EXCLUSIVE Andrew Probyn and Andrew Tillett Canberra The West Australian September 1, 2014, 5:33 am
A new political row is brewing over wheat exports, with WA Liberals fearing full deregulation of the industry will be nobbled by their East Coast colleagues.
Cabinet ministers are at odds as the Abbott Government scrambles come up with solution with a two-year agreement governing port access for bulk wheat exports to expire on September 30.
WA Liberals, led by Senator Dean Smith, want the Government to put the industry on the path of full deregulation.
East Coast farmers and grain growers, supported by East Coast coalition MPs, want to retain regulation of port access so operators cannot slug farmers with hefty export fees.
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce and Small Business Minister Bruce Billson are believed to be proposing different solutions to the stand off as they try to get a mandatory code of conduct in place.
The wheat issue caused deep divisions in the coalition in 2012, with many WA Liberals defying the party room to speak out in support of the Labor Governments bid to abolish the Wheat Export Authority and a 22c a tonne export levy.
At the time Julie Bishop told WA Liberals to back off, saying an argument could damage Tony Abbotts leadership.
Senator Smith yesterday was confident WA rural and regional Liberals were unanimous in supporting full deregulation of wheat exports.
"The full deregulation of Australias wheat export arrangements is perfectly aligned to the Governments deregulation and red tape reduction agenda," he said.
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East v West row grows over grain