Press Release

West Australian grain growers have commended Liberal MP Alby Schulz’s endorsement of the Agriculture, Resources, Fisheries and Forestry Committee’s recommendation that the House of Representatives pass the Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill 2012 and say that WA Liberal MP’s need to take a similar stand to protect the interests of their wheat growing constituents.

“Alby’s comments to the Federal Parliament on 18 June that the Committee’s decision to support the passing of the Bill which will wind up Wheat Exports Australia was done ‘in the best interests of the people that we are representing” should be taken to heart by every West Australian Liberal MP,” PGA Western Graingrowers Chairman John Snooke said today.

“It is pretty clear that there are still some true Liberals left in Canberra who remember what it was like to put politics aside and do the right thing by their constituents by not pandering to the philosophies of the National Party.”

“Supporting the Bill will finally ensure that Western Australian wheat growers are no longer disadvantaged by centralised control from the East.” 

“Autonomy is crucial for the long term prosperity of WA wheat farmers.  If we continue to reinvent the past, those unresolved issues that plagued the wheat industry under AWB will return.”

“Thanks to Liberal MP’s like Alby Schultz, Wilson Tuckey and the late Senator Judith Adams who convinced the Liberal Party to go against the wishes of their Coalition partners, wheat farmers in Western Australia were finally free of the shackles of the Single Desk.”

“West Australian growers saw an immediate improvement of $20/tonne following the removal of the single desk and have seen benefits of up to $90 above where it was under the previous marketing regime.”

“The abolition of the single desk has not only led to improved efficiencies and created new global export markets for WA wheat farmers, but has enhanced Australia’s international reputation as a wheat exporter.”

“Extending the charter of the WEA, or introducing an Industry Ombudsman offers no benefits to growers and will only diminish our competitive advantage through the establishment of further regulation and government intervention disguised as industry good.”

“Western Australia exports pretty well everything that is grown, raised, mined, or drilled and we do not hear calls to regulate any other exports, including other grains.”

“There is no need to treat wheat exports any differently than any other commodity.”