… Australia’s agriculture levy system on 26 August 2014

Australian horticulture and agriculture leaders are gathering in Tasmania on Thursday (August 21) to rally against an independent Senator’s push to vote down the nation’s agriculture levy system.

Leaders of key industries are deeply concerned about a Senate vote scheduled for 26 August 2014 that has the potential to threaten Australia’s world-leading agriculture levy system.

The levy system underpins Australia’s agricultural research and development, marketing, plant and animal health systems that have made our nation one of the leading agricultural producers of the world.

The Australian onion, mango and mushroom industries have joined in a bid to fight off a Senate motion to disallow recently approved changes to their levy systems.

The industries are battling the motion, moved by Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm, to disallow the regulations implementing the industry-supported changes to the levies.

The motion has been tabled notwithstanding the industries conducting a rigorous five year process of consultation, investing grower funds and conducting AEC independent ballots.

This means the will of the majority of growers may be defeated at the whim of a minority.

The industries have welcomed support from The Greens, who have publicly stated their support for the levies system, as well as from Shadow Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzbiggon, who has publicly commented that levies are an important aspect to agricultural industries.

Disappointingly, Tasmanian PUP Senator Jacqui Lambie has also recently made public comments calling for a reduction in the proposed increase to the levy supporting research and development and marketing for Australia’s mushroom industry.

Unfortunately for the Tasmanian onion industry, Senator Lambie does not appear to understand that the disallowance of the levy increase would also defeat changes advocated for by the onion and mango industries to their respective levy systems.

In 2011-12, the gross value of production of onions in Tasmania was $34 million, accounting for 16 per cent of all Tasmanian vegetable production. Onion crops are produced on 108 Tasmanian farms and the industry employs hundreds of people, from growers to agronomists, processing workers and transporters. Exports account for approximately 85 per cent of the Tasmanian onion market.

Given that the onions are the second biggest vegetable crop in Tasmania, Onions Australia Levy Champion Brian Bonde says he is baffled by the notion that Senator Lambie may vote for Senator Leyonhjelm’s disallowance motion.

“The levy changes have been requested by growers, to invest for the benefit of all levy payers and have been approved by a majority of growers in these three industries, having followed rigorous and transparent government consultation guidelines,” he said.

“The regulations opposed by Senator Leyonhjelm increase and amend a range of levies in the onion, mango and mushroom industries that are vital to the continued growth and development of each industry.

“The current levy arrangements have been in place in each of these industries since growers first voted in favour of their adoption but are no longer sufficient to meet the R&D and marketing needs of these industries today.”

With some of the lowest agriculture subsidies in the world, the levy system is the best way to keep Australian horticulture and agriculture funding their future in a self-sufficient way.

On Thursday, industry leaders are urging The Greens, ALP and Palmer United Party to show their support for the future of agriculture industry, and its self-sufficiency, and publicly announce that they will not vote in favour for the disallowance motion on 26 August 2014.

INDUSTRY LEADERS WILL GATHER AT PREMIUM FRESH (199 FORTHSIDE RD, FORTH) AT 10.30AM ON THURSDAY, AUGUST 21 TO RALLY AGAINST THE SENATOR’S PROPOSED DISALLOWANCE MOTION.

Further information:
The disallowance motion relates to the following regulations:
•The Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Amendment (2014 Measures No. 1) Regulation 2014
•The Primary Industries (Excise) Charges Amendment (2014 Measures No. 1) Regulation 2014
•The Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Amendment (Mushrooms) Regulation 2014
Brian Bonde – Levy Champion, Onions Australia, Lechelle Earl – CEO, Onions Australia