Wine industry battlers are revolting at last against Wine Australia’s elitist bureaucrats and supine board members. The protests against the supposed industry leaders who sat idly by as an industry disintegrates are getting louder.
To give but one example of the problem. The most recent expected price per tonne price for grapes from the major Riverland production area was around $150, minus the levy paid by the grower which can be over $9 a tonne. Meanwhile the the average cost of production for growing wine grapes is estimated to be between $300 and $400 a tonne
Yet the official response today to those facing this imminent financial disaster?
Wine Australia and Australian Grape & Wine are working with you and your State and Regional Associations to develop a One Sector Plan that will outline what we need to prioritise until 2030 to address real change for the challenges that we’re facing.
Statement by Lee McLean and Martin Cole
CEO, Australian Grape & Wine, and CEO, Wine Australia
Hardly reassuring! Promise the starving peasants a plan. Straight out of the ABC’s “Utopia”.
An official response
The full text of today’s email could be used as a script for an episode. Here it is.
From: Wine Australia CEO <ceo@wineaustralia.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 20, 2023 12:17 PM
To: David Farmer <david@glug.com.au>
Subject: One Sector Plan
| View this email in your browser Subscribe here       There have been major changes within our sector over the past few years and the impact is being felt by everyone in our community. We have a resilient sector that is no stranger to challenges. But the perfect storm of issues we’ve encountered since 2020 is unprecedented. There’s a need to work together to collectively address the issues facing everyone, rather than going it alone. This is why in September 2022 the Boards of Australian Grape & Wine and Wine Australia collectively identified a need to lead the process of developing a One Sector Plan – to be informed by the sector, for the sector. Our strategic response should reflect the significant scale of these issues and their impact on growers, producers and exporters. We need to get our heads together and ensure there’s strong alignment, collaboration and innovation to tackle the challenges (and opportunities) we’re facing, both collectively and effectively. Wine Australia and Australian Grape & Wine are working with you and your State and Regional Associations to develop a One Sector Plan that will outline what we need to prioritise until 2030 to address real change for the challenges that we’re facing. Soon, we’ll be reaching out to seek your input into the plan. We wanted to begin by sharing information around what the plan is, what it isn’t, where and when you’ll have a chance to provide your input, and when you can expect to see a plan. What is it? The purpose of the One Sector Plan is to create a shared vision and a unifying strategy for Australia’s grape and wine sector. The plan will: clearly outline the key challenges and opportunitiesprovide strategic direction across the sector and how will we get theredescribe clear objectives, accountabilities, and timelinesrecognise the key differences and points of collaborationbe adaptable to the sector’s needs and operating environment, andprovide clear alignment on the overall strategic intent but allowing autonomy at a local/regional level.What is it not?The One Sector Plan will not be able to address the full breadth and diversity of local or regional interests, but will provide overall strategic direction and an umbrella plan for alignment with state and region plans.The One Sector Plan will not include a revised set of aspirational growth targets – these will remain in Vision 2050.The One Sector Plan will not be a list of actions which do not align to strategic intent or problems being addressed.What’s next? We’ve met with State and Regional Associations to discuss how best to engage with our community, and we’re working with them on local workshops to discuss the issues and priorities that are critical for you and your region. We will also ask everyone to complete a survey to help us further refine what the One Sector Plan will capture. Stay tuned. Head here to learn more, or contact communications@wineaustralia.com or ali@agw.org.au if you have a question. Kind regards, Lee McLean and Martin Cole CEO, Australian Grape & Wine, and CEO, Wine Australia. |
If not before, then surely after reading that, the wine industry battlers are revolting.
Footnote
The CEO’s email about “the perfect storm of issues” was not included on the News section of the Wine Australia website this evening. I did notice that back in March it did post a short note on “Mothballing Vineyards”. That should come in handy.
