The GCA has clearly signalled that the Four Key State Wheat Farmer Groups were right to bypass them on the Wheat Single Desk issue.Their latest "dummy spit" by refusing to provide leadership for growers in developing the Single Desk plan proves the action of NSWFA; WAFF; VFF; & Agforce was justified.

The majority of wheat growers and the Government has now reached agreement on continuation of the Single Desk.

This proves the GCA were wrong in failing to lead and represent growers wishes. The least they could now do is say sorry and lick their wounds and recommence doing what they are elected and paid to do.

To say they (GCA) are just too busy now to help with the wheat Single Desk issue has to be further proof that they should be sacked immediately for childishly refusing to do their job.

The PM’s announcment gives Australia’s wheat farmers almost 12 months to come up with a new wheat export model, not that we should need extra time - the Cole Inquiry was announced in late 2005 and the writing has been on the wall since this time.

If Australia's wheat producers really want an export single desk, then we will come up with a solid business model that can effectively manage the $3 billion wheat export task.

But so far, their revisionist industry leaders have only managed to come up with another socialist wheat export model in the form of the “de-merged AWB” which is run by agri-politicians without the necessary commercial business skills, has no capital base, will never attract qualified staff and in my view, has zero prospect of success.

It's almost laughable that most of the citicisim directed at GCA has come from its very own state members, some of whom have publicly expressed a lack of confidence in the peak body. Do the members of GCA have no confidence in their own abilities? It would appear so.

With such a notable lack of visible leadership talent and business accumen, the grains industry is on the cusp of placing itself in the same position that the wool industry was in 15 years ago.

A competitive Australian wheat export market is firming as the short odds favourite and would be a bloody good thing in my view.

But before we can acheive any positive market reform, the industry needs to quickly unearth its capacity to set up a system which serves the commercial needs of our farming businesses as opposed to the emotive desires of our personal shortcomings.

I don't care who leads our industry through this period of change or what they call themselves. The group just needs to have a commercial focus, the capicity to deal with personality differences, and a five to ten year vision for their industry. The current (visible) group of conservatives strike out on all three - they would do well to show some humility and get some independent help.

Things have got this way as there is no unity around the silos - partly because certain major parties won't accept the retention of a "single desk".

But if a coherent proposal is not put to government the outcome will be their's alone to decide. I can understand the NFF saying that this is not for them to fix.

A coherent proposal should be built around a strengthened Wheat Export Authority (with teeth and answerable to Parliament) and the demerged AWB- International as operator. Afterall AWB-I has the infrastructure and the money - and surely grain growers don't want to be subjected to yet another surcharge for funding?).

The ship without leadership that you speak of, is sinking.

The future of the wheat export industry is not with the single desk. It's no wonder the likes of the GCA have jumped ship.

It is of no suprise the only ones left aboard are the NSW Farmers, the VFF, WAFF that have a history of supporting failed monopoly grain marketing systems.ie NSW GRAINS BOARD.

The ship has no rudder because of the blind faith shown in these monopolies by these market illiterate farmer groups and their current leadership.

The Goverment's plan to have no plan for the export wheat industry till after the election is about politics not policy.The lack of leadership by the Government on this issue is further proof that politics and grain marketing don't mix.

The on going defence of AWB is an absolute farce.

Most growers are conservative and if they really believed in right winged practices they would not embrace socialistic left wing practices hiding behind a single desk throwing handgrenades.

We complain about others with subsidised production globally yet while hiding we breed complacency,poor up take of technology and farm land that is marginal at best then we deserve to go back wards.

No where has this kind of protection worked for any length of time. It has stifled inovation and higher paying markets.

Sink the awb, stop farming land that is not sustainable and I wish the banks would also come clean on not supporting sustainable practices.

I ask that each person take control of their desitiny or don't complain. You all put these people up so start thinking about your actions. The government loves the fact that as a group your a pack of town dogs singing out of tune. Anyone in a real business dealing with true commercial reality does not care about the one desk system. You're on your own.

Again another blog site with anti AWB and anti single desk sentiment. Stakeholder, we are WA wheatgrowers and we agree with everything you say.

This ignorant and unbelievable "majority of a minority" defence of the current wheat marketing system is doomed for failure.