Late last week, the Federal Government announced that they will be phasing in provisions for full cost recovery for the nations export regulatory services. Industry, including Melons Australia and the National Farmers’ Federation (insert link to media statement), have expressed sincere concern over the proposed changes to DAFF’s export cost recovery arrangements, warning they could affect the competitiveness of Australian agricultural exports.
We have highlighted that any additional costs are likely to be passed on to producers and could impact productivity across the sector. We have also expressed concern that this is simply shifting the goal posts on ‘cost recovery’ to include services that have broader benefit for the Australian community and should not be cost recovered.
As peak industry bodies invited to last minute consultation sessions, we have highlighted that export services are often complex, inefficient, and slow to adopt modern regulatory technology – simply receiving more funds won’t improve this. There are also concerns that cost recovery frameworks may be used to support broader departmental budgets, rather than focusing solely on trade-related services and the need to drive efficiencies. These will all form part of an industry submission when the public consultation phase opens in late January 2026.
Melons Australia, in concert with other Hort PIBs, have stressed the importance of fairness and efficiency in cost recovery frameworks and calls for meaningful, responsive consultation with industry as these changes are rolled out.
The two links below present the currently available information:
Statement on exports cost recovery (sustainable funding) | Ministers
Export cost recovery reform for sustainable trade funding - DAFF
Should you wish to know more, please contact Johnathon via
ceo@melonsaustralia.org.au
