MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer and the Minister for Trade Mark Vaile
We are pleased to announce that Mr Trevor Flugge, AO, has agreed to lead an
experienced team of Australian agricultural and food security advisers to work
with senior Iraqi agriculture officials on reconstruction plans for Iraq's
agriculture sector.
Australia is committed to playing a central role in the rehabilitation of the
sector and Mr Flugge will be jointly responsible for providing high-level advice
on agriculture reforms and food security issues with a senior nominee from the
United States of America.
Australia is well-placed to assist in the revitalisation of Iraq's
agricultural sector, particularly in areas such as dry land agriculture, grain
distribution, irrigation and combating salinity problems. Mr Flugge will make an
early visit to the region to assess conditions on the ground and to identify
immediate priorities for Australian assistance.
Iraq's agricultural sector has suffered through years of mismanagement and
neglect. With much of the Iraqi population dependent on food handouts,
rehabilitation of agriculture will be critical to Iraq's stability and long-term
economic recovery.
Mr Flugge, a farmer from Western Australia, is a respected and highly
effective leader in Australian agribusiness. He has played a substantial role in
the restructuring of Australian agriculture over the past decade. He is
currently a Director of the Western Australian public company Wesfarmers and of
Australian Wool Services. He is also currently Chair of the CSIRO's Agribusiness
Advisory Council and other industry research and advisory bodies. Mr Flugge was
formerly a Director and Chair of the Australian Wheat Board and AWB Ltd and has
strong experience in the Middle East, primarily through his work with AWB
Ltd.
Mr Flugge is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and
Engineering and a member of the National Board of Governors of ATSE's Crawford
Fund. He is also Chair of the Crawford Fund's Western Australian Branch. The
Crawford Fund is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes scientific and
technological expertise in agriculture research and development with the
ultimate aim of improving global food production.
Contacts:
Chris Kenny (Downer's office) (02) 6277 7500 or 0419 206 890
Matt Doman (Vaile's office) (02) 62777420 or 0418 273 475