Press Release

Wheat Growers in Western Australia have welcomed today’s announcement by the Greens that they will support the Government’s Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Bill.

“Today’s announcement by Western Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert should allow the Bill to proceed through the House of Representatives,” PGA Western Grain Growers Chairman John Snooke said.

“As is the case in any legislation this is only one step in the political process, but it is an important one.”

“We would fully expect that the proposed amendments by the Greens will be fully reviewed and debated when it reaches the Senate, especially over whether a mandatory or voluntary industry code of conduct is what is best for and acceptable to the entire grains industry, not just a handful of Eastern States growers.”

“The PGA and supporters of the Government’s Bill have continually said that the industry is mature enough for full deregulation and that any industry good functions are best addressed by industry, not through increasing the role of WEA, or imposing further regulation or costs on industry – a position that fell on many deaf ears in the Coalition.”

“We commend the Greens for supporting the Labor Government’s Bill that will allow export wheat farmers to have the right to freely market their wheat without the need for unnecessary Government oversight and regulation.”