Joint Press Release with Warren Truss - Statement on Wheat Industry Deregulation
Posted on Thursday, 11 October 2012
The wheat industry is one of the foundations of Australia’s strongly performing agricultural sector.
Changes in wheat policy must build on the industry’s strengths and deliver improvements for growers across the country.
If elected at the next election, the Coalition in our first term will implement measures agreed by the industry to ensure a well-managed deregulation to free and open competition while maintaining our international reputation for quality and reliability.
In particular, these measures will safeguard:
1. Port access arrangements;
2. Appropriate transparency standards in relation to stock information; and
3. Minimum quality standards for exported grain
The Coalition is committed to addressing these areas of concern with a transitional plan but, as shown by the live export debacle, the Gillard Government cannot be trusted to look after the interests of producers. The Gillard Government’s record on policy implementation is marked by failures such as the pink batts fiasco, over-priced school halls and the live cattle shutdown.
The single desk was abolished in 2008 and will not be re-established. Only the Coalition can be trusted to deliver a transition plan that we will provide certainty for Australia’s wheat industry and look after the interests of all growers.
11 October 2012