Press Release

Western Australian wheat growers have rejected calls by Independent MP Tony Windsor and Eastern states agri-politicians for a wheat industry Czar and are fully supportive of Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig’s decision to wind up Wheat Exports Australia.

“Wheat growers in WA fully support the current Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill and the winding up of Wheat Exports Australia and the removal of the Wheat Export Charge,” PGA Western Grain Growers Chairman, John Snooke said.

“Broadening the role and increasing the powers of Wheat Exports Australia constitutes a substantial and immediate threat to the WA grains industry.”

“WEA was always a transitional measure to a free market and claims by former eastern states affiliates of the disgraced Grains Council of Australia that ‘the industry is not mature enough to be fully deregulated’ understate the obvious success of the 2008 reforms.  Their self serving claims are merely a reflection of their frustration that the days of a closed circle of corrupt cronies controlling the wheat industry are gone, rather than a realistic observation of the progress already made.”

“We, here in the West, understand that by establishing an accreditation process that controls port access, compels marketers and growers to release their private grain stock information and audits the performance of every participant in the supply chain will in no way enhance the reputation of our wheat, reduce our handling and storage fees, or get us a better price for our wheat.”

“It will, however guarantee the existence of an investment killing despotic bureaucracy hanging over the head of the wheat industry like a Damocles’ sword.”

“There is no need for the Government to consider any amendments put up by the supporters of re-regulation, as the current Bill simply does the right thing for all wheat growers – it allows them to freely choose how and to whom they market their grain.”

“And if Minister Ludwig needs any reassurance on this matter, then he and the members of the Labor and Liberal hierarchy who supported ending the failed AWB monopoly are welcome to come to WA and meet with the wheat farmers who appreciate the benefits that choice and competition has brought to their industry.”