Sean Edwards (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 23 August 2012:

(1)    What are the proposed benefits.

(2)    What are the benefits of unity of policy, alignment of strategy and policy integration.

(3)    Have estimates been conducted on the potential savings from the proposal.

(4)    What are the anticipated changes to staffing numbers.

(5)    What areas of duplication currently exist between the two organisations and what is the cost of this.

(6)    Given that the proposal does not seek to change the level or structure of levy payments, is it the best way forward.

(7)    How can it be ensured that funds currently dedicated to research and development and market development and access are quarantined for those purposes within the new unified organisation.

(8)    Does the Minister have any objections to the proposal.

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

The answer to the senator’s question is as follows:

On 8 December 2011, I received a letter from the chairs of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) and the Wine Grape Growers Australia (WGGA) which sought my support to merge the Wine Australia Corporation and the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation (GWRDC) into a single statutory organisation.

In my response, I agreed to WFA and WGGA undertaking further investigation into this proposal, including a consultation process to ascertain levels of support or opposition from levy payers.

On 21 August 2012, WFA and WGGA provided me with a formal submission recommending a merger. I have asked the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to analyse the proposal before the government considers whether it should support the merger.

For further reference, WFA has published the formal submission on its website at http://www.wfa.org.au and WGGA advised the department on 6 September 2012 that it will also be made available on the WGGA website at www.wgga.com.au.