GRDC rejects levy-spending accusations

GRDC Managing director John Harvey told Senate Estimates hearings in Canberra earlier this month the media reports of the GRDC running an advertising campaign were “not correct”.

Mr Harvey said the GRDC had instead sponsored a food forum and part of that package provided free publicity via a large national daily newspaper, with weekend circulation that also penetrated regional Australia.

He said the conference was important for “discussing issues, creating some momentum and creating some inspiration behind agriculture and the importance of agriculture”.

“It is important that we have a strong brand out there,” he said.

“We are particularly looking for people to partner with in the private sector.

“We need to come across as a professional organisation and an organisation that is good to do business with.”

But NSW ALP Senator Doug Cameron said he was “not inspired” by the advertising which referenced the GRDC’s website address and stated it was founded in 1990.

“I think Malcolm Turnbull might have written this,” he said.

“It talks about innovative innovation.

“It talks about advancing the grains industry at every level and 'to find out more, go to our website'.”

Senator Cameron asked whether the GRDC had regulatory authority to spend the funds, under the Primary Industries Research and Development Act.

Mr Harvey said the GRDC was sponsoring a conference and a key part of the Act was “actually communicating the results of research and communicating with our stakeholders”.

“The Act very clearly points out that communication and delivery of results from research is a key part of delivering against the Act,” he said.

“It is a part of our job that we take extremely seriously.

“Obviously, the majority of the communication we do is directly to grain growers around Australia.

“We have a number of premier products like Ground Cover - we also communicate through the web and other sources to make sure the results of our R&D are taken up.”

GRDC Executive Manager Communications Kate Lord said the sponsorship was part of a broad portfolio of activities the GRDC conducted, to try and reach various stakeholders.

“So far, the project to refresh the GRDC brand, which began with board approval into 2014, has cost the organisation $55,000,” she said.

Ms Lord said a $70,000 sponsorship of the industry targeted conference - due to be held in Melbourne in April and attended by about 800 delegates - would “open up conversations with potential new domestic and international partners”.

“Certainly, we are hoping to attract attention from the best and brightest in research and science as well to make grains aspirational,” she said,

“We will have a speaking slot, which our chairman (Richard Clark) will lead.

“We think that in the global food forum, in talking about food security, grains should certainly have a voice at the table.”

Senator Heffernan defended the GRDC’s spending saying “this is not a political bullshit operation” and the agency’s research delivered “excellent work”.

“There is no political bullshit in it,” he said.

“Obviously, the one task in the world that does not have a solution is the global food task by 2070.

“China is going to have to feed half of its population from somewhere else barring a human catastrophe.

“The greatest challenge facing the world is how to feed itself and $70,000 is bugger all toward that.”

Ms Lord said the GRDC spent about $300,000 a year across the industry on various conferences.

She said the forum’s sponsorship package also allowed the GRDC 20 conference positions where grains industry leaders or key figures would be invited to help “drive the discussion”.

Senator Hefferan said “Can I put in a request to have Senator Cameron as guest - I think it would be very instructive”.

In a speech this week, Shadow Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon questioned how GRDC levy-payers were benefiting from a road show, featuring Sydney radio personality Alan Jones, and if the spending met statutory spending requirements.

“Surely these roadshows are not going to include Minister Joyce preaching the gospel of the National Party alongside Alan Jones?” he said.

Farming leaders have expressed mixed views about the GRDC’s event sponsorship.

The 2014-15 GRDC annual report said of $203.1 million in total revenue, $68m represented the commonwealth’s contribution and $117.5m from industry.

The report said Ground Cover TV cost about $342,000; the Driving Agronomy radio program $80,000; and Ground Cover radio and regional weekly update audio programs $113,850.