This year will go down as a seminal period in the history of the Australian banana industry and in the evolution of the Australian Banana Growers Council (ABGC) as a peak industry body.
It has also been the most professionally satisfying for me personally in my ten plus years of agripolitical service and there are two main reasons for this.
Firstly, the successful outcome of the recent national banana levy ballot has ensured that we can once again invest in R&D, promotion and plant health initiatives on a scale commensurate with the needs of industry.
I don’t mind saying that one of the most disturbing things I have witnessed during my time as ABGC President has been the decline in banana programs and services that followed the abolition of compulsory state levies in Queensland in 2003.
The implications of this under-investment particularly in areas like R&D and plant health are extremely serious and to a large extent only become obvious over time.
My greatest fear as President was that it would take a catastrophic event such as a major exotic pest or disease incursion to expose our short-sightedness in this regard and of course then it is far too late.
Thankfully banana growers overwhelmingly supported the revised ABGC levy proposal and from early next year we can begin the process of rebuilding what has been lost and indeed set about recasting our future in ways we dare not have imagined before the successful levy ballot.
The second reason I believe 2006/07 was such an important year for our industry and ABGC has been the strong recovery of the north Queensland production area following the devastation caused by tropical cyclone Larry in March 2006.
The combination of effective lobbying by ABGC to secure a targeted assistance package for banana growers affected by the cyclone and attempts by ABGC, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and Growcom to encourage the widespread adoption of crop management strategies like crop forecasting and nurse-suckering helped to ensure the vast majority of growers remained viable through this difficult period.
These two things demonstrate what can be achieved with effective representation as provided by the ABGC and why we as growers must continue to give support to the organisation and the people you elect to represent you.
In closing I’d like to advise that this will be my last annual report as I will be stepping down as ABGC president and resigning from the ABGC Board at this year’s annual general meeting.
I have certainly enjoyed my time at the helm but feel it is time to move on and make room for new blood.
I would like to express my thanks to my wife Ellen, family and friends who have given me such fantastic support during my time as President. I’d also especially like to thank my fellow directors and ABGC staff for their loyalty and support during my term.
Last but not least I would also like to thank banana growers from all banana-producing states for their continued moral and financial support for ABGC during my term as President which helps to ensure that the ABGC can continue to go about its very important work.
NATIONAL LEVY
This year saw banana growers from around Australia deliver a resounding “yes” to the establishment of a compulsory national banana levy in a ballot conducted in May. The question put to growers at the ballot was: “Do you agree to the introduction of a compulsory national levy of 1.7 cents per kilogram (1.16 cents per kilogram for promotions and 0.54 cents per kilogram for research and development) on all bananas sold?”
Nearly 800 ballot papers were issued with a return rate of nearly 35 percent which is considered high for a voluntary poll.
Over 67 percent of ballots returned were in favour of the levy and this support increased to over 88 percent once the ballot weighting system had been applied.
Following the ballot result ABGC developed a submission explaining why the levy was needed which was subsequently considered by Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) and the Australian Government.
Subject to the federal government approving the implementation of the levy collections could commence sometime in the first half of 2008.
I would like to thank the growers that considered the future of our industry and voted “yes” on this important issue.
Unfortunately, some narrow minded people have tried to protect their vested interests instead of looking to the future advancement of our industry. They used their position to work against the national levy by not informing growers of the full details and by construing the truth and the clear information that was given to growers by ABGC.
I would like to encourage growers to look at every agenda that is put forward by becoming involved and by putting the right people forward on the IAC and sub committees to represent all growers.
IMPORTS
March 1 this year saw the release by Biosecurity Australia of the Revised Draft IRA Report for Bananas from the Philippines.
The Report proposes permitting the importation of Philippine bananas to Australia subject to “stringent” risk management measures.
In response the ABGC assembled its tried and tested team of experts to develop its technical submission to the latest report.
It was particularly disturbing to see the extent to which our quarantine security would be reliant on risk management measures that would be, in essence, overseen by the Philippines.
Our submission raises a number of significant concerns that our technical experts have regarding some of the analysis of risk undertaken by Biosecurity Australia and of the conclusions that have been reached in relation to the management of those risks.
Banana growers can rest assured that everything that can be done to guard against the threat to our industry posed by Philippine imports is being done and that the ABGC will continue to monitor all imports related developments very closely.
IMPORTS COMMITTEE
The Imports Committee is responsible for developing our imports related strategy.
It has done an excellent job putting in place the policies and structures that allow ABGC management to run the imports defence.
Whilst the Imports Committee did not meet in 2006/07 they have previously established the framework within which the industry’s technical response to IRA Draft Reports is managed.
It is a credit to the members of this committee that we have been able to run such an effective imports defence strategy using strong technical arguments to back our case.
The industry has been extremely fortunate to have Len Collins representing them as Chairman of the Imports Committee.
I would like to thank Len for the invaluable knowledge, experience and guidance provided to myself and other members during his service to the industry.
BANANA IMPORTS FIGHTING FUND (BIFF)
The Banana Industry Fighting Fund (BIFF) has remained in place throughout 2006/07 having been reinstated on 1 March 2004 at a rate of 5 cents per 13 kg carton (plus GST).
The ABGC continues to believe that fresh bananas from the Philippines pose an unacceptable risk to our domestic banana industry and the BIFF funding allows the ABGC to develop the technical arguments to support its case.
As outgoing ABGC President, I would like to personally thank all those growers that continue to support the BIFF levy and provide us with the resources needed to keep our industry free of exotic pests and diseases.
PLANT HEALTH AUSTRALIA LTD (PHA)
Plant Health Australia (PHA) is a national coordinating body.
It identifies and commissions projects and coordinates policy development at the national level to protect Australia's plant industries and related resources from the risks posed by organisms through the implementation of exclusion, eradication and control measures.
PHA manages agreed plant health programs on behalf of all its members, to deliver a coordinated and effective national plant health framework for preventing and responding to exotic and other emergency pests.
PHA plays an important role in the classification of pests and diseases that are subject to consideration under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. The Council is working with PHA to facilitate the classification of the remaining banana pests and diseases to be covered under the Deed.
The Council retains membership of PHA on behalf of all Australian banana growers and Council representatives attend all PHA meetings.
Cameron Mackay and Vicky Kippin-O’Connor represented the industry on the PHA. I would like to thank them both for being available to travel and for their continued representation of this very important issue.
HORTICULTURE AUSTRALIA COUNCIL (HAC)
As the national peak industry representative body of Australian horticultural industries, HAC is responsible for ensuring that issues of concern to Australian horticulture are heard and taken seriously in Canberra.
HAC provides a vehicle through which common issues of interest or concern to all horticultural industries can be considered.
Where it is determined that a collective response to an issue is appropriate HAC coordinates the development of a policy position and subsequent submissions as required.
The most significant issues on HAC’s policy agenda over the last year have been the introduction of a mandatory code of conduct for the horticultural sector and the worsening drought and its impact of horticultural production, particularly in the Murray Darling Basin.
The ABGC is a strong supporter of HAC and retains membership of HAC on behalf of all banana growers. ABGC representatives attend all HAC forums.
I would like to extend my thanks to Vicky Kippin-O’Connor for her representation of the industry within HAC.
HORTICULTURE AUSTRALIA LIMITED (HAL)
Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) is a national research, development and marketing organisation that works in partnership with the horticulture sector to invest in programs that provide benefit to Australian horticulture industries.
The Council is a member of HAL and participates in all HAL sponsored industry forums. The Council has a number of research and communication projects co-funded by HAL including the biennial Banana Congress, Australian Bananas Magazine and banana diagnostics related research.
The banana industry’s relations with HAL will assume even greater significance once the proposed national banana levy is established.
NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS REVIEW
There are many ways of delivering information effectively but there are equally as many ways of delivering information ineffectively.
With this in mind the ABGC has decided to undertake a review of the way information is communicated throughout the industry, the tools used to communicate information and to identify areas where communication of information could be improved.
The review will identify knowledge gaps and ways of cost-effectively addressing those knowledge gaps.
The initial review and gap analysis is expected to be completed in the New Year.
AUSTRALIAN BANANAS MAGAZINE
Australian Bananas magazine is the pre-eminent banana industry publication devoted to the collation and presentation of information of relevance to Australian banana growers in an easily accessible format.
The magazine distributes news and information including R&D project results and market activity summaries to its readers in an easily digested format that favours quality over quantity.
The June edition of the magazine provided comprehensive coverage of the Seventh Australian Banana Industry Congress held on the Gold Coast 14 – 16 June.
Other stories covered in this edition included labour shortages, feral pig control and succession planning.
The December 2006 provided coverage of cyclone recovery efforts, banana promotional activity summary and biofuels to name a few.
WEBSITE
The ABGC website continues to increase in popularity and is the first port of call for many people wanting information about the Australian banana industry.
Whilst users have expressed satisfaction with the website in its current form the ABGC will include an assessment of the websites’ content and functionality as part of its communications review.
The inclusion of crop forecasting data and banana transport figures from north Queensland have proved to be popular additions to the website.
SEVENTH AUSTRALIAN BANANA INDUSTRY CONGRESS
The Seventh Australian Banana Industry Congress, hosted by the Australian Banana Growers’ Council Inc., was held from the 14th to 16th June 2007 at Conrad Jupiters Hotel on the Gold Coast.
Attendance levels and sponsorship support at this year’s event was unparalleled and provided a clear demonstration of how important this biennial event has become to the Australian banana industry. Delegates from all sectors of the industry and all growing areas around Australia were in attendance and participation at all sessions was high.
Congress provides an important forum for suppliers to demonstrate their products and services in a relaxed environment where growers actually have time to speak to company representatives and be apprised of the features and potential benefits of their products and services.
Planning has already commenced for Congress number eight with the Gold Coast considered a hot favourite for staging the event once again.
A successful congress is due to the members who support it. Our 7th congress heralded a new era with a national levy to move forward and a good representation of young growers which I feel is another sign of a confident future for the banana industry.
JOINT AABW/ABGC MEETING
In February the ABGC came together with representatives of the Association of Australian Banana Wholesalers (AABW) and other state banana representative bodies in Melbourne to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern.
These meetings provide an excellent opportunity for the growing and wholesale sectors to exchange information on issues likely to affect banana supplies and consumer demand in the year ahead.
AUSTRALIAN BANANA PROMOTIONS
Australian Banana Promotions Company Limited has had another busy year overseeing the development and implementation of banana promotion activity for another year. Their participation at Congress provided growers with an excellent opportunity to get up close to key elements of the promotions campaign and the consumer research that drives it.
I would like to Mark Spagnolo and the ABPCL committee for their continued efforts and support during the years.
BOARD DIRECTORS 2006/2007
The Board met on the following occasions during the 2006/2007 financial year: • 21st August 2006 Mareeba RSL Club, QLD • 1st December 2006 Centre for Wet Tropics, South Johnstone QLD • 21st February 2007, Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour NSW • 17th June 2007, Boland and Grainger Room, Gold Coast QLD
Composition of the Board for 2006/2007 was as follows: • Mr PM Leahy (President) • Mr M Singh (Vice-President) • Mr M Reppel (Deputy Vice President) • Mr CR MacKay (Treasurer) • Mrs VA Kippin-O’Connor • Mr P Molenaar • Mr T Day • Mr M Gaia
STAFF
Once again I would like to acknowledge the efforts of our staff for their dedication and hard work in delivering outcomes that benefit all banana growers. We are indeed fortunate to have such an experienced and effective team to assist the board in the formulation and implementation of industry policy.
On a personal note I would like to thank Tony Heidrich and Jann Bonsall for keeping me on task and for the prompt reminders of deadlines during my time as President.
My gratitude to Tony for making my job easier.
Well done team.
ACKNOWLEDMENTS
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 Bananas NSW, Growcom, NT Horticultural Association, Carnarvon Growers Association, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland, NSW Department of Primary Industries, WA Agriculture, NT Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, Horticulture Australia Limited, Horticulture Australia Council, Plant Health Australia, Australian Association of Banana Wholesalers, 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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