Senator Barnaby Joyce is today disappointed by the pressure which has been placed upon the granting of wheat export licenses and which will undermine returns to growers, as gained from the single desk.

“All the rats clearly came out of the closet and we found out who is applying for licenses, including all our major American competitors. The two licenses which have been granted will be seen as a crack in the armour which has protected Australian wheat growers. No doubt our competitors will be working to open that crack so the single desk falls apart.

“I imagine though that during the time the veto is held with the Minister they will try every trick in the book to offer in the short term a position that, in the long term, they know will remove the major thorn in their side, the major competitors’ side, which is Australia’s single desk.

“How on earth are we going to go to our major markets now and speak with a single voice to get the best dollar when those markets know there are other Australian players they have the potential to buy from?

“Our major competitors, the US, are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel where they, as our major competitor, can now start becoming the marketer of our product. And, you can bet your bottom dollar they will do what we should be doing and looking after their own US wheat farmers first.

“I sympathise with the pressure the Minister has been put under. I applaud his resilience in stopping the granting of 44 licenses. Whilst I understand the granting of an export permit to Wheat Australia in order to keep the Iraq market open to Australian growers, I cannot agree with the gun to the head tactics employed to get him to approve a further license for CBH.

“I support strongly the position of my Nationals colleague Senator Nash in continuing to fight to maintain the single desk.