A MESSAGE FOR AUSTRALIAN GRAIN GROWERS ABOUT THE GRAINS LEVY PAYER REGISTER
GrainGrowers and Grain Producers Australia welcome the commencement of the levy payer register for the Australian grains industry.
The current grains levy, set at 1.02%, contributes more than $110 million dollars from growers to the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), Plant Health Australia (PHA) and the National Residue Survey (NRS).
The new levy payer register, which came into effect on 1 July 2019, is administered by the Federal Department of Agriculture and will ensure:
- Better accountability and transparency for levy payers, including the ability to access an annual return of levies paid.
- Better record keeping on the payment of the levy.
- The ability for GRDC to more accurately determine the details of the levy payments.
- Improved opportunity for the levy recipient (GRDC) to communicate directly with growers.
As a grower, you do not have to do anything differently. Under legislation, grains levies have been collected since 1957 and levy payer information has always been required. Levy collection agents (grain buyers) maintain their own database of grower information and provide information on levy returns to the Department of Agriculture.
While nothing will change for growers the levy collection agents will provide additional information to the Department, including:
- Levy payer farm business name;
- Contact details including phone number, email and address;• ABN (if any) or ACN (if any); and
- Levy amount or charge each levy payer has paid, or is liable to pay.
The information is held securely within the Department of Agriculture, with access bound under Australian Privacy laws. Legislation specifies how the information can be used. The Department can be contacted on 1800 900 090 or by clicking here in relation to the levy register.
The register is a positive step for the recognition of growers and the importance of the Australian grains industry. The register will help ensure the significant financial contribution made by growers is directed toward value-adding research as well as improving the transparency in the use of grains levy and providing direct accountability for growers.
If you have any feedback you would like to share, please contact ua.moc.sreworgniarg@yriuqne or ua.moc.srecudorpniarg@nimda
Brett Hosking
Chairman
Andrew Weidemann
Chairman