Dissenting Report by Senator Bob Brown

The Committee has acknowledged the absurdity of growers waiting until 2028 for repayment of the Iraq wheat debt – few will be farming and the majority will be dead.

It fails the same logic to recommend that growers wait until 2011. Some will have already left and a number will have already died.

The recommendations would have been more logical and fairer as follows:

Recommendation one:

The government should within 12 months undertake to repay growers the outstanding Iraq wheat debt and to cover the cost of this redistribution.

Recommendation two:

That the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation and AWB Ltd ensure that the first 20 per cent of Paris Club scheduled payments, beginning in 2011, are returned to the government.

Recommendation three:

That, to assist the government, the AWB Ltd immediately commence the process of identifying and locating every grower entitled to receive payments made by Iraq under the Paris Club agreement.

Senator Bob Brown

Australian Greens

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