Agriculture Minister Ernie Bridge said he was very disappointed that time constraints imposed by Edgell-Birdseye had forced an early decision on the Potato Marketing Authority before a review currently underway could be completed.
"I share the concerns of growers who wanted an opportunity to make submissions to the review, and am disappointed this has been disrupted," he said.
"It is important that growers are kept informed of the likely impact the decision will have on them, and I have immediately contacted the chairman of the review committee, Professor Murray Hawkins, to discuss this issue."
Mr Bridge said the Deputy Premier's announcement clearly affected the thrust of the present review, but he believed a thorough examination of the potato industry should still occur. Professor Hawkins had agreed with that approach.
"It will be necessary to re-examine the original terms of reference, to determine what changes should be made to ensure a meaningful examination of the industry against the background of removing the licensing, pricing and regulatory arrangements of the Potato Marketing Act," Mr Bridge said.
"This will be done on an urgent basis, and I would expect to be in a position to finalise those arrangements very shortly."
