politicians deciding its future

Coalition MPs have engaged in heated debate over the future of the single desk marketing system for wheat.

In the party room meeting this morning, Coalition MPs raised concerns that AWB forward sold its pool of wheat for about $240 a tonne, while the current world price is $300 a tonne.

Farmers in Western Australia and South Australia are particularly angry, because most of their wheat is exported overseas.

Some MPs defended AWB, saying it had sold the wheat for what it thought was a good price at the time.

But up to six MPs called for the single desk marketing system to be taken from AWB and given to the Wheat Export Authority instead.

The issue of compensation for farmers was not raised.

Dave R.