ON-FARM

Funds to be distributed to potato growers

WA Government to return more than $650,000 to potato growers

Kristy Moroney

This article is 8 years old. Images might not display.

The funds are a combination of recovered Potato Marketing Corporation legal funds and court costs paid to the State Government by Galati Nominees Pty Ltd.

The McGowan Government has this week written to 74 Western Australian potato growers offering to return their share of more than $650,000 now available from settled legal actions.

All Potato Marketing Corporation (PMC) funds, including those in a legal fund levied to pursue action against the Galati companies, were vested to the State Government when the PMC was abolished on December 31, 2016.

Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan announced $484,316 recovered from the legal trust fund would be distributed back to growers, along with the $200,000 of costs paid by Galati Nominees.

An allocation calculation established by the Potato Marketing Corporation prior to its abolition has been used to ensure fair distribution of funds, based on market entitlements and levels of damages claimed.

WA Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the distribution of these funds brings to an end the saga of the Potato Marketing Corporation, ensuring a fair distribution of remaining levies and cost payments.

"The McGowan Government has drawn a line under the era of regulation of the potato industry and at the same time ensured a fair distribution to growers, many of whom continue to suffer losses as a result of tomato potato psyllid market access issues,” Minister MacTiernan said.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Research Report: Side-by-side Vehicles (November 2025)

Kondinin Group’s research team dives into the side-by-side market for this report, looking at popular diesel models, a few petrol versions and a couple of electric vehicles.

editions

Research Report: Farming Inputs (October 2025)

Inputs are unavoidable in any farming system. This Research Report focuses on several key farming inputs with a view to maximising outputs, production and profit.

editions

Research Report: Self-Propelled Sprayer Testing (September 2025)

Kondinin Group’s Mark Saunders, Ben White and Josh Giumelli have rounded up five of the latest self-propelled sprayers to cast a discerning eye over them for this month’s Research Report. The sprayers were run over our regular test track and thoroughly inspected to see what makes these million-dollar machines tick.

editions

Research Report: Sealable Storage Options (August 2025)

Kondinin Group researchers in collaboration with the GRDC Grain storage extension team test dozens of gas-tight sealable grain storages to Australian Standard AS2628-2010 identifying best and worst features in the ultimate grain storage buyers guide.