Free spuds offered in potato war
Spudshed owner Tony Galati has challenged Premier Colin Barnett to a public debate on marketing laws as he prepares to offer free potatoes at his WA stores.
Mr Galati has angered other growers by vowing to give away about 200 tonnes of potatoes from Thursday. The moves comes a week after The West reported that potatoes prices had plunged to less than 50c/kg because of an over supply.
Rival growers described Mr Galati’s move a marketing stunt as he faces a showdown with the Potato Marketing Board over allegations he over planted.
The WA potato industry is tightly regulated under laws dating back to 1946 which require growers to stick to quotas.
An Economic Regulation Authority report released last year recommended deregulation, but Mr Barnett promised growers he would take no action on the issue during this term of government.
Mr Barnett made the pledge during the Vasse by-election but the industry has been warned to prepare for big changes.
Mr Galati said the Government’s position was nonsense and it should act immediately to scrap the outdated laws. The Opposition also supports deregulation.
“How has this archaic system been allowed to remain,” Mr Galati said.
“Does the Government think that without the PMC the potato will be extinct?”
Mr Galati said he was not the only grower facing prosecution for over planting potatoes in what he described as a ridiculous situation.
Hundreds of tonnes of potatoes are being dumped because of the over supply, but Mr Galati said he refused to waste food.
Baldivis grower Sam Calameri said Mr Galati was putting the livelihoods of other farmers at risk.
“It is time to throw the book at him because he is tampering with our livelihoods,” he said.
The PMC is refusing to comment on the dispute and Mr Barnett is on leave.
