Wheat farmers

[Clinton1]

The game at the moment is the shifting of supply from Au to US.
Nothing more.

I'll second that.

The West gets a bee in their bonnet about bribes. No-one else can understand what the fuss is all about. In Indonesia the salary for a SGT in their Armed Forces (Paratroop Infantry) equals enough $ for 1 meal a day and accomodation in a boarding house room with about 20 others on the floor.

Does anyone think that if they were in the same situation that they wouldn't supplement their wages? Its the same across the board in all Govt positions, cops, public servants, nurses...

Bribery and protection rackets - or User pays system?

[Sturdee]

I can't understand why the yanks are getting so upset about this unless they are trying to force us out of the market.

If you trade with African or Asian countries you pay a kickback to do business, but in the good old USA :eek: you have compulsory tipping to buy any service. Which to me is a kickback, similar as what the AWB did.:confused:


Peter.

[Bodgy]

The endemic bribery across Asia, is not really so inherently evil.

Firstly, the guy who gets the whack does not just put it under his bed. A large portion of the initial sum is divided amongst his senior people, they then, in turn, divide it amongst their managers, and so on, all down the line.

In countries with little or no social security, breadline wages and no IR legislation, I think this is understandable.

Its really just another system. Usually, but not always, the best $$ and quality tender wins the business and you just factor the commissions into your bid. It is vital to build trust and relationships when doing business in our region, and surprisingly whilst we may find the 'commission' system dishonest, I've never been ripped off. These comments only refer to SE Asia. I've heard horror stories about China and the Middle East. Strange really cause most of the business in our region is done by ethnic Chinese.

[Studley 2436]

From what I have heard the Wheat Farmers can't see what the fuss is. That is logical too after all they would have a pretty fair idea about how the world wheat market operates.

The local fuss just seems to be the get Johnny group trying to have a lash at the Government. Remember all the screaming over various things in the past, like refugee detention. The Howard Government reading the papers was in a terminal mess then went on to win another election.

American interests in this are as others have said about increasing their own piece of the pie. US politicians may not want to change anything but it will get them a headline and favour with their constituents.

Studley

[Lignum]

I haven't been following it to much as newspapers and telly have taken a back seat to machines and chisels in the last six months, but someone can enlighten me. If the so called bribes weren't their and we didn't sell the wheat, then what would have happened to it? Would it just sit in a pile and rot? And wouldnt Iraq then go to someone like Canada and deal with them instead of us. So instead of head hunting shouldnt we be thanking the person responsible for securing the deal so our farmers can sell their produce.
If i offer a table to someone for two grand and they reply with an offer of 1500 cash so i can avoid paying tax to the government and i accept, im guilty of also taking a bribe. And this happens every day all over Australia in all forms of business large and small.
It sounds like what Studley has said and its the "get Johnny group trying to have a lash at the Government." As i said someone will enlighten me on this

[Andy Mac]

I think the bottom line is US farmers getting in on the act... just as well we're part of the FTA, so I'm sure that'll help Aussie wheat farmers (like my brother) out!
Not happy John

[DavidG]

Forget the word "Bribery". It is a fee for doing business in that part of the world.
The problem is the US farmers who want to take AU out of the market so they can get the contracts.

The AU gov, press and people are all about committing suicide over this.
It is normal business practice in that part of the world and the US does it too.
Let it drop with praise to the wheat board for a good job done.

[Lignum]

The AU gov, press and people are all about committing suicide over this.
It is normal business practice in that part of the world and the US does it too.
Let it drop with praise to the wheat board for a good job done.

That is what my mind is telling me, and im puzzled why the government here is getting its head kicked over this. they need it kicked at times but not for this

[DavidG]

why the government here is getting its head kicked over this.

Press and politics.

[Wood Borer]

I thought the fuss was about a government saying they knew nothing about an incident when there are people providing evidence they did know.

The details of the incident is not important and whether it is legal/illegal or moral etc does not matter.

Did the government know or not?

I doubt if we will ever get an answer, unless there is a scapegoat strike.