Grain Producers Australia initiated a short survey to gauge grower sentiment, after the levy was revealed in last month's budget, as part of a planned ‘sustainable' biosecurity funding model.
About 140 growers responded to the GPA survey, with 84 per cent saying they didn't agree with paying the new 10 per cent levy, while only 4 per cent said they would and 13 per cent wanted more details.
The vast majority of respondents (98.6 per cent) said they should not have to pay this new levy when the biosecurity risk-creators (importers) are not yet paying a levy, while 95 per cent agreed options for current levy-spending and investments in grains-related programs should be explored first.
GPA Chair and WA grain producer, Barry Large, said the survey results were overwhelming and showed Australian grain producers are clearly annoyed and unimpressed by the proposed new levy. He urged Federal Agriculture Minister, Murray Watt, to reconsider the government's approach and collaborate with GPA to find more workable solutions for the grains sector.
"These survey results leave no doubt at all - growers are extremely angry and irritated about the Federal Government's plans to hit them with a new 10 per cent levy," Large said.
"With this additional 10 per cent payment, the total levies collected from Australian grain producers, based on last year's $28 billion crop, will be $314.16 million.
"This added $28.56m in levies from grains also represents more than 60 per cent of the $47.5m that's set to be raised by the new 10 per cent levy across all producers, as part of a ‘sustainable' funding model.
"However, this new levy on growers will be re-directed to the Department, which also received a $127 million allocation in the budget, from consolidated revenue, to cover recent financial losses.
"GPA's survey results clearly showed growers are extremely concerned about this approach."
