Grower Levies

A. No.  Citrus Australia is a not-for-profit member organisation.  Our grower members pay the citrus levy which goes to Hort Innovation, and they also pay a voluntary membership fee based on their hectares directly to Citrus Australia.  Citrus Australia bids for citrus levy funding to conduct Research & Development (R&D) projects managed by Hort Innovation, and is currently administering six of these.

A. Your levy is collected at the first point of sale, which is generally your packing shed or the marketer you use.  They send this money to the Federal Department of Agriculture Water and Environment (DAWE).  The DAWE gives some of this money to Plant Health Australia (PHA) for biosecurity projects, and some to Hort Innovation, who both invest in R&D and marketing projects based on industry needs.  The investments are generally projects carried out by a range of service providers including Citrus Australia.

A. Not directly.  Citrus Australia participates in a competitive tender process to win levy funding and manage the R&D projects offered by PHA and Hort Innovation.  We only apply when we feel we are best placed to manage these projects.  This is why we rely on membership fees to conceptualise, secure and deliver these projects, by providing a stable business structure, a regionally based office, skilled staff, and a Board with oversight of eleven committees, enabling a fair representation of industry.

A. Not necessarily.  We share our e-news and Australian Citrus News magazine with all of industry – our grower members, non-members (levy payers), and affiliate members.  You can find out if you are a member by calling us on 03 5023 6333.

A. Sorry. The Korea China Thailand (KCT) program is a service that Citrus Australia offers to all citrus growers. It is not a membership, and actually registers your information in a different database, not connected to levy payers or members.  You must be registered with both and can do so by calling us on 03 5023 6333

A. It is true, as a levy payer Citrus Australia manages the administration of levy funded projects (through PHA and Hort Innovation) that you will see the benefits of.  For example, the Australian Citrus News and Citrus eNews are levy funded projects.

As a member, you get so much more than that.  Want statistical data on shipping exports?  We can create that for you.  Want advice on MRLs for export to any market?  We can clarify this for you.  Want industry to have access to innovation from around the globe to protect you from biosecurity incursions? We maintain that network. Want us to advocate to government on your behalf for changes to the Horticulture Award, or the right to irrigate your orchard in the Murray Darling Basin? That’s us. Want to receive direct mail on critical updates to industry from our CEO?  We can do all these things, but they are not funded by R&D projects.  They are funded by membership fees, and whilst we’d really love to help you, if you are not a member, we won’t have the time to prioritise your request.

A. Whilst limes are a small category, you are still a very important part of the citrus family.  How would we cook our fajitas, or garnish our gin and tonics, if it weren’t for limes?  Being a member of Citrus Australia means that we value your input, and we want to hear from you.

Our ability to shape government policy, and to access markets, new chemicals, innovation and fight pests and disease, impacts all of industry, not just one type of citrus.

And whilst levy funding might mean that we work on a specific project, it doesn’t mean that the strategic plan for the company falls in line with whatever project is available.  Citrus Australia is member owned, and member run.  Your input is considered in all our planning.  Plus, you get access to the more personalised assistance we mentioned above.

A. When an exotic pest is found, Citrus Australia represents you the grower, and gives industry a collaborated and strong voice in the response. When there is an issue in an export market, Citrus Australia will be there to help you.  We represent industry to governments here and abroad, and we have networks and contacts to call on to assist. When a global pandemic hits and we can no longer move freely throughout Australia or the world, we fight for the ability to keep your business open and functional, and your staff employed. When government makes poor policy, we are your voice at State and Federal levels. Whilst we deal with issues every day, we are always looking to the medium and long term to prepare industry for challenges and opportunities to lie ahead.