Wheat Export Marketing

The Federal Government introduced the Wheat Export Marketing Bill 2008 Wheat Export Marketing (Repeal and Amendments) Bill 2008, into Parliament on 29 May 2008. The Bill aims to establish a multi permit system for the export of wheat. The Bill follows on from a pre-election commitment by the Federal Government to undertake reform to the wheat export marketing arrangements and the key aspects of the Bill are as follows:

• A new industry regulator, Wheat Exports Australia (WEA), would administer a wheat export accreditation scheme, with the power to grant, vary, suspend or cancel that accreditation
• A new applicant must meet a number of tests, including that it is a fit and proper company and it must be a corporation or cooperative;
• If the applicant operates a bulk grain port terminal, it must provide access to other exporters;
• The Government has committed up to $9.37 million over three years to assist with the transition to the new arrangements;
• The new system will be reviewed by the Productivity Commission in 2010.
• Severe penalties will apply for exporting wheat in bulk without accreditation, breaching accreditation conditions or providing false or misleading information to Wheat Exports Australia.
• Until 1 October 2009, accredited exporters operating bulk grain port terminals must publish terms and conditions under which they give access to other exporters.
• After October 2009, accredited exporters operating bulk grain port terminals must have an approved access undertaking with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
  

The Association does not believe that the Wheat Export Marketing Bill 2008 provides Australian wheat growers with the confidence, clarity and certainty that is necessary in order to enable them to operate their businesses in an efficient and effective manner, particularly in view of the rapid introduction of the changes to wheat marketing as proposed under the Bill. The Bill has the potential to create an imbalance of power in favour of non grower sectors of the value chain. The Association has undertaken a range of activities in relation to wheat marketing in order to progress the Associations policies regarding this important issue.

The Association's wheat marketing activities have included:

• Rallies (Parkes, Narranderra);
• Member forums and meetings (Moree, Condobolin, Parkes, Young, Narranderra and Narrabri);
• Meetings with and letters to Federal ministers and Members of Parliament
• Media releases and media interviews;
• Grains Committee meetings and teleconferences;
• Survey of Members;
• Submissions to the Wheat Export Marketing Consultative Committee, Senate Committee Inquiry and Wheat Industry Expert Group;
• Key role in the formation and strong ongoing involvement in the Wheat Export Marketing Alliance;
• Letters to Members regarding Wheat Export Marketing Bills; and
• Letter to Branch Chairs seeking expression of interest for rally

Information

• Briefing Notes