Australian Workers Union (AWU) National Secretary Paul Howes, a highly charged Coal Seam Gas and a panel playing out a hypothetical E. coli outbreak in Australia are some of the diverse events appearing at the 2012 AUSVEG National Convention.

The AUSVEG National Convention is taking place from May 10-12 in Hobart, Tasmania at Wrest Point Hotel Casino.
High profile events and speakers are listed below. Interested media agencies can request a media pass to specific events through the AUSVEG media contact listed at the bottom of this release. All speaker sessions take place in the Speakers Auditorium.
Friday 11 May 2012
10:30am – Keynote speaker presentation from AWU National Secretary, Mr Paul Howes.

Saturday 12 May 2012
9:20am – Presentation by Professor Hamish Gow, Massey University New Zealand. Vegetable growers around the country want to market and promote themselves. Professor Gow will speak on generic marketing campaigns and if they would have any effect on consumption levels.
9:40am – Presentation by Victorian Senator John Madigan. Known for his part in the McCain potato processing plant blockade in Ballarat and launching the Australian Manufacturing and Farming Program.
10:30am – “An E.Coli outbreak in Australia”. A panel discussion with participation from government food recall agencies, industry, retailers, media and also growers to determine if Australia is ready to handle an outbreak similar to what Europe experienced in 2011.
11:50am – “The Great Debate: Coal Seam Gas “. Affirmative and Negative teams face off to settle the place CSG has within the vegetable industry.
MEDIA CONTACT: William Churchill – Public Affairs Manager, AUSVEG Phone: (03) 9822 0388, Mobile: 0411 166 748