Rice Marketing Board (RMB) Update
Who would have thought that we would have had to revert to the internet to hold our sub- branch and Annual General meetings? It was an unusual experience to be talking to growers about the vesting review and other matters recently by video rather than in face-to-face meetings. For those of you who weren’t able to dial-into the meetings, the main points John Culleton, the RMB Chair, made in relation to the vesting review were:
- To market NSW grown rice in the Australian domestic market, you need only to apply to the RMB for an authorized buyers licence (ABL). There is no limit to the number of domestic buyers licences the RMB can issue and you do not have to mount a detailed case to obtain an ABL: the RMB simply needs to understand that you are in a position to honour any commitments you make to rice growers, especially in relation to payments.
- Any authorised buyer, or any entity that buys NSW rice from an authorised buyer, is able to export that rice, if they have transformed or converted it into some form of finished product such as rice snacks, noodles, flour etc. The only prohibition that currently exists for the export of NSW rice is that milled rice that has not undergone some form of conversion, can only be exported by a single entity that has been issued an exclusive right to do so by the RMB – and that entity is currently SunRice.
- You cannot assume that a continuation of vesting is assured and the NSW government cannot be informed by a silent majority.
- The Terms of Reference for the Vesting Review have yet to be issued but when they are, there is a chance that some individuals or entities that oppose vesting may approach you to use the Review as an opportunity to campaign against the Basin Plan, water allocation processes and water trading – as frustrated as you may be with these issues, please understand that the vesting review is solely about how NSW grown rice is marketed and DPI has already indicated that submissions that do not address the terms of reference will not be considered. The basis of any submission you make, irrespective of whether it’s for or against vesting, must be focused on the Review’s Terms of Reference.
- There also a chance that some individuals or entities, who are opposed to vesting, may use the vesting review to approach you with claims of new markets and much better returns – we are all looking for better deals in life but as with any new offer, it’s important that you test any of the claims being made to you and that you examine the detail before you commit to any new arrangement.
For more information, please contact the RMB Secretary, Carol Chiswell, on 02 6953 3200.