INDUSTRY and government big guns will be in Mildura on Wednesday, when critical issues confronting wine-grape growers and winemakers headline the Murray Valley Winegrowers Outlook Forum.
MVW chief executive Paul Derrico said speakers would deliver a diverse range of relevant information to not just growers and winemakers, but to their many supporting industries.
Mr Derrico said everyone in the production chain needed to stay well informed of industry activities and developments.
“This is the most significant gathering of the wine industry in the Murray Valley region for some time and is a great opportunity to get valuable insights into the issues affecting wine businesses in our region,” he said.
“A coup for the forum is the attendance of Adam Fennessy, secretary of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
“As the department’s most senior official, it is rare for some of his stature to be available outside Canberra.
“MVW sees this as a really positive development in engaging with the Federal Government, and a good turnout of wine industry people is expected at the forum to show our industry is at a critical juncture and government intervention is desperately needed.”
Mr Derrico said Australian Grape & Wine Inc chief executive Lee McLean will give the forum an insight into the domestic and global dynamics of the wine industry and government interaction and policy settings.
He said Mr McLean would also detail the One Sector Plan, the AGW response to the Federal Budget, as well as the Viticulture and Wine Sector Working Group taskforce.
“David Salisbury, small business and agriculture general manager for the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, will talk on the Wine Grapes Market Study, its outcomes and where to from here, the supermarket inquiry, unfair contract terms, and mandatory codes of conduct,” Mr Derrico said.
“Joe Banks, senior retail manager of water entitlements and markets with the Department of Energy, Environment & Climate Action will speak on the Victorian Government’s prospectus to safeguard Victoria’s environments and communities in the Murray-Darling Basin (Planning our Basin Future Together).
“Simone George, from Ciatti Australia, will provide an overview of the global wine scene, noting key markets and issues, and the effect this has on the outlook for supply and demand of Australian grapes and wine, in particular the influence on the inland region’s grape prices.”
The forum will start at 12.30pm at Willow & Ivie, Irymple Avenue, Nichols Point, and end about 4.30pm, followed by an informal catch-up over refreshments.
