The wheat/grain industry of Australia has been a major agricultural export industry providing significant parts of Australia with a viable industry and profitable crop for over one hundred years.
Contents
1915
An Australian Wheat Board, comprising the Prime Minister and a Minister from each wheat growing state is created under the War Precautions Act 1914 to administer a wheat pooling scheme. The scheme is designed to assist wheat growers and ensure appropriate management of vital foodstuff during World War I.
1921
Australian Wheat Board ceased operation. Regional wheat pools are established, often managed by farmer cooperatives.
1939
The Australian Wheat Board is re-established as a war time measure. It is created as a statutory authority with a monopoly over purchasing and exporting all Australian wheat (the ‘single desk’).
1948
Following WW II, peacetime single desk legislation is introduced by the Wheat Industry Stabilisation Act 1948 to create the Australian Wheat Board. The Act is designed to shelter growers from volatile wheat prices and comprises: • guaranteed prices to growers, a home consumption price, a stabilisation fund • compulsory pooling and coordinated marketing • powers to acquire all wheat produced in Australia and the sole rights to market that wheat in Australia and overseas
1969 to 1975
At the instigation of industry, restrictions are placed on the quantities of wheat that can be delivered to the Australian Wheat Board in the form of wheat quotas. This was an attempt to reduce the potential for the build-up of excessive carryover stocks after the record 1968-69 Australian wheat harvest coinciding with the build-up of world wheat stocks.
1979
New legislation gives the Australian Wheat Board power to issue permits to growers, allowing them to deliver wheat directly to a domestic customer rather than into the bulk handling system.
Commonwealth Government introduces the Wheat Levy Act (No.1) 1979. This is a $2.50 per tonne levy payable by the Australian Wheat Board to the Commonwealth.
1984
The domestic stock-feed market for wheat is effectively deregulated. This allows growers to sell wheat to anyone they chose under a permit system. Wheat Levy Act (No. 1) 1979 is repealed.
1986
In response to the rural recession of the 1980s, the Government conducted a Royal Commission into Grain Storage, Handling and Transport to advise on the most efficient and cost-effective grain distribution system for Australia's future needs. The Commission's recommendations included deregulation of the wheat distribution system to minimise costs.
1989
The domestic wheat market is fully deregulated with the introduction of the Wheat Marketing Act 1989, which also restricts exports other non-Australian Wheat Board members.
Commonwealth Government introduces the Wheat Industry Fund Levy Act 1989 (WIF), a compulsory levy on the value of the wheat. The WIF’s purpose was to release the government from directly guaranteeing the Australian Wheat Board’s loans and allow the Australian Wheat Board to finance its own commercial borrowing arrangements.
1999
Australian Wheat Board ceases operation as a government controlled statutory authority. It becomes AWB Limited, a grower owned and controlled corporation. At this time, all government financial assistance, such as the underwriting of borrowings ceased. Through subsidiary company, AWB (International) Limited (AWBI), AWB Limited continues to be the sole exporter of bulk wheat from Australia via the ‘single desk’ system.
Government regulator Wheat Export Authority is established as a statutory Authority to:
2000
National Competition Policy Review of the Wheat Marketing Act 1989. Recommendations include: “if a compelling case can be made by the time of the 2004 review that there is a net public benefit, then the ‘single desk’ should continue with ongoing regular Wheat Export Authority reviews of AWBI’s performance in managing the single desk, and if necessary, a further National Competition Policy review in 2010”.
2001
AWB Limited is publicly floated on the Australian Stock Exchange.
2003
Wheat Marketing Act 1989 amended to provide funding for Wheat Export Authority through the Wheat Export Charge, a 22 cent levy on all wheat exports.
2004
The 2004 Wheat Marketing Review examined AWBI’s performance as the commercial manager of the single desk and the effectiveness of the Wheat Export Authority in monitoring and reporting AWBI’s performance. The review made a number of recommendations relating to the governance of AWBI and its independence from AWB Ltd and the remuneration arrangements for services provided by AWB Ltd. The review also recommended improvements to the Wheat Export Authority's monitoring of AWBI and the introduction of a streamlined, longer-term consent system for bags and containers.
2005
February: The Australian Government released the Productivity Commission Review of National Competition Policy Reforms which recommended an independent review of the future of the ‘single desk’ in accordance with National Competition Policy principles as soon as practicable.
November: The Australian Government appoints Terrance Cole QC to conduct an inquiry into the United Nations (UN) Oil-for-Food program and involvement of Australian Companies including AWB Limited and AWB (International) Limited (AWBI). This is in response to UN Secretary General issuing a statement on abuse of the Oil-for-Food program.
2006
Cole Inquiry reports its findings concerning Australian Companies and the Oil-for-Food program.
Government responds to the Cole Inquiry, which includes transferring AWBI’s power of veto over bulk exports to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, on a temporary basis.
2007
January: The Government announces the Wheat Export Marketing Consultation Committee to undertake extensive consultation with the Australian wheat industry, particularly growers, about their wheat export marketing needs. The committee reports to the Government 30 March 2007.
May: The Prime Minister announced changes to the wheat marketing arrangements including:
August: Following legislative changes the export of wheat in bags and containers was deregulated to the extent that exporters no longer had to apply to the Wheat Export Authority for consents to exports. All new shipments had to comply with the requirements of the Non-bulk Wheat Quality Assurance Scheme which was put in place to help protect the reputation and quality of Australia’s wheat exports.
October: The Export Wheat Commission (EWC) is established to replace the Wheat Export Authority.
2008
June: The Wheat Export Marketing Bill 2008 and the Wheat Export Marketing (Repeal and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 reforms are approved. The Export Wheat Commission drafts the new Wheat Export Accreditation Scheme 2008 for bulk wheat exporters.
July: The Government deregulates the marketing of bulk wheat exports by repealing the Wheat Marketing Act 1989, and Wheat Exports Australia is established under the Wheat Export Marketing Act 2008. This removes AWBI monopoly on Bulk wheat exports (the “single desk”) and provided for the Wheat Export Accreditation Scheme.
2010
July: The Productivity Commission Report recommends the abolition of the Wheat Export Accreditation Scheme, Wheat Exports Australia (WEA) and the Wheat Export Charge. Port access test is recommended to continue to 2014.
2011
September: The Government agrees in principle with the Productivity Commission’s recommendations but indicates it will delay abolishing the Wheat Export Accreditation Scheme and the Wheat Export on 30 September 2012. Wheat Exports Australia will be wound up by 31 December 2012.
2013
Legislative changes