McGill returns to graingrowers' helm

Mr McGill has been involved with the PGA and the committee for almost 30 years and replaces John Snooke, who retired from the role in October.

The changing of the guard and return of the experience leader indicates a period of succession planning for the committee, but Mr McGill asserts focus on key issues remains strong.

Among those issues is the on-going genetically modified (GM) crop debate in WA.

Mr McGill said the conclusion of the Marsh and Baxter court process was a win for WA agriculture as much as it was for Michael Baxter.

"We were advocates for this technology some 20 years ago and the only farm group to be so in WA," he said.

"It was a time when the government of the day was opposed to it, the other farm organisation was opposed to it and there was only a small group in the scientific community and ourselves in the farm lobby group sector that advocated for this technology to be used in WA.

"The successful outcome of the Marsh and Baxter issue was always going to be the case and given our position on this for years and years there was no question that we would support Michael Baxter.

"This wasn't just an attack on Mike Baxter this was an attack on the technology and it's use in WA."

Mr McGill said the next concern in the GM sphere was centred on the repeal of the GM Crops Free Areas Act.

"We will look forward to protecting the technology," he said.

"Our advice was and our request was that the government go forward and repeal that Act well and truly before the election.

"We're very concerned that the government seems to be slow on the matter and we're continuing to work hard to persuade them to get on with it."

The PGA is also working within the debate of corporatising CBH and the introduction of a proposal by the newly formed Australian Grains Champion (AGC).

Its position is already strong on the issue, based on a long-standing policy.

"The PGA has had a policy in support of corporatising CBH for some 16 years," he said.

"This has been since the board of CBH in 2000 put a proposal to corporatise to the shareholders.

"We examined that proposal and we could see great merit, we understood the reasons for it and there was an effort at equity relief."

Mr McGill said it was clear the process of corporatising had succeeded in South Australia, with teething problems but positive results.

He said there had been informal discussions on the AGC proposal and a full briefing would follow, however he was confident the PGA's position would not change.

"What we do know is sufficient for this proposal to conclude that it is an important proposal that we would support and we do support it," he said.

Similarly, the committee will continue to maintain its position on compulsory levy payments and the effectiveness of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC).

Under Mr Snooke's control the PGA was involved in a Federal government inquiry into the agricultural levy system in Australia.

It is quite critical of the system and of the GRDC's effectiveness in assisting growers to increase productivity and overcome significant hurdles.

However, Mr McGill said the group would not actively campaign for change unless a nationwide process became available.

"We are concerned and we note that productivity has plateaued,'' he said.

"I worry and see signs it will be politicised if the system does come under scrutiny.

"The GRDC system has never been reviewed since its inception in 1989.

"We think it's probably time to have a really independent rigorous review of the system.

"Not from within but something - because the taxpayer coughs up the money here too, so we would have thought it would be in the interests of the government to determine whether that system is actually delivering the best outcomes."