Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I can outline that the consultation process for the new fees and charges was not only consistent with the cost-recovery guidelines but also went well above and beyond anything specified in the guidelines. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry convened a horticulture ministerial task force on the topic and consulted with entities including but not limited to the Australian Horticultural Exporters' Association, Citrus Australia and Fruit Growers Tasmania. After two years this consultation process did not eventually settle on a fee model that eliminated the chronic undercollection issue that I referred to earlier. I then convened a meeting that I attended with more than a dozen horticultural export representatives. We continued to liaise and consult until an agreed position was found. I am confident that the consultation with both the department and with my office over the two years was reported widely among industry participants, including those small— (Time expired)