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Citrus Australia |
Structures
and Members
Board of Directors | Citrus
Australia
Staff
Growers are now asked to become direct members of Citrus Australia and ensure appropriate professional skills are employed to represent them. The ACG board initiated this process by instructing an inaugural Citrus Australia Director Selection Committee to recruit four grower Directors and three independent Directors, utilising a comprehensive and transparent selection procedure.
A members application form to join the new organisation, Citrus Australia is contained in the Information Memorandum which was distributed to all registered growers by mail.
Grower members will pay a membership fee each financial year. The initial annual membership fee of Citrus Australia Ltd for Grower Members will be $20 per hectare, with a minimum fee of $100 and for Affiliates, the fee will be $250.
The special resolution passed on October 14 requires the transfer of ACG’s undertaking and operations to Citrus Australia. The intention is to transfer the current complex system of contributions to ACG (approx. $0.50/t) to a more simple, accountable and direct membership system ($20/ha, min $100) There may be some differences based on individual circumstances but overall growers should not pay more in total than they currently are.
The second stage will address the contributions and operations of other regional/state based grower-funded organisations. The outcomes will ultimately depend on the new Board, its grower members and continued deliberations between the organisations involved.
During the transition to the new organisation, arrangements will be in place for growers who choose to join Citrus Australia to ensure they are recognised for prior or current payments to ACG or for the benefit of ACG (made through various means including through their Grower Bodies, statutory bodies or packinghouse), relating to the 2008-09 Financial Year, and to ensure growers do not pay more in total than they currently are.
Each membership application will be considered by the Citrus Australia Board, at which time such prior or current payments to ACG or for the benefit of ACG will be recognised, along with any special circumstances, noting voting entitlements are based on each dollar paid in membership fees.
South Australia
In South Australia, growers who have remitted the $0.50 (exclusive of GST) per tonne contribution to CGSA for services provided by ACG (collected via packinghouse by PIRSA) , for all or part of the 2008-09 Financial Year, will need to demonstrate this amount on the Citrus Australia membership application form (attached to this Memorandum). This amount will be deducted from the total 2008-09 membership fee due to Citrus Australia. CGSA will be encouraged to join as an Affiliate.
Murray Valley
In the Murray Valley, growers who have remitted the $0.50 (exclusive of GST) per tonne contribution to ACG for services provided by ACG (via their packinghouse or Murray Valley Citrus Board) , for all or part of the 2008-09 Financial Year, will need to demonstrate this amount on the Citrus Australia membership application form. This amount will then be deducted from the total 2008-09 membership fee due to Citrus Australia. SCG and MMCG will be encouraged to join as Affiliates.
Queensland
In Queensland, citrus growers are encouraged to continue QCG membership. Upon the consent of the individual grower, part of their subscription payment to QCG will include membership fees to Citrus Australia. All assets and liabilities of QCG are expected to be transferred to Citrus Australia by July 2009, including staff, at which time a Citrus Australia regional advisory committee (established in consultation with QCG) will ensure the Citrus Australia Board is advised with respect to ongoing projects/obligations, programs and quarantined funds transferred to Citrus Australia by QCG.
Riverina
In the Riverina, growers have benefited by services delivered via a Service Agreement between ACG and Riverina Citrus, funded through their state statutory levy. This is expected to continue, with the Service Agreement being transferred to Citrus Australia until it comes to an end in March 2009. After that point, growers can choose to join Citrus Australia direct. This may be facilitated by an equivalent reduction in the Riverina citrus state statutory levy.
Western Australia
In WA, growers have contributed through their state statutory “fee for service” through WAFGA’s membership of ACG. This arrangement ceased on 31 October 2008 (though WAFGA will be encouraged to join as an Affiliate of Citrus Australia) and growers will be encouraged to join Citrus Australia direct upon the equivalent reduction in their state statutory fee for service.
More information is available by contacting Citrus Australia:
Citrus Australia Ltd
Level 1, 51 Deakin Avenue
(PO Box 5091) Mildura VIC 3500
Ph (03) 5023 6333
Fax (03) 5023 3877
Email admin@citrusaustralia.com.au
Web www.citrusaustralialimited.com.au
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