Fed: AWB ups prices, warns of market loss

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2006
Fed: AWB ups prices, warns of market loss

AWB Limited has increased wheat prices for growers .. but warned farmers they could
be locked out of valuable markets .. if it loses the wheat export monopoly it's held for
more than 60 years.

The federal government's planning to press ahead with major changes to the single desk
for wheat exports .. which include stripping AWB of it's right of veto over export applications
by another company.

JOHN HOWARD will take the plan to the coalition's joint party room today.

The meeting comes a week after the Cole report recommended 11 former AWB executives
face possible criminal charges over the company's 290 million dollars in kickbacks to
SADDAM HUSSEIN'S Iraq regime.

Liberal senator BILL HEFFERNAN has told ABC radio he's confident the partyroom meeting
will be presented with a plan that frees up the current system without disadvantaging
farmers.

AAP RTV rp/sb/cp/tm/cp/psm/

KEYWORD: AWB PRICES (CANBERRA)

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