EXPUNGING EXPORTERS EXPECTATIONS! AN ANALYSIS OF IMPEDIMENTS TO THE OPERATIONS OF SMALL AGRICULTURAL EXPORTERS

Substantial Government and industry effort has been directed at improving Australia's export performance in recent years and a considerable amount of research has been done into various issues impacting on export performance. There has been very little work done however, at the domestic end of the export chain, focusing on turning export opportunities into realities. While it is well recognised that a number of external factors have a considerable impact on access by Australian exporters to overseas markets, it is hypothesised that domestic arrangements (government and industry regulations, associated compliance costs and inefficient infrastructure) are also a major factor limiting the growth of agricultural exports. Industry surveys and several case study analyses were carried out in five agricultural export industries, with the intent of identifying and measuring domestic impediments to their entry into and development of overseas markets. In general it was found that some regulations comprised an unwarranted impediment, while other impediments identified were the result of 'myths' perpetuated through poor extension, or support services from Government and industry that did not meet exporter needs