News: Thumbs Up for Turf Levy

Australia’s $1.3 billion turf industry has voted for the introduction of a Research/Development and Marketing levy for their industry. This is the second ballot undertaken in the last 18 months, the combined results showing that over 60% of growers support the introduction of the levy, which will be used to address key issues such as water efficiency and consumer marketing. Sussan Ley, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, stated at the recent TPA National Conference that the industry only needed to get a 51% majority in the second ballot to have the new levy introduced. The first vote conducted by the TPA received a 69% majority but the government decided to have a second vote conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission to ensure the result was beyond doubt. Turf Producers Australia Chairman, Robert Davey, stated that “it’s a great result for the industry. To get an absolute majority result in the second ballot is a big win.”

The turf industry is facing challenges from climate change and increasing water restrictions, declining terms of trade and increased compliance in such matters as OH&S and the environment. But it has great potential and is a progressive, modern and technologically advanced industry. The industry is now waiting on formal notification from the Minister for Agriculture, Peter McGauran, to formally introduce the levy mechanism. Robert Davey summed up the feeling of the industry, “We now have an opportunity to develop a strong, vibrant and sustainable future for the Australian turf industry and we just want to get on with it.”

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