The push to bring the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) to the heart of Australia’s grain growing country has the support of local growers.
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Old Junee grower Bernard Hart said it would be a good move to have the government department moved closer to growers.
“The GRDC would be more of an organisation that belongs to the growers than belongs to Canberra,” he said.
“I think there are enough research staff and scientific horsepower in the region to fully man it, but there would be some key people that would be difficult to attract to Wagga.”
A final decision is expected by the end of the year.
The GRDC could be about to shed around half its staff, removing a major hurdle blocking its potential move to Wagga.
Reports emerged on Friday the GRDC was moving to halve its workforce, with about 30 roles being made redundant.
Some roles under the new structure will be located outside of Canberra in regional areas, according to the reports.
Despite the major upheaval looming for the GRDC, member for Riverina Michael McCormack remained hopeful Wagga’s bid to lure the government body away from Canberra was on track.
“When cotton was moved to Narrabri, the industry never looked back,” he said.
“I believe the same pursuit of excellence, the same connectivity with the community, the same outcome benefits for grains research can happen with a move to Wagga.”
Plans were revealed earlier this year by Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce to move the GRDC from Canberra to Wagga as part of the government’s decentralisation push. The push has met with resistance from inside the GRDC.