PGA refuses to smoke AWB peace pipeBy COLIN BETTLESFriday, 18...

PGA refuses to smoke AWB peace pipe
By COLIN BETTLES
Friday, 18 August 2006

Western Australia's Pastoralists and Graziers Association has dismissed approaches by AWB chairman, Brendan Stewart, to resolve their differences of opinion.

The PGA is taking class action against AWB for allegedly deceiving growers by inflating pool returns and bonuses.

Mr Stewart wants to resolve the matter through mediation rather than through the courts.

But PGA grains policy director, Slade Brockman, says AWB ceased listening to organisations with alternative opinions a long time ago.

"It must be remembered that export wheat growers are legally shackled to the AWB - they can't sell their product elsewhere," Mr Brockman said.


"For growers ideologically wedded to this monopoly, any challenge to the AWB is treated as sacrilege.

"In such a distorted and dysfunctional environment, it is not surprising that growers would be considering legal action, particularly as the number of potential actions against AWB begins to mount."

SOURCE: Extract from the full report in the Farm Weekly, WA, August 17 issue.