In light of this, AFPA has commenced a formal consultation process that will help to prepare a case for increasing forest grower levy rates.
The move comes at the request of major Australian growers and members of the AFPA Growers Chamber Research and Biosecurity Funding Working Group.
The group prepared a paper outlining how forest growers can come together to create an increased program of RD&E, a national forest biosecurity surveillance program, and an ongoing source of funding for operational programs of common interest to grower members.
Members of the AFPA Growers Chamber constitute more than 80 per cent of forest grower levy payers in Australia, by volume.
Members of the chamber who would be impacted by a levy change voted unanimously in favour of starting the process to introduce a levy increase.
AFPA is now encouraging growers to register to be involved in the consultation process and the ballot. Opportunities to provide feedback and ask questions over the phone, via email or during scheduled town hall Zoom meetings will be followed by a formal voting process. An independent third party will be engaged to conduct the industry-wide poll, seeking support to increase both the grower and biosecurity levies.
If successful, the additional funds generated for RD&E through the levy increase will be managed by FWPA and biosecurity funds would be managed by Plant Health Australia.
Growers can register through AFPA for further information or to participate in the poll at the website, via email – forestgrowerslevy@ausfpa.com.au – or by calling (03) 6163 8901, before Friday 6 November 2020
