Fed: Report backs partial deregulation of wheat exports

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2000
Fed: Report backs partial deregulation of wheat exports

A report for the National Competition Council says Australia's wheat exports should
be partly deregulated.

It recommends that the monopoly held by A-W-B Limited until 2004 should remain, but
some key markets such as durum wheat should be deregulated.

It also says A-W-B -- formerly the Australian Wheat Board -- should lose its right
of veto over companies which wish to export wheat in bags or containers.

But the report says the company should keep its right of veto over bulk wheat exports,
except in the areas where there is deregulation.

The report's authors say the introduction of more competition to wheat marketing will
deliver greater benefits to growers than a continuation of the current arrangements.

AAP RTV sw/daw/wjf/jw\

KEYWORD: WHEAT NCP (CANBERRA)

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