Resounding YES for banana levy to put industry on solid footing
The Australian Banana Growers’ Council is delighted that counting in the national ballot today concluded that there is majority support for the implementation of a compulsory levy to fund banana promotion, research and development, and plant health-related activities.
ABGC vice-president Nicky Singh said the vote was a resounding yes, with 67 percent of the primary vote and 88 percent of the area vote being in favour of a national levy.
Mr Singh said this levy is vitally important to the banana industry’s future and the majority support in the vote enables industry to put forward this recommendation to Horticulture Australia Limited and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to establish a levy as soon as possible.
He said a national levy will enable:
• A resumption of industry-funded banana research • A rebuilding of banana scientific expertise • A strengthened banana congress • Ongoing publication of Australian Bananas magazine • Exotic banana pest and disease surveillance • Enhanced banana disease diagnostic capability • Continuation of QBAN tissue culture nursery accreditation scheme • Industry development officers positions to be funded • Invigorated banana promotion
“We are gratified that the industry has recognised that we need to invest in our industry and its structures so that we can remain strong and viable,” Mr Singh said.
“The proposal is for a set 1.7c/kg levy on all bananas sold, with 1.16c/kg being directed to promotion and 0.54c/kg to research and development. This multiplies into $4.4 million annually.”
Mr Singh said ABGC put considerable effort into developing a levy model which took account of all the viewpoints and feedback from the earlier proposal, which was scuttled in 2005 because of a lack of industry solidarity.
Banana research investment has since dwindled to the point where it is almost non-existent, promotion is constrained because it is only funded by a minority, and industry is stranded without reserves to direct towards any pest or disease incursions.
“Now that we have a majority of voters supporting a levy, we can move forward with plans to properly fund the industry structures and supports which we will help reposition bananas as the number one horticultural industry.”
5 June 2007
For information contact Nicky Singh on 0402 214 800 or Tony Heidrich on 0427 987 499. Media contact Jane Milburn 0408 787 964
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