TWO South Australian farmers who helped formed AWB's constitution in the late 1990s have thrown their support behind the company's proposed changes.
AWB will hold a general meeting on the constitution reform today in Melbourne where there will be a vote on whether or not to change from a dual to single class share structure.
Jeff Arney, Bordertown and John Lush, Mallala are both former Grains Council of Australia presidents and acted as chairs of AWB's restructure committee.
Mr Arney said times had changed and the company needed to move on.
"When we put the constitution together the single desk was a non negotiable issue," he said.
One of the major hurdles in getting the constitutional change through is the 75 per cent 'yes' vote needed.
"When we put the 75pc condition in place we felt that it would give more control for growers, that's why is was set so high," Mr Arney said.
"Now there really is no choice but to change, now that we have a totally deregulated marketing system. It was always felt by members of the committee that should the single desk go the A class vote vote wouldn't be needed."
Mr Arney said there would be hgue ramifications if the changes does not get up.
"It would very much hamper the way AWB does business," he said.
"If they can't operate in the same commercial environemnt as other companies growers will be worse off. AWB needs to be as competitive as possible."
Mr Lush said the 75pc proviso was put in place based on legal advice at the time.
"The constitution we designed for AWB was designed specifically for a company that had a single desk obligation," he said.
"It was designed to be difficult to change, but not impossible.
"The company now needs a different culture, free of the restrictions of the current constitution. They need to be on an equal footing with other companies and to do this they need a single share structure."
Mr Lush said he was disappointed to see some company directors opposed the move.
"They are clinging to a past that is no longer achievable," he said.
South Australian Farmers' Federation Grains Council acting chairman Jamie Smith is attending the meeting in Melbourne today.
"There's been a call from SAFF Grains Council to support the vote because we believe it is in the best interests of growers and in the best interests of AWB," he said.
"Now that the market is clearly deregulated they are left in a very precarious position with the current structure.
"I think the vote is going to be close but I think it's imperative the changes do go ahead."
AWB spokesperson Ian Desborough said many more South Australian growers had voted than at the previous ballot held earlier in the year.
"SA has been overwhelmingly positive," he said.
The West Australian Farmers Federation is the only peak state farming body that has said it will not support the proposal.
* Details www.awb.com.au/growers.
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