the new awb ... eastern wheat grower (ewg)
Deregulation of wheat export markets 'inevitable' A group of eastern Australian grain growers says it believes the deregulation of export wheat markets is inevitable after the oil-for-food inquiry.
The Eastern Wheat Growers group, formed by some farmers from New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, says the details emerging from the Cole inquiry will spell the end of AWB's export monopoly.
Spokesman Tom Harvey says the group is trying to give farmers opposed to the single desk an independent voice.
"The Government is already hinting that they're going to remove those export monopoly powers from AWB," he said.
"There's no other real alternative or institutions that would be able to take up where AWB left off.
"So it's important that we recognise that and try and prepare some sort of orderly transition and that's what we're talking about - trying to get a grower voice in there so our commercial interests are jeopardised."
Meanwhile, Trade Minister Mark Vaile says the Federal Government wants to give Australian wheat growers every opportunity to stay in the Iraqi market.
But Mr Vaile has told ABC Radio's AM program that the issue of the monopoly wheat export policy needs to be kept separate from the oil-for-food inquiry.
"There are a particular set of circumstances that just surround this particular market that we believe that we should be sensibly addressing," he said.
"Now we're having a discussion with AWB today, we need to ensure that we don't miss any opportunities on behalf of Australian wheat growers."
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