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Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey says he is pleased to announce Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke has agreed to a $127.4 million package put forward by the Coalition to reform the AQIS Export Certification program.
In September the Coalition successfully moved to disallow a bill by the Rudd Government to axe the 40 percent AQIS Export Certification rebate.
Working with the Coalition the Government has agreed to a modified $127.4 million reform package;
• $85.3 million to reintroduce the 40 percent rebate for two years
• $16.1 million to implement regulatory and export supply chain reforms
• $26 million for redundancies to now be paid for by the Government
• Accumulated industry debts to be wiped
• Small meat processors will have their registration charges dropped from $50,000 to $17,800
• Regular audits to ensure industry is only paying for legitimate costs
“I had considerable consultation with our agriculture and aquaculture companies in the Grey electorate it was apparent the Rudd government cuts would pose considerable problems for our export industries and I am pleased concerns have been listened to and a sensible compromise has been reached”, Mr Ramsey said.
“Many of our small and expanding food export industries were going to be hit hard by the government’s plans, which had not only planned to eliminate the 40% rebate but also load the industry up with the costs of reforming a government department.
Mr Ramsey said, “Farmers had stood to lose most with the costs to the red meat industry inevitably ending up at the farm gate. The tuna industry, already under enormous pressure will now avoid big fee increases, smaller operators developing export markets, from the Peterborough abattoir, through to the mussel, oyster and abalone exporters will now stand to benefit from the extension of the rebate and the efficiencies.
“The two year extension of the rebate and the provision of $42m to pay for the reform processes is a great outcome. It is now up to the minister to ensure these reforms deliver the long over-due efficiencies he maintains are on offer in AQIS.
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