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AUSTRALIA TO REFORM WHEAT INDUSTRY
Australia is to establish an expert group to advise the Government on the future operations of the country’s $4.3 billion wheat industry and the transition of the industry’s functions under planned reforms to the industry’s marketing arrangements.
The Australian Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Tony Burke, has called for expressions of interest for appointment of members to the new Industry Expert Group and input from key stake-holders.
“Effective delivery of industry development functions such as strategic planning, receival standards, grains variety development and generic promotion were vital to the industry’s long-term success,” Mr Burke said.
“Historically, many of these services were provided by the current single desk holder, the Australia Wheat Board International, (AWBI) which will no longer hold the monopoly for wheat exports once the Government’s reforms are implemented.
Mr Burke said that the formation of the expert group heralded the beginning of the end of AWBI’s export monopoly.
“The expert group will advise me on how these critical functions can best be delivered,” he said.
Mr Burke said many sources in the industry already recognised the need for change in the delivery of the wheat industry’s development functions.
Under the Government’s reform proposal, the current Export Wheat Commission (EWC) would be replaced with a new body, Wheat Exports Australia (WEA), which would manage bulk wheat exports by administering a new export accreditation scheme.
“The new expert group would provide the chance for senior people across the industry to contribute to these reforms,” he added.
Mr Burke said that a priority for the group would be to prepare and circulate a public discussion paper to ensure that everyone in the industry has an opportunity to comment on these issues.
The expert group would report to the Minister by 24 April, 2008.
Canberra
07 January 2007