Kim Chance

Kim Chance

Minister for Agriculture and Food; Forestry; the Mid West and Wheatbelt; Great Southern

    GLA annual report released for 2004-05

    4/10/2005 12:00 AM
     
    4/10/05

    Agriculture Minister Kim Chance today signed off on the Grain Licensing Authority (GLA) 2004-05 annual report, which aims to protect Western Australia’s grain export markets.

    The report is the second handed down by the GLA and outlines a further refinement of policy and procedures in line with the Grain Marketing Act 2002.

    “The report addresses a number of key areas aimed at protecting the State's reputation and the benefits of export markets, while also offering more choice and competition for WA producers without impacting negatively on any clearly established markets previously built up by the Grain Pool Pty Ltd (GPPL),” Mr Chance said.

    The Minister said that over the past 12 months the GLA had addressed the following issues:
    • the clear separation of the single desk and the main licence holder GPPL;
    • the marketing strategy of GPPL and marketing strategy of applicants;
    • a broader definition of a new market opportunity in expanding markets;
    • separation, by the GLA, of market segments within a country;
    • the option of more than one market/destination for special licence applicants;
    • the volume and impact of tonnage to a country/market and or segment of a market;
    • previous and current buying pattern of customers; and
    • an applicant for special licence having to provide justification to participate in a core market of GPPL.
    Mr Chance said grower feedback over the issuing of special licence holders had been positive, with prices obtained for grain favourable when compared with other State's cash bids and pool returns.

    The checklist for special export licence applications had been further developed and refined over the 2004-05 season.

    The checklist now concentrates on three areas:
    • the prospect of the licence impacting on Grain Pool Pty Ltd (GPPL) as the main licence holder and any premiums that the GPPL may be extracting through the use of market power;
    • whether the granting of the licence is likely to impact negatively on the State's reputation as a grain exporter or on the State's grain industry generally; and
    • whether the licence represents a new market opportunity.
    All applications for the 2004-05 season were assessed using this checklist, to ensure they complied with the Legislation and Ministerial Guidelines.

    Minister's office: 9213 6700