Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Transport) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Abetz, representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Can the minister confirm that the Wheat Export Authority is responsible, under the Wheat Marketing Act 1989, for monitoring, examining and reporting on the performance of AWB Ltd and the benefits to growers? In carrying out this responsibility, doesn’t the Wheat Export Authority examine contracts entered into by AWB and analyse, assess and report on AWB’s pricing performance and supply chain arrangements? Can the minister explain why the Wheat Export Authority knew nothing of the $300 million paid by AWB to Saddam Hussein under the UN’s oil for food program through the contracts it examined? Can the minister also advise how it is possible that the Wheat Export Authority knew nothing of the massive increase in transport costs covered by these contracts?