PM Transcripts

Transcripts from the Prime Ministers of Australia

Howard, John

Period of Service: 11/03/1996 - 03/12/2007
Release Date:
11/02/2006
Release Type:
Media Release
Transcript ID:
22125
Released by:
  • Howard, John Winston
Single Desk for Wheat Exports

The claim in today's Sydney Morning Herald (page 1) that the Government is "firmly committed" to ending AWB Limited's wheat export monopoly is quite wrong.

Contrary to the Herald report the issue was not raised during my talks yesterday with Premiers and Chief Ministers.

There has, understandably, been some public debate recently about the single desk policy.

No decision, however, has been taken by the Government to change that policy.

Under current principles of national competition policy the Government is obliged, periodically, to review the legislation which established the single desk. That will continue to be the case in the future.

That obligation to review the legislation does not, of itself, imply any future change in policy

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