UPDATE: MORE WHEAT IMPORT PERMITS ISSUED

• Since 17 May 2019, over 6,500 people have signed this petition expressing concern about DAWR issuing permits to import wheat into Australia.
• The Manildra Group is confirmed as the importer of the first permit (issued on 14 May 2019). Manildra posted an open letter to growers stating they would import grain for the duration of the year. As DAWR have only issued three permits, how can Manildra say they will import for the rest of the year?                      
• On 21 May 2019, Grain Growers Ltd sent a letter to DAWR voicing concerns raised in this petition.
• On 24 May 2019, the ABC reported that two more permits were issued. However, these further permits have not been published on the DAWR website.
• On 26 May 2019, the Hon Bridget McKenzie was appointed the Minister for Agriculture. I have reached out to her to request answers on this tumultuous situation.  Senator McKenzie has not yet responded to me.
• On 27 May 2019 I formally requested a statement of reasons for DAWR’s decision to grant import permits, citing my serious concern of the biosecurity risk to the grains industry. DAWR has not responded to me. Here is the link to my letter:
  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B98bVJBNtIa3Q3Rzb19ETURaXzBMYnFhUVdFU1hzYmR5REo0
• On 30 May 2019 DAWR responded to the letter from Grain Growers Ltd. The letter does not answer many of our concerns. The response merely paraphrases information readily available on their website and raises the unrelated issue of a stock reporting system. DAWR have failed to answer the growers’ questions. DAWR said they are considering 8 more import permit applications. This will open the floodgates.

WHAT NEXT: CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY

Manildra, DAWR and our politicians have not responded to our concerns. This important issue cannot be swept under the rug.

So what now, do we sit back and wait to see what happens?  

No. I firmly believe that the Australian grain growers deserve to see:

• an explanation from DAWR of the reasons for their decisions to issue these permits;
• the biosecurity risk assessment that was undertaken by DAWR when making the decision;
• the measures that will be put in place to protect the biosecurity risk created by the import.

DAWR need to respond to my request as a matter of fairness and transparency.

CAN OUR BIOSECURITY BE BOUGHT?

The handling of this situation has caused me great concern that Australia’s biosecurity can be breached for commercial gain with enough power and influence.

This is not acceptable. The risk to the sustainability of our farms and the future of Australian agriculture is too great. We cannot become complacent and blindly trust the process.

THE SMOKESCREEN - CALLS FOR MANDATORY STOCK REPORTING

After the petition generated nationwide media coverage, grower organisations and lobby groups commented on our concerns.  Upsettingly, most groups are continuing to push their separate agenda of a mandatory stock reporting system. 

Calls for stock reporting is a separate issue - a smokescreen. Our focus should be on protecting our biosecurity and the sustainability of the Australian grains industry.  

WE FARMERS DESERVE BETTER

While awaiting response from DAWR on the questions put to them, please raise your concerns with your local state and federal MPs. Discuss the threat to Australian agriculture with your extensive networks around the country. Keep the conversation going. Keep asking questions.

There is still time to fix this. #stopwheatimports

Kind regards,

Georgina Warne