Export Wheat Commission

The Export Wheat Commission (EWC) was a statutory authority of the Australian government. The EWC was established on 1 October 2007 and superseded the Wheat Export Authority (WEA). The EWC was a statutory commission operating under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.

The EWC’s role was determined by the Wheat Marketing Act 1989 (the Act) and its operations were funded from three sources, a $50 application fee for export consents, a Wheat Export Charge of $0.22/tonne of exported wheat and government grants of $3 million to supplement the downturn in income due to the drought affected wheat harvest in 2006-07 and provide for transitional costs.^[1]

The EWC facilitated the operations of Australia’s legislated wheat export arrangements and informed Government and growers of outcomes. The EWC:^[1]

• controlled the export of bulk wheat from Australia;
• monitored and reported on AWB International's performance in relation to the export of wheat from the National Pool (also referred to as the single desk marketing system);
• monitored compliance with the conditions of export consents;
• administered the Non-bulk Wheat Quality Assurance Scheme; and
• managed operations efficiently and effectively, consistent with corporate governance principles, and
• informed stakeholders of its activities.

The EWC assumed responsibility for the role of the former Wheat Export Authority to monitor and report on Australia's single desk wheat export arrangements, under which AWB(International) Ltd (AWB(I)) was given a near monopoly on exporting wheat, in particular bulk exports. The 2007/08 National Pool is the last one to be managed by AWBI.^[1]

On 1 July 2008, following the passage of legislative change, the EWC was replaced by Wheat Exports Australia.

References