If you think your industry could benefit from the establishment of a producers’ committee, we would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss this. The Commission works with you through the entire producers’ committee establishment process.

Establishing an APC Producers’ Committee

The purpose of a producers’ committee is to provide services which benefit producers and then the entire industry.

Establishing a producers’ committee which does not have sufficient producer support would not be in the best interests of the producers or the industry, nor would it be in the best interests of already established producers’ committees or the Commission. It could cause unnecessary disruption to all - for this reason a producers’ committee is not lightly or quickly established.

The first step in the establishment of a producers’ committee is for the Commission to receive a written request from an interested industry or group of producers, asking for a poll to be conducted to gauge producer interest in establishing an APC producers’ committee.  

Prior to receiving this request the Commission would expect, and would work with producers, to ensure that the requestor has comprehensively consulted with producers, that producers are aware of the process for establishing a producers’ committee, understand how a producers’ committee operates, see a value in forming a producers’ committee and have developed some plan for how the APC producers’ committee would operate within their industry.

There are a number of models which established producers’ committees use, these are defined in the industry regulations. How these will operate are decided through discussion and consultation with producers.

The Commission considers producer feedback and deliberates on the benefits to the industry of establishment of an APC committee, and if found in favour a poll of producers is conducted.  The poll process is rigorous and designed to ensure that producers are fully consulted and are able to be involved in the poll.  It is not in the best interests of either the Commission or an industry for a Committee to be established without true industry support and participation.  The Commission carefully considers the benefits to an industry before a committee is established.

This infographic provides a visual of the process undertaken

The members on APC producers’ committees must be majority producers of the particular agricultural produce, and where a non-producer is appointed that member does not have any voting rights. This is to ensure that the wishes of producers are always the primary factor in committee decision making. The Commission can appoint committee members or a poll can be held to elect members. The term of office of members is generally for three years and producers’ can nominate for further terms.