Overview

Policy is decided by the Board, after considering input from a range of areas. From time to time, the Board establishes a specialised policy and issues-based taskforces to draw in expertise from various sectors of industry.

GPSA regularly consults through close involvement with grain producers, grain production groups, grain sector groups and the conduct of regular regional and state industry forums.

GPSA represents the interest of growers by making submissions on the issues that will affect the future of the grain industry to a range of government agencies, parliamentary inquiries and other consultative forums. Wherever possible, submissions are published on the GPSA website and made publicly available.

In 2018/19, GPSA published a range of submissions responding to the following key policy areas:

• Moratorium on the Cultivation of Genetically Modified Crops in South Australia, including public consultation on the Independent Report,
• Amendments to the Statutes Amendment (Mineral Resources) Bill 2018, Draft Land Access Regulations (The Statues Amendment (Mineral Resources) Bill 2018),
• CFS Powers (Fire and Emergency Services (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2018),
• The Essential Services Commission of South Australia’s inquiry into SA’s bulk grain export supply costs.

In addition, GPSA also appeared before relevant inquiries established to investigate GM crops and proposed CFS powers, providing evidence for the Parliamentary record.

GPSA also advances policy work through making representation to external parties, including other industry associations and affiliated bodies in agriculture. Staff regularly attend workshops, meetings and forums to advance policy positions and gather information to support evidence-based research. The outcome from these activities are reported to the GPSA Board and/or taskforces, as well as communicated to the broader grain industry.