Judi Moylan MP

Judi Moylan urges Senate to reject Wheat Export Marketing Bill

The Federal Member for Pearce, the Hon Judi Moylan MP has called on the Senate to reject the Wheat Export Marketing Bill at a rally in Canberra today organised by the Wheat Growers Action Group. Speaking to 500 concerned farmers who congregated outside Parliament House this morning to voice their opposition to a Bill they claim has sold out the Australian grain industry to big enterprise, Mrs Moylan acknowledged growers for their pro-active approach in lobbying the government as well as the work of Derek Clauson, WA Farmers Grains Section President and Bob Iffla, Chairman of the Wheat Growers Association. Together with Graham Blight, Chairman of the Wheat Export Marketing Alliance (WEMA) they have been solidly working on an alternative grower owned and controlled single desk. “No one could have fought harder than they have for the retention of the single desk and an orderly system of marketing wheat,” Mrs Moylan explained. “Bob Iffla is right when he said, ‘We have reached a point where an Australian government is about to abandon one of the country’s major primary producing industries.” “I say that the hard working men and women of the Australian grain industry have been sold out to big enterprise.” Mrs Moylan called on Labor, and the Prime Minister Mr Rudd, in particular, to keep his promise to poll all wheat growers before legislation is enacted. “The wheat growers of Australia deserved to be listened to and properly consulted in this decision which will have far reaching effects on their core business.” Calling on the Senate to reject the bill, Mrs Moylan said there is overwhelming support within Pearce for the retention of the single desk. “The Bill fails to take into account wider industry views,” Mrs Moylan said. “There are a number of unresolved matters which should be dealt with before the legislation is passed through the Senate.” “There is a real risk of state and regional monopolies developing and at ground level there are questions of quality control, storage and transport,” she outlined. “Maintenance of nationally available statistical information in the longer term, concerns about distortions in international wheat markets, the lack of a social impact study and compensation for adversely affected growers all remain issues that have not been adequately addressed.” One of the key concerns ignored in this debate is that of food security, which promises to become an issue of major concern both domestically and internationally. Rather than put roadblocks in the way of our Australian growers, we should be giving them every support. Growers in the United States will be jumping for joy if this legislation goes through. They know that the greatest thing going for Australian wheat producers has been the single desk. A n economic impact study is critical as the removal of the single desk is likely to see a number of growers go out of business and the impact on families and local rural communities has not been considered. “While Mr Rudd hands out subsidies to a multi-national motor vehicle manufacturer, he turns his back on Australian farmers.” “There has been no mention of support, not even down the line; there has been zero talk about compensation for the hard working families producing grain for domestic and international consumption.” “Let grower voices be heard. In the meantime dump this flawed legislation,” Mrs Moylan concluded.