PGA says AWB secrecy undermining wheat industry

PGA Western Graingrowers has questioned why AWB Ltd is going to extraordinary lengths in its efforts to deny the Cole Inquiry access to documents crucial to the commission's deliberations.

WGG Chairman, Leon Bradley said when the Cole Inquiry was established, AWB publicly promised that they 'would cooperate fully' with the commission.

"Yet in past months they have sought to block examination of some thousands of documents, to the extent most recently of returning to the Federal Court to seek an injunction against the Inquiry using powers granted under an amendment to the Royal
Commissions Act.

"We believe AWB needs to explain why it is seeking to repeatedly and determinedly obstruct the Cole Inquiry if it has nothing to hide.

"We also repeat our earlier calls to AWB Directors to indemnify pool participants against exposure to the expenses arising from this frivolous litigation.

Mr Bradley said it was time for AWB, in the interests of restoring its disgraced reputation, to come clean and cooperate fully with Commissioner Cole's requests.