THE Australian Parliament’s Agriculture and Water Resources Committee has published its report Growing Australia: Inquiry into growing Australian agriculture to $100 billion by 2030.

The committee’s inquiry considered how the Australian agriculture could reach the target set by the National Farmers’ Federation to grow the sector to a farmgate value of $100 billion by 2030.

The Committee Chair, Rick Wilson MP, described this target as ambitious but achievable and noted that "Australian producers have a strong track record of taking advantage of economic opportunities and delivering productivity growth over the long-term.

"Australian farmers have consistently identified and embraced new technologies and techniques that can improve their businesses. This innovative mindset makes our producers well placed to benefit from the digital technologies that are rapidly becoming central to the process of farming," Mr Wilson said.

Mr Wilson also highlighted the importance of exports to the sector, stating,  "There is perhaps no issue that will affect the trajectory of Australian agriculture more than our ability to expand and diversify our export markets.

"The quality of Australian produce is recognised globally, and to take advantage of this reputation we must continually look for opportunities to expand into new markets, as well as seek productivity improvements that allow our producers to remain ahead of the game in competitive international markets," Mr Wilson added.

The report includes recommendations aimed at promoting adoption of innovative new technologies, developing a national biosecurity strategy, increasing export market access for Australian producers, and attracting young people to undertake a career in agriculture.

The report can be found at the inquiry website.

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THE Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) has welcomed the Federal Government’s support package for Australia’s fuel refineries and has called for BP to be pulled into line so Western Australia can retain its fuel refining capacity as well.

The Federal Government’s package offers Australia’s under-pressure refineries some relief in exchange for a commitment to stay operational for the next decade.

AWU national secretary Daniel Walton, who led a delegation to Canberra this month to push for refinery support, said the package showed Australia can and should retain its fuel refining capacity.

“On behalf of the thousands of AWU members who refine fuel in Australia I commend the government for listening and for acting. Today’s announcement is a hugely important step,” Mr Walton said.

“Being able to make our own fuel is a critical sovereign capability. Without it, we are completely at the mercy of trade routes that are threatened by potential international conflict or pandemics.

“The Federal Government has done the right thing here by recognising the national interest and doing a deal that create a path for our fuel refineries stay open.

“Obviously the industry is highly dynamic and we will keep working with our members, employers, and the government to ensure these policies are continuously reviewed and calibrated to ensure Australia retains its fuel refining capacity.”

Mr Walton said the package underscored why BP’s decision in October to shut the Kwinana fuel refinery in WA should not be accepted.

“BP claims it has to shutdown Kwinana, but the reality is it’s just a preference based on the company’s commercial interest. There is absolutely no reason BP cannot continue operating Kwinana profitably with these support measures in place,” Mr Walton said.

“Our governments can’t allow BP to completely call the shots on what is a crucial sovereign capacity.

“Our leaders should put a hard choice to BP: either keep Kwinana running as a fuel refinery or hand it over to someone who can.”

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“THE Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) continues to advocate for consumer access to competent and affordable financial advice, and accordingly we welcome the recent round of reforms to the sector,” IPA chief executive officer, Andrew Conway said this week.

“The recommendation of the Hayne Royal Commission to establish a single, disciplinary body for the sector makes good regulatory sense and forms part of the reform agenda to streamline regulation in the longer term.

“It was not unexpected that this recommendation would involve rationalising the numerous regulators and standard setters which operate in the financial advice sector, and who are at times in conflict with each other. Winding up FASEA was always going to be an option. 

“However, whilst the IPA welcomes reform and rationalisation, we urge the Government to ensure that Treasury and ASIC are well supported and funded to take over the standard setting and administration functions currently performed by FASEA. Regulation is dependent on proper execution. 

“The IPA has been a long-time advocate of adequate funding for ASIC, which is even more critical given these additional functions. 

“The IPA is also keen to work with ASIC and other stakeholders on ongoing reforms, including in response to ASIC’s consultation paper (CP 332)  which seeks to improve consumer access to affordable advice by addressing the impediments which currently prevent this. 

“We look forward to the next steps and working with Treasury and ASIC to reach the common goal of protecting the consumer interest through the provision of reliable and affordable advice in the future,” Mr Conway said.

www.publicaccountants.org.au

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A MARITIME POLLUTION incident in Port Phillip Bay this week, involving diesel spilling overboard during refuelling operations, appears to have been caused by the use of inexperienced foreign seafarers who had been flown into Australia to replace the vessel’s local crew.

The incident occurred when the new crew were attempting to refuel the MMA Coral, an offshore supply ship operated by MMA Offshore, for the first time after replacing the Australian crew last week.

Authorities, including the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Environment Protection Authority, and Port of Melbourne, are investigating the spill, which occurred shortly after 11am on Wednesday.

The Maritime Union of Australia said the previous crew of Australian seafarers had disembarked at Barry Beach Marine Terminal, in Gippsland, before the vessel was sailed to Melbourne by a group of foreign seafarers to refuel ahead of a planned voyage to Karratha in Western Australia.

“This significant environmental incident was the direct result of skilled Australian seafarers being replaced by a less experienced foreign crew that was unfamiliar with this vessel,” MUA Victoria Branch Secretary Shane Stevens said.

“Thankfully, our members onboard the refuelling barge immediately halted the transfer of fuel once the spill was spotted.

“They believe the spill occurred because the crew of the MMA Coral instructed for the fuel to be pumped at too high a pressure due to a lack of knowledge about the correct procedures for the ship.

“While the refuelling operation was meant to involve the transfer of approximately 200 tonnes of fuel onto the MMA Coral, the spill thankfully only involved a minimal quantity due to the quick thinking of the crew of the refuelling barge, who spotted the spill and immediately halted operations.

“This incident, and the significant environmental damage it could have caused, would have been prevented if skilled Australian seafarers with an intimate knowledge of the MMA Coral were still onboard.

“The MMA Coral remains in Port Phillip Bay, and still needs to take on approximately 100 tonnes of fuel ahead of its departure for Karratha, so there remains a need for vigilance to prevent a repeat incident.”

MUA assistant national secretary Ian Bray said the incident was just the latest to highlight the environmental, safety and biosecurity risks posed by using foreign seafarers to undertake coastal trading operations in Australian waters.

“This vessel was sailing between Australian ports, operating entirely in Australian waters, so should have been crewed by Australian seafarers with the skills, training, and knowledge to safely operate the vessel,” Mr Bray said.

“Instead, in an apparent cost-cutting exercise, MMA Offshore flew a team of foreign seafarers into Victoria — in the midst of the COVID crisis — to replace the Australian crew onboard the vessel.

“The fact that the very first refuelling undertaken by this replacement crew caused a diesel spill into Port Phillip Bay highlights how the Australian environment is put at risk by this approach.

“The Australian Government needs to stop providing temporary licenses and travel exemptions to shipping companies to allow them to utilise foreign seafarers on coastal shipping routes, and instead protect local jobs, safety, and the environment by insisting they utilise skilled Australian crews.”

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