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 Burke booed as Parliament scraps single desk 

Burke booed as Parliament scraps single desk

23/06/2008 5:18:00 PM
More than 80 farmers have booed Federal Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, as he today moved legislation to overhaul wheat marketing and dismantle the single desk.

Sitting in the gallery above the House of Representatives was a delegation of NSW farmers, intent on showing the level of disatisfaction with the changes, which were passed for the final time at lunch time today.

But Mr Burke approved ammendments proposed in the Senate last week, ensuring the Bill was not held up over the parliamentary break when current arrangements would expire anyway.

He said the new arrangements would give all farmers a choice about how to market their own wheat.

"This major economic reform represents the start of a new era in an iconic Australian agricultural industry," Mr Burke said today.

"It delivers on an election commitment and concludes months of detailed consultation on exactly how the new system should work.

"The passing of the Bill gives growers certainty for the current wheat crop, which will be harvested from October.

"We will continue to help growers learn about the new system and publish market data to help them farmers adapt."

But the farmers in the gallery yelled at the Minister, accusing him of selling Australian farmers out to big business and to American farming interests instead.

They yelled "bastards" and "what about the Australian wheatgrower".

The new arrangements will come into force on July 1.

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Comments


Date: Newest first | Oldest first
It was Mr. Truss who was hell bent on deregulating the Sugar Industry and he wouldn't listen to growers then. The whole sugar industry is in disarray with growers trying to hang onto some semblance of a single desk. Somtimes you reap what you sow.

Unfortunately it is all the farmers who are going down the tube with very little income to live on. At least they are closer to Canberra and good on them for taking action. It seems all parties have the same agenda to wipe out farming in this country.

Posted by cj on 23/06/2008 5:36:57 PM
Hang on to your hats more wild rides in the food supply to come as the New World Order takes away ANY power farmers had for collective barganing. More food shortages and starvation to follow as farmers are squeezed out of the supply chain with bed rock prices and no bargening power
Posted by Richie10 on 23/06/2008 11:28:13 PM
I will haunted by the what I saw in Parliament yesterday for the rest of my life. The contempt shown to wheat growers and the shallowness of Liberal and Labor politicians is something I will never forget. I do not know who is the more culpable; Tony Burke and his Labor colleagues or the Liberals led by regional representitives Heffernan, Schultz, Ley, Adams and Tuckey who have misled their colleagues. The Liberal Party must be punished and no longer permitted to represent rural Australia in the Parliament. The Nationals put up a stoic fight and we must not forget that.
Posted by Jock on 24/06/2008 8:08:26 AM
The time has come for Australian farmers to take a lead from their French counterparts and hold up the food supply - when it bites on every Australian then the fools in Canberra may listen
Posted by TT on 24/06/2008 9:03:09 AM
I support you guys all the way! I just don't know how this can now be successfully reversed. Why are govt so pro deregulation? Can anyone provide examples from anywhere in the world where deregulation in food production/ marketing or essential services has benefitted the general population? I can't think of any.
Posted by kwaka on 24/06/2008 10:15:11 AM
Comrade Burke has now prepared the way to be heartily welcomed into the bosom of the wheat farming community.
Posted by Incontinentia Buttocks on 24/06/2008 9:44:26 PM

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A scene from last week's farmer protests against single desk deregulation in Canberra. More farmers booed Agriculture Minister Tony Burke in Parliament today.
A scene from last week's farmer protests against single desk deregulation in Canberra. More farmers booed Agriculture Minister Tony Burke in Parliament today.
23/06/2008 | Angry, emotional farmers say the passing of new laws dismantling the single desk for wheat exports signals a black day in the history of Australian farming. Click here to listen NSW farmer and protester Jock Munro.

Q: What should the Federal Government do to relieve the cost of petrol?

Continue with its current approach
(4.2%)

Cut petrol excise by 5c/l
(1.6%)

Cut petrol excise by 10c/l
(29.9%)

Invest petrol revenue in alternative fuel research
(39%)

Mandate 10pc biofuel content in petrol
(13.3%)

Other
(11.9%)

Total Votes: 428
Poll Date: 23/06/2008

6/10/2008 | In journalism there is nothing worse than interviewing someone with TB - True Believerism. But the rapidly changing world is turning traditional ideology upside down, leaving TB sufferers supporting a brand and not a belief.
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