Review of Code now on agenda 

The Federal election result has seen Australian voters give the new Rudd Labor Government a mandate for change and the new leadership promised under Labor's election campaign.

Key parts of the new Labor Government's plan for Primary Industries includes a focus on climate change, quarantine arrangements, research and development and red tape reduction. 

A review of the Horticulture Code of Conduct has also been promised.  This review is welcomed given what had been the Coalition's ongoing refusal to commit to a cost effective, workable and commercial outcome of this issue.

While these areas have been already highlighted, there must also be an increased effort to harmonise State and Federal arrangements where inconsistencies exist including a range of biosecurity arrangements relating to interstate trade.   Other issues that are of vital importance to all Australians and must remain a focus for both State and Federal governments, include water and road infrastructure.

Brisbane Markets Limited (BML) and the wholesaling sector's representative body, Brismark, will be working to ensure that the new Federal Government is aware of the value and importance of all sectors of the horticulture industry to Australia's economic wellbeing.

On the separate issue of the Growcom Board election, there has been strong support for the three candidates who campaigned on the basis of "a fresh approach".  The support shown for these candidates confirms that growers are keen to shift away the adversarial approach of the past few years.

Brismark and BML will welcome the opportunity to work with Growcom's new Board of Directors.