In June 2022 the raspberry and blackberry (Rubus) industry voted to amend their statutory levy from:

10c/kg for Research and Development (R&D) and 2c/kg for Marketing

to:

2c/kg for R&D, 2c/kg Plant Health Australia (PHA) levy and 0c/kg for Marketing

This will mean the total levy paid by growers is proposed to be 4c/kg instead of 12c/kg.

All Rubus levy payers were given the opportunity to vote for the levy amendment and the proposal received overwhelming support. 92% of respondents voted YES to the proposal to reduce the R&D levy from 10c to 2c/kg, 78% of respondents voted YES to the proposal to reduce the marketing levy from 2c/kg to 0c/kg and 86% of respondents voted YES to the proposal to raise a PHA levy of 2c/kg.

The voting process and consultation were managed by Berries Australia.

The final stage is an Objection period which is open from 20 January 2023 and closes at midnight AEDT on 3 March 2023.

Berries Australia is a joint venture between the Australian Blueberry Growers’ Association Inc. (ABGA), Raspberries and Blackberries Australia Inc. (RABA), and Strawberries Australia Inc. (SAI) established to represent the interests of the Australian berry industry as a whole.

RABA is the prescribed industry body for the raspberry and blackberry industry and the membership represents more than eighty-percent of production. All decisions relating to the levy were made by the RABA committee with Berries Australia providing secretariat and administrative support. The RABA committee comprises grower members who are voted in on an annual basis.