"Why are governments doing so much to stop these businesses from being viable?"

Subsidies and incentives would do nothing, re-read management's comments about the inappropriate/obsolescent business model.

Meatworks have been closing and sometimes re-opening elsewhere with a new processing line for thirty years. People don't notice unless it affects them.

Drought didn't help and the large drop in stock numbers is yet another reminder to those who figure on having a 'Big Australia' with a population that has doubled through migration that there are limits to Australia's capacity to produce more food.

Well, a regulatory framework can be critically important.

Accordingly, businesses need to be able to do an "informed" start up within the allowed parameters AND that involves being able to, amongst other things, do your own legal research.

The information age is bringing all this to our homes for research purposes, but still, there are forces at work which would keep us ignorant.

" ... the tax on diesel. Just abolishing that alone would make so much more rural business viable and provide employment for Australians ... "

Co-incidentally, I have been looking into "Stills" and "Steam Distillation." One of my hobbies is AromaTherapy. It is not a complicated technology, but we NOT allowed to distill our own Spirits, and cockies are not allowed to distill their own fuel.

And even if we are only using a still for extracting essential oils, it is limited to 5L.

Of course, you can have a bigger still if you apply for a license, but in order to be eligible I believe that you need to be producing COMMERCIAL quantities (truck loads) otherwise forget it.

So here we encounter one of the main structural "bones" of the economy of this place, that being EXCISE DUTIES on certain goods:

*Grog, Durries, Petrol, Alternative Fuel and Coal*

And what do they all largely have in common?
We all generally consume a lot of them.

So, the system appears to favor concentrating the proceeds of our spending in the hands of the few, to make in effect "economic lords" who in turn donate to politicians.

lord p!ss pot, lord pokie, lord cough and choke, lord pollution etc

..

I personally favor a hybrid system with the necessities of life being regulated on the foundation of a model of mathematical equilibrium and mutual reciprocity, infused with Green principals of self sufficiency and constrained by Green principals of environmental protection and sustainable development, with a proactive dollop of Red Social conscience as and where required.

..

It is the age old question of how to divide the turkey is it not?

$AU45+ for a kilo of lambo chops you reckon? I thought you just pulled up shot one and threw it in the boot, took it home, cut it up, fed the dogs and put the rest in the freezer before the barbie?

HaHaHa

Or thereafter, didn't you used to be able to by an old ewe for $AU5 from the yards?

And how long does it take to cut up? And what does the guy who cuts it up get for his trouble?

So, $AU45+ per kilo * ? kilos of sheep and where does all that money go?

;-)

DreamOn, "It is the age old question of how to divide the turkey is it not?"

No, it is about drought and expensive sheep finally putting the kybosh on a works based on an obsolete business model that apparently has been marginal for a long time.

*By all accounts 'rump steak' should be around $45 per kilo and 'Lamb chops' about the same, but, people simply won't pay*

Given tha prices are booming right now and that farmers are paid
around 4.50 a kg, it seems it would only take a couple of kg,
to pay for the whole lamb!

Middlemen of course, are creaming it, all the way.

The basic point of Capitalism is motivation via “Demand and supply” (note f the wording).
No demand no supply.
This way the *people* are the determinators not businesses.

Do I really need to point out that there are several factors influencing demand one being price.

isn't it also Capitalist mantra that those who can match demand prosper and the rest don't?

NB. Libs, are supposed to be the free market (Laissez-faire economics ) which favours Big Business.

Conservative supposed to be status quo. Isn't that why the Country tends to vote conservative?

Labor interventionists (socialist plots, world govt. ad *nausium*)

Me, well a good idea is a good idea.

It seems to me that a number of poster are confused about their politics. Well their real objectives anyway.

Many seem to be saying 'support *me*' without a lot of thought about how a political party system can deliver without degenerating into a battle (lust) for power. i.e. no real core principals, philosophy, just Government by talk back radio, polls or the loudest.
By definition, means short term perspective, no strategic planning.
bear with me there is a point,

IMO, Pelican, individuals should have the right to make a profit, set up a business but to do so it should be planned. Also no one business should be allowed to dominate a town to that degree. (business 101 dictates no one source should provide more than 20% of the town's income/employment.)

Therefore, major industries should be planned, facilitated ( Fed state infrastructure etc) and strategically directed in the nations interest. Not allow towns, states etc to bid for industry. This leads to short term politics, undermining the public's best interests , inefficient fragmentation of resources and setting up inconsistencies at public expense.

I suggest Industry hubs these would allow for strategic planning i.e. we need abattoirs then group them better more efficient infrastructure planning , employment pools and less manipulation by the avaricious, discourages the lessor management, technology and political games, and a more level playing field..