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<pre>One of the most contentious aspects of the proposed levy is the
issue of Managed Investment Schemes( MIS )and their voting rights and
structures.

Whilst for tax purposes investors in such schemes are deemed to be
"growers", in reality they are nothing of the kind. They are simply
financial investors who receive large tax reductions by investing in
such schemes.

The levy proposer has decided that they *must* be included in the
levy voting and refuse to discuss the option of excluding them.

This raises the question of whether the levy proposers(the AOA and
the levy sub-committee)who are themselves involved in MIS have
declared their interests in their various MISs, and whether or not
this constitutes a case of conflict of interests.

For example and at first glance :

*Mr Paul Miller( AOA Pres) is Executive Director of Coonalpyn Olives
Project SA(MIS)and consults to several other MIS, including Olea
Australis(WA) and Barkworths Olives(SA/QLD)

*Ms Lisa Rowntree(AOA board/Levy Sub-committee Chair) principal of
Rowntree Orchard Management P/L which provides farm management and
labour services to the Coonalypn project and has been involved with
the Coonalpyn Olive Project from its conception

*Mr Peter Birch(AOA board)involved in several MIS including Australian
Olives(Toowoomba)& Frankland River Olive Project(WA)

*Mr Richard Whiting(Levy Sub-Committee)runs an MIS "Corallee
Olives" in SA.

(There may be more involvements on the levy proposers/AOA sub-
committee.)

I believe it was incumbent on these parties to at very least declare
their interests in MIS at the outset if not to dismiss themselves
from this levy proposal as they would appear to have a serious
conflict of interest in this matter.

It is interesting to note that not one of them has made any public
disclosures as to their involvment with the MIS.



Cheers!
The team at AOG.

Get more facts from :
http://www.australianolivegrowers.com.au
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