Labor and Liberal MPs sat on the same side of Federal Parliament today united in support of changes to wheat's export single desk, leaving eight Nationals and two Independents to oppose the Bill.
The Federal Government's plans to get rid of the single desk are now on track after Liberal leader, Brendan Nelson, clarified his party's position late last night and pledged Liberal support for the wheat marketing reforms despite undying opposition from their Coalition partner.
In a late night showdown between the Liberals and the Nationals yesterday, the looming division between the two Coalition partners finally came to the fore.
While Liberal leader, Brendan Nelson, declared the Liberals would support the Bill because it sat well with their beliefs in free trade and free choice, The Nationals leader, Warren Truss, argued an orderly marketing system had served farmers well and the majority of farmers wanted it to stay.
Liberal leader, Brendan Nelson, qualified his support for Labor's bill by arguing "the world has changed" in the 60-plus years since the single desk was first established.
"This is in the long term interests of growers in this country and their competitive place in the world," Dr Nelson said.
"It's not an easy decision for a lot of wheatgrowers in Australia but it is the right decision and we will be moving some amendments to the legislation.
"But we need to have certainty, we need to have clarity and as Liberals we believe, as best we are able, in supporting individuals in making their own decisions."
Mr Truss said there were always going to be times when the two parties did not always agree on everything, particularly in Opposition.
"Farmers still overwhelmingly support the single desk and that's why we oppose the Bill," Mr Truss said.
"The managers of the single desk let the industry down, but instead of fixing that problem the Government is changing the entire system.
"Some people rort the pension but we don't make fundamental changes to that system."
Federal Agriculture Minister, Tony Burke, acknowledged the Liberals have flagged some amendments to the legislation which will be brought in the Senate, and agreed to be "open-minded" about those proposed changes to help get what he said would be the best wheat marketing system in place for farmers as soon as possible.
With the support of the Liberals, the Bill will now move to the Senate where the Government hope it will be dealt with in the next sitting week, before the end of June.
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