The funds are a combination of recovered Potato Marketing Corporation legal funds and court costs paid to the State Government by Galati Nominees Pty Ltd.
The McGowan Government has this week written to 74 Western Australian potato growers offering to return their share of more than $650,000 now available from settled legal actions.
All Potato Marketing Corporation (PMC) funds, including those in a legal fund levied to pursue action against the Galati companies, were vested to the State Government when the PMC was abolished on December 31, 2016.
Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced $484,316 recovered from the legal trust fund would be distributed back to growers, along with the $200,000 of costs paid by Galati Nominees.
An allocation calculation established by the Potato Marketing Corporation prior to its abolition has been used to ensure fair distribution of funds, based on market entitlements and levels of damages claimed.
WA Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the distribution of these funds brings to an end the saga of the Potato Marketing Corporation, ensuring a fair distribution of remaining levies and cost payments.
"The McGowan Government has drawn a line under the era of regulation of the potato industry and at the same time ensured a fair distribution to growers, many of whom continue to suffer losses as a result of tomato potato psyllid market access issues,” Minister MacTiernan said.
