Levy Consultation Process

Members will of course be aware the result will mean there will be no funding for the Association to carry on in its present form and it is felt some of the issues this raises should be highlighted.  Obviously there will be discussion at the upcoming conference, and some of the remits will have some bearing on future direction.

Although we are aware many Branches will have held their remit voting meetings by now we would ask that you get your feelings about these issues and any others you may identify before your delegates.  This in order that your delegates may bring informed comment and suggestions to the Conference.

• By who and how will lobbying of Government take place on issues such as:
  1. Western Australian Honey imports?
  2. Release of Genetically modified organisms?
  3. Changes to food regulations e.g. requirement for a nutritional information panel?
  4. Codes of Practice and Risk Management Programmes?
  5. Export protocols

• What will happen to varroa management - Phase III - (possible PMS)?
  1. Who will bear the costs?
  2. Who will liaise with beekeepers, and how will this be done?

• Will Product and Bee research be continued?
  1. How will this be funded?
  2. How will this be co-ordinated?

• What will happen to the AFB PMS?
  1. What will happen if the NBA is no longer the management agency?

• What will happen if there is another exotic incursion e.g. the small hive beetle, or EFB?

On Behalf of the NBA Executive
Jane Lorimer and Lin McKenzie

Provisional result
NBA Commodity Levy Ballot

In the postal ballot recently completed 940 papers were sent out.  Of these the returning officer received back 313.  In order for the Minister to agree to a levy it is required that more than half of those voting support a levy and that those voting in support must control more than half the total hives controlled by those voting.  Because both conditions of the requirement are not met the result is a no. The provisional figures reported by the returning officer are tabled below:

Results	Invalid Votes	No. of Papers Received	Percentage	No. of Hives Controlled
Yes		174	55%	88,006
No		121	39%	106,746
Hive Numbers omitted	4
Hives not commercial or below 10	6
No declaration signed	1
Abstained from Voting	1
Received Late	6
		18	6%
		313	100%	194,752

The full and verified result will be advised in due course.