Press Release

Western Australian farmers are stunned over Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s claims that the WA wheat industry remains divided over the issue of deregulation as senior more experienced wheat growers are opposed to the Government’s Bill.

“It is incredulous that Tony Abbott and his Federal Liberal cohorts continue to make the case for collectivised wheat marketing by taking their advice from those ‘senior and experienced wheat growers’ who fully supported the activities of the corrupt Australian Wheat Board rather than listening to those growers who simply want to exercise free choice in the sale of their product,” PGA Western Grain Growers Chairman, John Snooke said.

“He now diminishes and refuses to listen to the same growers whose advice he and other members of the Federal Liberal Party desperately sought when, under Brendan Nelson’s leadership, the Liberals broke free from the Nationals and voted to begin the process of deregulation.”

“Despite pleas from farmers, grower groups, wheat exporters and now the Western Australian Liberal Party to support the immediate full deregulation of the wheat industry, Mr Abbott remains content to have the Eastern States Nationals dictate the policies of the Liberal Party.”

“It would appear that the Liberal Party’s short holiday from the protectionist policies of the Nationals is truly over and their brief flirtation with supporting a free market for wheat is at an end.”

“One has to wonder whether this refusal by Mr Abbott to allow the Liberals to stand up against the Nationals on a simple issue like wheat deregulation is an indication of things to come if the Coalition ever forms Government.”