This grant covered ongoing operational costs and the transition from the former Wheat Export Authority to the EWC.
The EWC facilitated the operations of Australia's legislated wheat export arrangements and informed Government and growers of outcomes.
The EWC vision was for a sustainable, innovative and internationally competitive wheat export sector that continued to provide optimal returns for growers and develop Australia's broader interests.
The EWC facilitated the operations of Australia's legislated wheat export arrangements and informed Government and growers of outcomes.
The EWC comprised a Chairman and four other Commissioners, appointed for a period of up to three years by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
The Commissioners were supported by a Secretariat which comprised up to 16 full-time staff headed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Day-to-day control over core areas of EWC activity rested with a small executive team who worked closely with Secretariat staff.
The EWC presented the Annual Report 2006–07 for the former Wheat Export Authority to the Minister who tabled it in Parliament on 13 May 2008.
Beyond meeting its legislated requirements to the Minister and growers, the EWC was also committed to delivering and communicating results to other stakeholders in Australia's wheat export arrangements.
The EWC was required to undertake considerable preliminary work on new governance and other arrangements in the lead-up to the establishment of the new body, Wheat Exports Australia.
The changes presented new challenges for the EWC, including a requirement to draft a legislative instrument to create an accreditation scheme for bulk exporters.
The EWC significantly improved its performance in all areas of its ongoing business while successfully meeting the new demands of the legislative changes and without undue disruption to the export wheat industry.
During 2007–08, the EWC received and assessed a total of 54 applications for bulk exports, consulting with AWBI and providing detailed comments and recommendations to the Minister.
The EWC also processed and checked more than 4,000 packer notifications of exports in bags and containers and ensured they complied with the Non-bulk Scheme.
During the previous reporting period, 1 October 2006 to 30 September 2007, the Minister had directed the former Wheat Export Authority to conduct one investigation under section 5DC of the Act.
Due to the late closure of the 2005/06 National Pool, the EWC produced two reports on the performance of AWBI instead of the required one.