|
|
|
Farmers attack AWB costs
7 May 2004
The Grain Growers' Association has criticised AWB International in a submission to the Wheat Marketing Review Panel. The grain growers said the brokerage, marketing and storage services AWBI provides to get wheat to overseas buyers are anti-competitive and secretive. The GGA argued that AWBI should put its supply-side services out to tender.
AWB International said it never marks up the cost of storage, handling or freight and has a constitutional obligation to get the best prices for farmers. GM Sarah Scales stated GGA is working on behalf of commercial interests and trying to get a larger slice of the pie for handling and storage firm GrainCorp, in which it is a major shareholder.
The Wheat Marketing Review Panel is looking into whether the single export desk system is being conducted in the most profitable way for farmers. It has received 280 submissions to date and will make recommendations to the Federal Agriculture Minister in August.
Australian Financial Review, 7/5/04.
|
|
