The Draft Import Risk Analysis (IRA) concerning the importation of fresh bananas from the Philippines was released in July 2002 but no final IRA decision has been received. The Federal Government has also failed to commit to any timeline for the release of a final IRA or to participate in any meaningful dialogue with stakeholders about the progress of the IRA.
The Philippines has expressed its frustration with Australia’s IRA process by launching action at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) citing that aspects of Australia’s quarantine regime as it applies to the importation of fresh fruit and vegetables are not compliant with our WTO obligations. The Australian government refutes this and has advised affected industries that it will vigorously defend the action.
Other developments on the imports front for 2002/03 include advice that the European Union (EU) is also challenging aspects of Australia’s quarantine regime before the WTO Disputes Resolution Panel. Australian Government sources have advised that the EU action is most likely in retaliation for Australia’s stance on the range of tariffs and subsidies the EU uses to protect its farmers from competition.
The Australian Banana Growers’ Council Inc. approved the funding of an industry study tour to Central and South America to review banana production practices and pest management strategies in use in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama and Brazil.Trips of this kind have proven invaluable in fostering our understanding of the implications and costs associated with managing some of the world’s worst banana diseases.
The Council continues to monitor all developments in relation to this issue and has retained the financial capacity to respond immediately to any new threat. This has only been made possible by strong grower support for the Imports Fighting Fund levy.
Imports Committee
The Imports Committee met three times during the 2002/03 financial year. The committee’s responsibilities are to develop strategies for responding to the Philippines’ imports application and to provide information that assists the Board in developing imports policy.
BIFF Levy abolished
In April 2003 the Imports Committee agreed to abolish the Banana Imports Fighting Fund Levy effective from 26 April. Although a final IRA had not yet been released, the committee felt that the levy could be abolished because reserves were at a level sufficient to meet any imports-related contingency.
Plant Health Australia Ltd
The Council retains membership of Plant Health Australia on behalf of all banana growers. PHA has been active in a range of areas of direct interest to Australian banana growers some of which include:
National Banana Industry Biosecurity Plan
The banana industry in conjunction with PHA has developed a National Banana Industry Biosecurity Plan using funding from the Commonwealth Government. The Biosecurity Plan provides a mechanism for the banana industry, government and other stakeholders to determine relevant pests, analyse the risks they pose and put in place procedures to reduce the chances of an exotic pest incursion and to minimise the impact in the event an incursion does occur.
Cost Sharing Agreement
The Council has been active in the development of the planned cost sharing agreement that will stipulate the proportion of costs to be attributed to governments and to industry in the event of an exotic pest incursion in the banana industry.
Pest Area Freedom Status
The Council has also been active in assisting PHA in the development of a draft area freedom protocol for plant industries.The draft protocol has been developed using black Sigatoka as a case study.This is viewed as a world leading project.
Horticulture Australia Council
The Horticulture Australia Council took a significant step in its evolution this year with the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer, Mr Rob Bastian and the establishment of a full-time office in Canberra. Mr Bastian is a highly experienced Canberra lobbyist who has been able to significantly raise the profile of Australian horticulture.
Expectations amongst HAC members are high that the new arrangements will lead to better coordination of horticulture industry positions on important national issues such as water, harvest labour and fair trading to name a few.
Horticulture Australia Limited
Horticulture Australia has experienced a busy year with a record demand being experienced for funding of projects put forward by voluntary contributors.
A cross-industry forum has been initiated involving all HAL members and is convened twice per year for the purpose of discussing the organisation’s strategic direction and canvassing industries’ views on a range of relevant industry topics.
HAL has abolished the AusHort structure and replaced it with an Across Industry Management Committee that advises HAL on the expenditure of funds that fit within five across-industry initiatives namely: water, healthy eating, communication, consumer requirements and export strategies.
Head office relocation
In October the ABGC relocated its offices to a newly refurbished suite in Horticulture House at the Brisbane Market. The move has enabled the capitalisation of existing synergies between the ABGC and a number of other organisations also based at the markets.
National banana industry review
In June 2002, the banana industry conducted a review of its strategic direction and research and development priorities. This review produced a number of recommendations, one of which was the commissioning of a more comprehensive and independent review of key aspects of the Australian banana industry’s operations.
In August 2002 the ABGC Board, acting in its capacity as the peak industry body for Australian banana growers, decided to initiate an independent review of the organisational structures, representational arrangements and funding mechanisms currently servicing the Australian banana growing sector.
The review is being jointly funded by the Australian Banana Growers' Council and Horticulture Australia Limited and will provide a wholly independent assessment of the performance of existing industry arrangements as well as an assessment of the types of arrangements that may be required in the longer-term to ensure the ongoing strength, unity and viability of the Australian banana industry.
Australian Bananas magazine
Three issues of this industry flagship magazine have now been produced utilising the new reader-friendly layout. The twice yearly magazine remains the main communication tool for the Council and reader surveys have consistently shown that it is one of the main sources of industry information for banana growers.
A special feature on the personalities involved in our Philippine imports campaign in our December 2002 issue was well received, as was our feature on Brisbane market wholesalers in our July 2003 edition.
Website
This year the ABGC website received its third facelift.This saw the number of hits increase substantially from December 2002 to April 2003 when 69,510 hits were recorded for the period. The number of session served rose to 9,796/month while session times also increased, rising substantially to 8 minutes 11 seconds.
The new site now carries features such as an internal search engine, Frequently Asked Questions, Consumer Feedback, Media Releases and “What’s New”. Aesthetically the site is appealing and interesting with a moving banner attracting attention to new or interesting articles within.
Industry Development Manager project
The IDM project was completed at the end of June 2003.
The Council has decided to wait until the completion of the National Banana Industry Review before committing resources to another IDM project.
The key achievements of the recently completed IDM project were:
Website updated resulting in a 13-fold increase in site hits.
Australian Bananas magazine revamped which has resulted in increased readability.
National benchmarking system developed but due to funding difficulties has yet to be implemented.
Email string implemented but has not been evaluated at this time.
Product description language manuals developed and distributed.
Fifth Australian Banana Industry Congress
The Fifth Australian Banana Industry Congress was held in Townsville from 4-7 June. Around 500 delegates were in attendance to hear about the latest developments in cutting-edge research, marketing, environmental and production-related issues from Australia and around the world. A host of international speakers added extra punch to what was an outstanding home-grown line-up that ensured the event had just the right mix of international and domestic content.
As always the social program was an outstanding success with the highlight being the spectacular banana industry ball which took place on the Saturday evening.
Joint ABW/ABGC meeting
In February the ABGC came together with the Australian Banana Wholesalers in Auckland, New Zealand to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern. The meeting was a very productive one with all attendees agreeing to hold a similar meeting on the Gold Coast in 2004.
Coles' internet auction
During the year, Coles Supermarkets implemented an internet auction for banana supply contracts.Banana wholesalers were invited to participate in the live internet auction by logging on to a website and putting forward a quantity of bananas they wished to supply along with a price they wanted for them.All wholesalers’ bids were ranked in numerical order and subsequent lower bids were made in an effort to secure a contract.
The Council met with senior executives from Coles to make them aware of concerns growers had with the system, including the likely negative impact on grower returns.Coles has subsequently advised that it has suspended the internet auction system for bananas.
Board Directors 2002/2003
The Board met on the following occasions during the 2002/2003 financial year:
14 August, Coffs Harbour; NSW
6 December, ABGC offices, Brisbane; QLD
13 March, QDPI, South Johnstone; QLD
23 May, ABGC offices, Brisbane; QLD
Composition of the Board for 2003 was as follows:
Mr GS McCudden (President)
Mr PM Leahy (Vice-President)
Mrs VA Kippin-O’Connor
Mr WF McFie
Mr JS Benning
Mr CR Mackay
Mr K Lindsay
Mr PC Bale
Staff
On behalf of the Board, I would like to convey my thanks to the ABGC staff for their dedication and commitment to the running of this organisation during the past 12 months. It has been a difficult year for the banana industry in many respects with the imports-related activity running at full pitch and the somewhat painful process of self examination that occurs as a part of an industry review but the ABGC staff have risen to every challenge without hesitation or complaint.
Acknoledgments
On behalf of the Council I would also like to thank the following organisations for the assistance they have provided to the Council at various times throughout the past 12 months. These organisations include BananasNSW, QFVG, QDPI, NSW Agriculture, AFFA, HAL, AABW, Acclaim Special Events and Meeting Management, local producer associations, research agencies, wholesalers, retailers, and associated service industries. Your support is much appreciated.
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