ribbon (owners of Smithton) insolvent and collapse.12
- Devonport says it is doing well but calls for inquiry into the state meat industry11
- September. Agreement reached for new site for rendering plant8
- Previous negotiations had considered operating hours and ungrades.8
- Planning & Appeals tribunal decreed odour still unacceptable.8
- NRW have agreed with Websters to purchase 65ac near Parramatta creek.8
- Cost of $3M8
- Previous negotiations had considered operating hours and ungrades.8
2003
- August. Installed $125,000 bio-oxygen odour control generator at the rendering plant6
- Local residents had complained of smells since 19776
- Abattoir had considered relocated but was unable to find suitable land in the last 12 months6
- Would have to sack 200 people if business was closed6
- September. Resource Management and Planning Tribunal would rule on decision to allow plant to operate or close it down6
2004
- Devonport City abattoir had owned Wignalls – sold to Tasma smallgoods in Hobart.
- focus on contract killings at Devonport (Quoiba) site
2005
- July.Tasman Group purchase Devonport facilities.9
- Resource Management and Planning tribunal hearing7
- North West Rendering Pty Ltd (NWR) confirmed that the rendering plant and land had been sold and the company was no longer involved with the operation of the plant – to Tasman Group Services (JBS)7
- NWR changed name to Brown and Grey No2 Pty Ltd.5
- Quoiba progress Association to work with new owners to address odour problems.7
- Tribunal was unable to make any orders in relation to ongoing plant operations7
2006
- Tasman Group Chairman – Giuseppe Catalfamo brided Cole’s head of supermarket merchadising Peter Scott (Coles fired Scott in 2007).13
- Scott had acquired million dollar bayside apartment from Catalfamo13
- Considered a breach of retailers code of conduct – Tasman group main supplier of beef in Victoria and Tasmania13
- Catalfamo been caught bribing and meat substitution in past – horse-meat substitution scandel that threatened Australia’s export industry 20 years ago, fined and banned from exporting to the USA for 10 years.13
- Devonport abattoir provides Woolworths with fresh sausages for 29 Tasmanian stores13
- Tasman Group – report ending 200513
- sales had increased 30% but profit halved to $6.3M13
- Company borrowings total nearly $62M13
- Main creditors – National Australia Bank, ANZ and Japanese meat company Hannan Corporation13
2008
- JBS purchased as part of Tasman group when entered Australia with acquitsition of AMH3
- Tasman Group consists of abattoirs in Tasmania – Longford, Devonport and King Island14
- Tasman group 3 abattoirs in Tasmania including King Island and 3 in Victoria.14
- JBS paid $US150M14
- JBS also purchased Smithfield Group $US565M14
- Has four abattoirs14
- JB also purchase National Beef $US560M14
- Has three abattoirs14
- 2 meat processing facilities14
2011
- JBS elect to combine it’s US and Australian beef processing results into a common finanical report presented at ‘US beef’.22
- Impossible to distinguish Australia’s performance and contribution to the overall result.22
2012
- JBS Australia split into two operating entities to make Northern and Southern regions in relation to abattoirs and feedlots within those areas15.
- South – Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania15
- North – NSW and QLD.15
2013
- Closure of King Island abattoir (Tas) assisted the supply of cattle to Longford.
- JBS “Company is still pleased with its decision to close (King Island)” John Berry. JBS director2
- Islands King Island and Flinders supply 200-450 head cattle a week, higher in spring run.3
- Longford process 450 cattle a day – 4 day week roster.3
- King Island cattle supply receives freight subsidy – sliding scale – $26 into Stanley in proximity to Smithton abattoir (Tas), $30 into Devonport4.Where cattle can be sent to Devonport or Longford abattoir (Tas)
- Scale acts as disincentive to increase freight efficency.4
- September. JBS launch brand launch.20
Great Southern Logo. Source Beef Central 27.09.2013
- Great Southern grassfed beef and lamb.20
- Products first of their type in Australia.20
- third party audited program JAS/ANZ ISO.20
- 65 accredited farm quality assurance programs backing the brand.20
- huge demand in domestic and global customers for traceable fresh grassfed meat.20
- supplied by best practice producers with better livestock genetics.20
- MSA graded for eating quality.20
- Farmers would receive premium prices.20
- 10c/kg premium applied to grid for UK.20
- 650 farmers through NSW, Vic & Tasmania accredited to supply the program.20
- Audit costs (for farmers) are paid by JBS.20
- Audits conducted by AsureQuality.20
- Animals are consigned driect to JBS.20
- forward pricing.20
- Animals consigned through saleyards would not be eligible.20
- “Today the margins are so tight that if you want a point of difference and that premium or no discount, you have got to be involved with quality assurance” Jeremy Upton, Producer.20
- November. JBS Swift Australia install closed-circuit television camera’s (CCTV) in it’s Australian meatworks.21
- For the purpose of animal welfare and meatworker safety issues.21
- CCTV for internal use by only JBS, with no plans to allow outsiders to view the footage.21
- JBS’s US beef division (which includes Australia) delivered drop in net sales and earnings in it’s third quarter financial results.22
- Australia’s division performance and overall contribution to the overall result is impossible to distinguish due to inclusion with US and Canadian beef processing results.22
- Earnings before tax $134M,.22
- Down by 22.5% on previous quarter.22
- Down by 28.4% on third quarter last year.22
- result reflection of domestic North American markets.22
- Improved performance had occured in Australian.22
- Demand had increased in Chinese markets.22
- Improved performance had occured in Australian.22
2014
- April. Devonport currently employ 150 people.19
- July. JBS Australia across all facilities in operation kills daily.15
- 8,500 cattle,15
- 24,000 smalls – which includes lambs15
- Employs more than 8,000 people15
- December.
- JBS currently operate 12 meat processing plants across 5 Australian states16
- Wages & local procurement $730M (Excluding livestock purchases)16
- Employs 8,500 people at the facilities16
- Employs 12,000 people in Australia16
- Total revenue of $6.5B16
JBS processing plants in Australia
Source JBS submission #50 Market Consolidation.
- JBS estimates its current share of four eastern states beef kill – 20% (excludes service kill)16
- JBS share of Australian beef production 16%16
- Market share of national small (lamb, mutton & goat) 16%
- JBS spent $2.4M on halal certification costs of approved religious certifiers in 201416
2015
- June. Cost of processing in Australia 1.5-3 times the cost of processing animals in another country16
- cost of processing grain-fed cattle in Australia is twice of the USA16
- lower levels of productivity in Australia in regards to kg per unit of labour16
- 2 major differences between Australia and the USA8
- Government regulation
- $10 a head more in Australia16
- Dept. of Australian Agriculture fully recover costs of meat export inspection and certification16
- Australia wide DAFF costs $80M16
- JBS contribute $14.5M16
- Export plants don’t use DAFF but use approved employees, which plants fully cover costs16
- JBS estimate an additional $30M at Export level16
- USA & Brazil governments provide services at no or minimal costs to processors16
- Energy Costs
- $15 a head more in Australia16
- Government regulation
- Technical barriers to trade (TBT’s)- Total value in Australia estimated at $1.25B as identified costs16
- 261 TBT’s in 40 key markets16
- 136 have significant trade distortion impacts16
- 261 TBT’s in 40 key markets16
- JBS currently operate 12 meat processing plants across 5 Australian states16
- December. ATO publishes tax data for agribusiness corporates.17
- Data interpretation – Companies do not pay company tax on revenue (total income) they pay on profits after paying all expenses, including wages, capital replacement, supplier costs and other operating expenses.17
- Income tax information is for 2013/14.17
- JBS Holdco Australia Pty Ltd produced Total Income $4,040,948,610.17
- Taxable Income $419,882,525.17
- Tax Payable $44,809,334.17
- Taxable Income $419,882,525.17
Sources Devonport Tas. JBS
- http://www.jbsswift.com.au
- ‘Abattoir closure continues to bite’ ABC News 14.09.13.
- ‘Expansion plans ahead for JBS Longford – One of Australia’s most versatile meat plants’ Beef Central 18.10.13.
- ‘King Island freight subsidy fight’ ABC rural. 17.09.2013
- Environmental Defenders Office (Tas) inc. Bulletin Dec 2002.
- ‘Hope for NW abattoir jobs as stink fades’ Examiner 04.09.2003.
- Journal – ‘Impact’ – #79 Sept 2005.
- ‘NW rendering plant to Move’ ABC rural 04.09.2002
- ‘Devonport abattoir sold’ ABC rural 15.07.2005
- AMIEU v Devonport City Abattoir T5776 of 1995
- ‘Devonport City abattoir doing well’ ABC rural. 26.06.2002
- ‘Australia: Smithton abattoir to reopen tomorrow’ Just foods. 04.03.2002
- ‘Woolies sticks by kickback butcher’ SMH. 15.01.2007
- ‘Big Beef producer cuts deal with Tasman Group’ The Age. 06.03.2008
- ‘The next Swift Shift’ The Weekly Times. 30.07.2014
- sub50_JBS Inquiry into the effect of market consolidation on the red meat processing sector
- ‘ATO publishes tax data for agribusiness corporates’ Beef Central 18.12.2015
- AUS-MEAT Accreditation Listing 29.12.2015
- ‘JBS expands its books’ Stock & Land 24.04.2014
- ‘JBS unveils new QA driven southern grassfed brand program’ Beef Central 27.09.2013
- ‘Swift CCTV camera action’ Weekly Times 13.11.2013
- ‘JBS delivers lower third quarter beef sales, revenue’ Beef Central 14.11.2013
Tagged: Abattoir history, Abattoirs in Australia, abattoirs in Tasmania, abattoirs operating timelines, AMIEU, australian abattoir history, Australian co-operative abattoir, Australian meat processing, Australian meat processing facilities, Deveonport abattoir, Devonport City abattoir, employment in abattoirs, Environmental problems with abattoirs, North West Rendering, Tasmanian abattoirs
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