Operational issues in export grain networks
Information about the Inquiry
On 23 March 2011 the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport for inquiry and report.
Operational issues arising in the export grain storage, transport, handling and shipping network, with particular reference to:
(a) any risks of natural, virtual or other monopolies discouraging or impeding competition in the export grain storage, transport, handling and shipping network, and any implications for open and fair access to essential grains infrastructure;
(b) the degree of transparency in storage and handling of grain and the appropriateness of any consequent marketing advantages;
(c) equitable access to the lowest cost route to market, including transport options;
(d) competition issues arising from the redelivery of grain;
(e) the absence of uniform receipt, testing and classification standards and practices and any implications for growers and/or for Australia's reputation as a quality supplier;
(f) equitable and efficient access to the shipping stem; and
(g) any other related matters.
Submissions should be received by 13 May 2011. The reporting date is 02 November 2011. On 12 April 2012,the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 16 April 2012.
The Committee is seeking written submissions from interested individuals and organisations preferably in electronic form submitted online or sent by email to rrat.sen@aph.gov.au as an attached Adobe PDF or MS Word format document. The email must include full postal address and contact details.
Alternatively, written submissions may be sent to:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
Notes to help you prepare your submission are available from the website at https://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/wit_sub/index.htm. Alternatively, the Committee Secretariat will be able to help you with your inquiries and can be contacted on telephone +61 2 6277 3511 or facsimile +61 2 6277 5811 or by email to rrat.sen@aph.gov.au.
Inquiries from hearing and speech impaired people should be directed to Parliament House TTY number 02 6277 7799. Adobe also provides tools at http://access.adobe.com/ for the blind and visually impaired to access PDF documents. If you require any special arrangements to enable you to participate in the Committee's inquiry, please contact the Committee Secretariat.
Once the Committee accepts your submission, it becomes a confidential Committee document and is protected by Parliamentary Privilege. You must not release your submission without the Committee's permission. If you do, it will not be protected by Parliamentary Privilege. At some stage during the inquiry, the Committee normally makes submissions public and places them on its website. Please indicate if you want your submission to be kept confidential.
For further information, contact: Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia