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

The opposition will be moving amendments to this legislation. As I have indicated, we moved a similar amendment to the Wheat Marketing Amendment Bill 2002 in June 2003. The legislation as it stands seeks to remove the veto from AWB and put it in the hands of the minister. A number of questions arise in relation to the exercise of that power. For example, a wire story today reads:

Mr McGauran is likely to use his control of the veto to approve an application by WA grain handler CBH to ship two million tonnes of wheat at prices superior to those being offered by AWB.

We would like to know what deals have been done in relation to the exercise of the veto.