Expert group to advise on key wheat industry services
January 7th, 2008
An expert group will advise the Australian Government on the transition of industry good functions for the $4.3 billion wheat industry under reforms to marketing arrangements.
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, has called for expressions of interest for appointment to the new Industry Expert Group.
“Effective delivery of industry development functions such as strategic planning, receival standards, grains varietal development and generic promotion is vital to the industry’s long-term success,”
Mr Burke said.
“Historically, many of these services were provided by the current single desk holder, AWB International, which will no longer hold the monopoly for wheat exports once the Government’s reforms are implemented.
“The establishment of the expert group heralds 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.”
Mr Burke said many in the industry already recognised the need for change in the delivery of the wheat industry’s development functions.
“This expert group will provide the chance for senior people across the industry to contribute to these reforms,” he said.
“A priority for the group will 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 group will report to the Minister by 24 April, 2008.
Advertisements calling for expressions of interest in the Industry Expert Group will run in rural and metropolitan newspapers. The deadline for registering an expression of interest is 18 January, 2008.
The terms of reference for the group can be found on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website at http://www.daff.gov.au/ieg
Entry Filed under: Australia Blog