Growers slam state govt for Melbourne’s Wholesale Market review delay

GROWERS and traders at Melbourne’s Wholesale Market are frustrated the Victorian Government hasn’t started reviewing issues at the market more than four months after it said it would.

Market review: Melbourne’s Wholesale Market, located in Epping and owned by the State Government, has been slammed by fruit, vegetable and flower wholesalers for poor management and rising costs.

GROWERS and traders at Melbourne’s Wholesale Market are frustrated the Victorian Government hasn’t started reviewing issues at the market more than four months after it said it would.

The wholesale market, located in Epping and owned by the State Government, has been slammed by fruit, vegetable and flower wholesalers for poor management and rising costs.

A full review of the market’s operations was announced by then Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford last August, after more than 150 wholesalers signed a vote of no confidence in Melbourne Market Authority chairman Peter Tuohey and chief executive Mark Maskeill.

“The three-year anniversary of the market moving to Epping is an opportune time to assess the market’s operations and make sure it is set up for sustained success,” Ms Pulford said at the time.

She said the terms of reference for the review would be “developed over coming weeks”.

But Fresh State, the body representing wholesalers at the markets, said the review process had not started, labelling it an empty promise to placate voters until the state election concluded.

The body also recently accused the Melbourne Market Authority of bullying wholesalers.

Fresh State president Shane Schnitzler said wholesalers could no longer tolerate the “uncaring attitude” of the Melbourne Market Authority.

“Growers and traders are being slugged with rent increases above the CPI, on top of a recent doubling of major refrigeration charges and ongoing high power charges from permanent fixed electricity contracts,” Mr Schnitzler said.

New Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes said the Government was now working with stakeholders to finalise the terms of reference for the review.

“The Government, with Agriculture Victoria, will provide more details about the review in the coming weeks, including how tenants will be able to provide their input,” Ms Symes said.

The Weekly Times reported before the election that wholesalers at the market were pinning their hopes on a Liberal-Nationals win because other markets have been privatised under Liberal governments.

Melbourne Market Authority’s last annual report showed it had a net asset value of $603 million and earnings of $24 million.