The Livestock Development Corporation was created through a National Executive Council (NEC) Decision No. 75/82 on the 15^th of December 1982 by the Somare Government.  It was registered as Livestock Development Corporation Pty Ltd on the 31st of March 1983. LDC was mandated to provide specific leadership in commercializing the beef cattle industry in PNG.

 

The government approved for LDC to take over the commercial livestock functions from the then Department of Primary Industry (DPI : now Department of Agriculture), and encouraged LDC to take over other commercial activities of DPI. LDC was also tasked to assist DPI, especially in livestock research and extension.

 

That NEC decision directed the Department of Lands to withdraw Certificates of Occupancy for government land used by the Livestock Division and leased them as formal Titles to LDC by waiving public advertisement to ensure successful internal application.

 

Also, all public service positions related to commercial livestock activities were abolished and directed the Public Service Commission to handle redundancies per the PSA/PEA Agreement (10/11/82).

 

At the time, the government approved drafting of amendments to the Slaughtering Act 1964 to accommodate LDC’s establishment, to be submitted as a Policy Submission.