Industry united in push for Wheat Port Code reforms

Farmers and industry leaders are pushing for reforms to the Wheat Port Code, saying sweeping changes are needed and the code should be mandatory.

Producers say a mandatory port code that addresses the current bottlenecks and inefficiencies is vital for Australia’s grain industry’s progress.

The government response to the second review of the Wheat Port Code closed on Friday, and the number of submissions is unknown, with some leading groups still to provide submissions.

GrainGrowers advocacy and rural affairs manager Sean Cole said the long-standing position was that the current code needed to be improved to reduce the administration (costs) of Port Service Terminal Providers.

“GrainGrowers believes there is a need for ongoing specific grains-related backstop legislation to protect competition for bulk grains export capacity beyond the base Australian Competition and Consumer Act (2010) protections that are currently in place,” he said.

GrainGrowers has also been working with GrainTrade Australia to meet the industry’s varying needs.

Grain Producers Australia chairman and Western Australian farmer Barry Large said GPA requested an extension to the deadline of February 7, which was granted.

“GPA has been a strong and consistent participant in the WPCs original design and evolution, since it was first implemented in 2014, to regulate the conduct of port terminal service providers (PTSPs), to ensure fair and transparent access to ports, for bulk wheat exporters,” he said.

In addition, the Victorian Farmers Federation has stated that it supports the approach of GPA in relation to the port code.

For farmers in NSW, there is a focus on making the port system as efficient as possible.

NSW Farmers grains committee chairman and Brocklesby farmer Justin Everitt said sweeping changes were needed and the port code should be mandatory.

He said there was no point in having world-class produce if farmers couldn’t deliver it.

Justin Everitt from Brocklesby NSW. Picture: Simon Dallinger

“Streamlining the code, making all of its provisions mandatory, and expanding the code to cover other bulk grains such as barley are the three key changes we need to see to see if we are going to stop the high charges and inefficiencies at our limited ports.”

A Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry spokesperson said the government would consider its response following the consultation period.

“The number of submissions will be published on the Have Your Say page in due course,” he said.