Rice levy deadline

Jul 27, 2019

Ricegrowers are reminded that the objection period for the Rice Research and Development Levy Proposal expires on Monday, August 5.

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Any objection to the levy — which must provide reasons using supporting arguments and evidence — will be taken into consideration by the RGA and NSW Government when deciding whether to implement the proposed increase.

The Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia (RGA) has officially requested doubling the Rice Research and Development Levy paid by growers.

In its official submission to Federal Minister for Agriculture Bridget McKenzie, the RGA requests, ‘‘the existing statutory levy rate for rice be increased by $3 per tonne for the research and development component to $6 per tonne’’.

The proposed $6 levy per tonne of rice comprises $0.06 per tonne for Plant Health Australia, which is unchanged, and $5.94 per tonne for research and development where the $3 increase is applied.

The proposed increase was determined in a review process conducted by the RGA and AgriFutures Australia, incorporating broad stakeholder engagement, last year.

The RGA has already undertaken an extensive three month consultation program advising levy payers of the proposal.

Following a postal vote, the motion to increase was passed with 63 per cent of participating levy payers voting in favour.

By McPherson Media Group