Fed: Howard to ask AWB to give up wheat monopoly

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2006
Fed: Howard to ask AWB to give up wheat monopoly

The Prime Minister will hold crisis talks with embattled AWB today .. and it's expected
he'll ask the wheat exporter to give up its monopoly position for the good of Australian
farmers.

JOHN HOWARD has called AWB chairman BRENDAN STEWART to Canberra for urgent talks on
how to help wheat farmers after Iraq locked the AWB out of its market.

Iraq suspended its dealings with the wheat distributor pending the outcome of the Cole
inquiry into kickbacks allegedly paid to SADDAM HUSSEIN'S regime.

The decision has shut Australian wheat out of the lucrative Iraqi market .. including
a current tender worth almost 300 million dollars.

Some angry government backbenchers also want AWB's monopoly scrapped.

AAP RTV so/wz/ibw

KEYWORD: AWB FEDERAL (CANBERRA)

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