Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, , 6:54:28 to 7:15:19
Discussion on the breakdown of grain production and levy contributions by state, focusing on Western Australia's significant export share.
Topics: Agricultural productivity, Exports
Speakers: Speaker 13, Matthew Gson, Speaker 18, Speaker 14, Speaker 3, Mr. Matthew Gson, Speaker 1, Speaker 12, Speaker 27
>> That would be very difficult to do, Senator. I'm not sure we can do that.
>> What uh, explain to me why it would be
difficult. >> Um, I'd need to I don't know if the CFO is still here. Um, yes.
Um while we're waiting for Mr. Senator, we do have the 2425 figures. We do have the 2425 figures for GDC if that's possible.
>> Um >> well, that's that's around the 1 billion
mark, isn't it? >> No, it's much less than that, which is why I just wanted to put that on the
record. So
>> that was 24. >> So the 2425 GDC levy receipts from industry.
>> Oh, no, sorry, not receipts. Total um total uh reserves. >> Oh, sorry. Reserves is a different thing. >> No, no, I was talking about res.
receipts is around 230 and there's obviously matching funding. Okay, so
that's what I'm guessing. It's around it was it was the reserves were just just around the billion dollar mark. So I'm guessing that now it's probably sitting somewhere between 1.2 and 1.3.
>> Sorry, we misunderstood your question, but I think we can talk to the reserves.
>> But the reserves are 728.5 million at the close of 2425.
>> At the close of 2425, so middle of last year. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. 728 728 >> and you know what's the >> So if a if a if a if a boat leaves in August has that money already been paid to the GDC or not like is it what's what's the point of collection >> when the farmer gets paid when >> I looked this up earlier when >> when the contract act is entered.
>> I think it's when it changes hands.
Senator, >> when the wheat changes hand or the grain changes hands. >> I can check that tonight. Don't don't
>> It is It is on our website. >> Yeah. If the levies apply um the person who owns them immediately after harvest sells the grain to a purchaser or has processed it themselves.
>> Yep. Okay. >> Point of sale. Yeah.
>> The point of sale. And and to your other question >> earlier, Senator, about whether there's other industries with multiple uh you know bodies um sugar is another one. We have uh cane growers and um the millers >> hort innovation a little bit different. They have 37 >> yes >> bodies but there are a few others. Yeah.
>> Uh I I don't think anything of the scale of of of the the grain industry but um put that to one side. So
>> Senator Matthew Garson, chief finance officer. Um with regard to your question around the four years just from WA um our system does have its limitations on how it collects the data. For example, um a collection agent might operate on behalf of a number of levy payers and when that goes into the system that might be collected from multiple states or territories. Um so we are unpacking that. I'll just have to take it on notice. It'll just require a bit further investigation as to whether we hold the specific data to track it. Okay. >> Um just for WA, but I understand um Dr. Greenville might also have something
further to add on this. >> So, so um like I'm happy for you to take that on notice.
>> Thank you. >> Say if it helps at all, Senator, the share of production that comes out of WA in terms of our total winter crop has averaged about 36% um since 1990. Um at the moment, last year it was 39.6%. So, it's at close to the 40% mark. So,
>> but there's also, I think you'd acknowledge, Dr. to Greenville. There's bleed from the system in the east because our our sales are are 95 plus% export. There's no there's effectively no bleed um or a very small percentage of bleed from the levy paying system. Whereas in the eastern states, there's a lot more domestic use. It's it's less easy to track.
>> Yeah. Oh, this is our production forecast. So in the ground, how much was produced in a given year in terms of >> Yes. But you couldn't equate that direct to leverage. Exactly.
>> Because there's bleed in the east where there's not in the west. >> Yeah. Agreed. >> All right. I'm I'm happy to leave it there. Ch.
>> Thanks, Senator Brockman. Look, it is that time of the day for a maralade sandwich in the stretch. So, why don't we take a break and come back at 4:15?
>> Cool. >> Still in outcome.
and all good to go. Hello, Sen Minister.