The Wheat Growers Action Group (WGAG) has revealed its real agenda is to use AWB as an agri-political platform to resurrect the Single Desk, AWB Chairman Brendan Stewart said today.

A WGAG media release issued today states “ .. AWB could have a stronger role in grower advocacy for its grower shareholders as it becomes evident to our political masters that the current export arrangements are found wanting.”

Mr Stewart said this statement shows that WGAG are intent on using AWB as an agri-political platform, rather than help AWB to compete on an equal footing with bulk handling companies and international traders in the new wheat export marketing environment.

”The WGAG comprises six disenchanted wheat growers in NSW who have failed to succeed in their opposition to the abolition of the Single Desk,” Mr Stewart said.

“The WGAG appear to be trying to cling to the old wheat export marketing system in which they had some political influence.  They fail to realise that the world has changed.  They simply have no vision for the future.”
 
 Mr Stewart said it is in the commercial interests of both growers and AWB for AWB to be able to provide wheat growers with the best products and services they can get, in order to  meet wheat growers’ needs well into the future.

“If AWB remains the only company on the Australian Stock Exchange with an out-dated and costly dual shareholding structure, it will fall behind and be unable to offer Australian wheat growers competitive prices and services in the new deregulated wheat export marketing environment”, he said.

“It is time to take the agri-politics out of AWB to ensure the company is in the best position possible to offer Australian wheat growers the most competitive commercial offer it can for their wheat this harvest, and constitutional reform will achieve this”.

Media Inquiries:  Peter McBride, 03 9209 2174 or 0417 662 451

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