The Federal Opposition's impassioned scrabble for political gain could cost Australian farmers millions with a likely casualty being the Single Desk for wheat exports according to The WA Farmers Federation.
WAFarmers president Trevor De Landgrafft said: "The Leader of the Opposition Kim Beazley and Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd have the gloves off ready to land political points on the Federal Government over the Cole Enquiry, but we ask do they have the interests of Australian farmers at heart?"
WAFarmers has again called for a briefing with Mr Beazley to underline the importance of the Single Desk for the livelihoods of Australian wheat growers. Mr De Landgrafft is disappointed by the attempt to gain political capital at the expense of the agricultural industry.
"A strong Single Desk consolidates Australia's wheat harvest and is an integral tool ensuring competitiveness on global markets whilst preserving our reputation for world class grain with our many international customers.
"The wheat pool price creates domestic market stability and growers rely on having the Single Desk as a 'buyer of last resort'.
Mr De Landgrafft spoke with the Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran and corresponded with Federal Trade Minister Mark Vaile to express the risks to Australian growers should the Single Desk be dismantled.
"Western Australian grain growers have been very clear that they feel this has become a media beat up and that commercial, philosophical and political groups have hijacked the Cole Inquiry for their own self interest and farmers will be the collateral damage.
"The Opposition's continued attacks mount increasing pressure on the Single Desk and I urge Mr Beazley to share his party's strategy for marketing Australia's wheat exports if the Single Desk is abolished," said Mr De Landgrafft.
