Addressing the National Abattoir Issue – In Conversation with Tammi Jonas
The future of small to medium-scale livestock farming in Australia hangs in the balance as local abattoir access continues to decline. In response to this growing crisis, Sustainable Table joined forces with the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance (AFSA) to co-host a powerful and solutions-focused roundtable featuring Tammi Jonas, farmer-scholar activist and AFSA Focal Point for Farmers.
This roundtable built on the momentum of our previous session with Provenir, bringing together farmers, food systems advocates, chefs, butchers, and policymakers to explore both the systemic barriers and the practical solutions emerging across the country.
What We Covered
Tammi Jonas provided a rich overview of AFSA’s current work on the national abattoir issue, including:
- The Problem: How the consolidation of abattoirs is threatening small and mid-scale livestock producers, and what it means for ethical, local meat supply.
- Campaign Updates: AFSA’s current advocacy work, including:
- A Victorian e-petition calling for government support for decentralised meat processing (now closed).
- An update from a recent Ministerial meeting about the Victorian Government’s potential response
- Solutions in Action: Tammi highlighted emerging models such as the Jonai Farms’ Meat Collective, as well as the need for:
- Policy change and regulatory flexibility
- Tools and infrastructure tailored to small- to mid-scale abattoirs
- State-based champions to lead and scale solutions nationally
More than just a diagnostic session, the roundtable focused on solidarity, strategy, and the power of farmer-led organising.
Resources
- Listen to AFSA’s podcast, Where Have All the Abattoirs Gone?
- Read the Game Meat Harvesting Standards – Primesafe
- Apply to be featured on the Sustainable Table Map
- Join AFSA to get access to their Meat Collective Starter Pack
- Read the FAQs
- Mental Health Support – If you need support, Lifeline is available 24/7 and 13YARN is available 24/7 for First Nations people.
If you would like to get in touch with any of the speakers, please contact hello@sustainabletable.org.au.