Compensation is being progressed for potato levy-paying growers on the mainland who received potato seed lines from Tasmania that tested positive for Potato mop-top virus (PMTV), and were unable to plant due to State Government biosecurity orders. The first payments are expected to be processed for growers this week.
This outcome is the result of complex representations by AUSVEG on behalf of potato growers, with arrangements reached with Plant Health Australia (PHA), who played a key facilitation role in progressing arrangements to release Biosecurity Response Component funds (formerly the Emergency Plant Pest Response Levy). The approach reflects PHA's national coordination role and commitment to supporting outcomes-focused solutions within the national plant biosecurity system, including assistance to affected growers, while maintaining appropriate response governance.
© AUSVEG
These compensation payments represent the first instance in which such funds have been used to compensate growers without a formal national biosecurity Response Plan being initiated, demonstrating the system's capacity to be agile and flexible to emerging circumstances. The outcome underscores AUSVEG's advocacy on behalf of the potato growers it represents, and PHA's focus on facilitating mechanisms that deliver improved biosecurity outcomes.
AUSVEG has been working with affected levy-paying potato growers, with the first independent assessments completed, ahead of compensation payments being progressed.
Under the arrangements, potato growers may be eligible for compensation if they owned a potato seed line sourced from Tasmania that tested positive for PMTV and had a State Government biosecurity order to not plant.
Stringent eligibility criteria, assessment, and governance processes have been applied. This included that the seed must have been purchased from Tasmania by a potato grower for planting during the 2025/2026 season, and received before 1 September 2025, prior to the movement restrictions on Tasmanian seed entering the mainland coming into effect.
Growers seeking compensation must also provide evidence of seed ownership, destruction, storage, and processing costs, as applicable.
Compensation will cover, depending on circumstances, the cost of the seed, the cost of destroying the seed, and the cost of storing the seed under a biosecurity order, pending eligibility criteria being met. In the event the seed was processed at a value lower than the initial purchase value, the compensation covers the difference, plus associated storage costs.
Compensation does not cover potential loss of future income because growers were unable or unwilling to plant.
An independent, third-party assessor has been appointed by AUSVEG to determine eligibility for compensation against the criteria, with cases for compensation then provided for consideration of an approval committee, prior to compensation being finalised.
While AUSVEG has been working directly with affected growers, growers wanting to learn more can contact AUSVEG National Manager – Biosecurity and Extension, Zarmeen Hassan, via [email protected], +61 (0) 3 9882 0277.
For more information:
AUSVEG
Tel: +61 (0) 3 9882 0277
Email: [email protected]
www.ausveg.com.au
