Potato board's advertisement proves a hot potato political issue

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This was published 9 years ago

Potato board's advertisement proves a hot potato political issue

By Aleisha Orr
Updated

The issue of potato regulation remains on the boil, with opposition treasury spokesman Ben Wyatt accusing the Potato Marketing Corporation of trying to justify its role in a two-page newspaper advertisement.

The advertising campaign follows rebel potato grower Tony Galati's move to give away 200 tonnes of free potatoes after over-planting.

Tony Galati's decision to give away 200 tonnes of spuds has brought the politics of the potato industry to a boiling point.

Tony Galati's decision to give away 200 tonnes of spuds has brought the politics of the potato industry to a boiling point.Credit: Erin Jonasson

The WA Potato Marketing Corporation sets the price that growers receive for potatoes, decides who can grow potatoes, how many can be planted and what varieties are planted.

Shadow Treasurer Ben Wyatt is questioning the Potato Marketing Corporation's political advertising and will call for an investigation by the Auditor General.

A shot of the "offending" newspaper ad.

A shot of the "offending" newspaper ad.

Mr Galati has long questioned the need for a potato board, when there is no representation for other vegetables such as broccoli or carrot.

"They've got this system that they should've got rid of years ago but it's still there," he told Radio 6PR.

Mr Galati said that, as a producer, he received no benefit out of regulation and "nor does the consumer," adding that the cost of potatoes in WA was "an artificial price".

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A spokeswoman for the Potato Marketing Corporation told Fairfax Media the chief executive of corporation had no comments to make on either the role of the board or the cost and justification of its advertising.

What, no potato? A jacket-less Ben Wyatt isn't happy about a newspaper ad that doesn't feature any spuds.

What, no potato? A jacket-less Ben Wyatt isn't happy about a newspaper ad that doesn't feature any spuds.

The two-page paid spread lists the price of potatoes in a number of Australian states and includes the line "contrary to recent reports, consumers in Western Australia not only have a wide choice of different varierties of fresh, locally grown potatoes, they are also able to buy them for the same or lower price than sonsumers in any other state".

Mr Wyatt described it as "incredible" the corporation had "spent thousands of dollars on what is little more than a political advertising campaign".

"When you buy your potato, when you buy spuds in Western Australia, some of that cost is going into the Potato Marketing Corporation's political campaign," he said.

Mr Wyatt questioned whether the Marketing Potatoes Act of 1946 allowed for the Potato Marketing Board to advertise in this way.

"It's clearly not set out in the legislation," he said.

Mr Wyatt described the regulation of potatoes as "an ancient regime" that did not benefit the consumer and was "a drag on the industry".

He has called for the Auditor General to investigate the PMC's decision to spend money on advertising the corporation itself, rather than potatoes.

A spokeswoman for the Auditor General said "each year we receive requests, referrals, and enquiries from various parties to conduct audits or suggesting areas for investigations. These requests are considered against a range of criteria. We always give serious consideration to any requests from Members of Parliament".

Mr Galati's free potato campaign will continue at his fruit and vegetable stores until Sunday.

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