The ACCC has extended its deadline to 20 August for winegrape growers to provide feedback about competition issues in their industry through an online survey.

ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh said industry response to the survey had been positive so far and they were extending the closing date to give more growers an opportunity to share their views.

“We’ve received useful feedback through the survey about various issues such as contracting practices, industry competition, the bargaining power of growers, risk allocation, and the current voluntary industry code,” Keogh said.

“We’re keen to hear more though, particularly from growers in major regions like the Riverland, Hunter, Murray Darling and Swan Hill.

“If you’re a grower in these areas, get on the ACCC website and have your say. We of course welcome growers from the other grape growing regions across the country to share their views too.”

The ACCC is undertaking the survey to learn more about how competition operates in the grape growing business and what the experience is for growers when supplying their produce to the market.

“We received a lot of anecdotal feedback prior to the survey about potential concerning business practices in the industry,” Keogh said.

“We’ve set up this survey to get the full picture of how the industry works and see if there are issues that may warrant closer ACCC attention.

“We may conduct more detailed research in the industry after the survey, but this will depend on what feedback we get, so it’s important for growers to share their views with us.

“Growers’ responses to this survey are confidential, and they can choose to remain anonymous,” Keogh added.

Grapegrowers now have until 20 August to complete the survey, which is available at the ACCC website.