The Australian Federal Government has committed to looking at developing a design for saleyard ramps for livestock that can be used nationwide. Australian Transport News (ATN) reported that Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has requested that his department to investigate what would be required to ensure that a national saleyard ramp standard could become a reality. Mr Albanese recently said that he will also bring up the standard while meeting with his state and territory equivalents at the nations national meeting for transport ministers in May during the Standing Council on Transport and Infrastructure (SCOTI). The call for the standardised ramps originated from John Beer, the President of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association (ALRTA) who states that at the moment there is no enforceable or legal standard of design for saleyard loading ramps. Mr Albanese said that the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association have heard from livestock transport drivers about their frustration with the lack of a standardized ramp system. He said that he was in agreement with the livestock transport industry. That the application of a national saleyard ramp standard is a matter of good sense. Mr Albanese said that the benefits would be long term. That it would improve safety for all workers at saleyards, not just drivers, be much more efficient and as a result overall productivity would be boosted at saleyards across the nation. Mr Beer initially brought the subject up with Minister Albanese at the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association and the Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association (LBCA) recent National Conference. Mr Albanese made a speech at the Conference where he dedicated funds from the federal government to improve all saleyard facilities. Mr Beer approached him afterward to ask him to work with ALRTA prior to the next federal election on creating a standard.