Horticulture Australia rejects citrus grant allegations
The Department of Agriculture is investigating claims the peak industry body, Citrus Australia, has stacked a committee which decides on research projects, and has made financial gain from both proposing and approving ideas.
The chief executive of Horticulture Australia, John Lloyd, concedes the Department (DAFF) has asked his corporation to change the make up of those advisory committees.
But Mr Lloyd says there's nothing wrong with the system, and it's "not necessarily true" that the peak industry bodies are being propped up by research grants that they propose.
In correspondence leaked to the ABC, it says "DAFF might wish to amend the Statutory Funding Agreement during the later half of 2012..."
Mr Lloyd says Horticulture Australia met the Department of Agriculture yesterday to discuss five-year funding and he says there's no risk the corporation will lose government backing.
Source: www.abc.net.au