The report’s main recommendations include stronger regulation to ensure fair access to ports and infrastructure and allowing cooperatives as well as companies to apply for export licences.

The committee’s five Liberal senators, including Junee senator Bill Heffernan, backed the draft laws, saying rejection of the bills would “create uncertainty in the wheat market to the detriment of wheat growers, grain merchants and financiers.”

However, the Nationals continued their opposition to the draft laws, arguing they lack sufficient safeguards to prevent regional monopolies from arising and did not take into account majority support for the single desk among growers.

NSW Farmers Association (NSWFA) said there were outstanding issues not addressed by the committee’s report.

“Growers also wanted an industry-owned entity to perform some of the fundamental administrative procedures not currently proposed to be undertaken by the government's new entity – Wheat Export Australia,” NSWFA grains committee chairman John Ridley said.

Mr Ridley said farmers were worried they would have to pay for a new accreditation scheme, and wanted an independent body to administer a quality assurance scheme.

NSWFA member Jock Munro said angry growers were considering taking action over the draft laws.

“Judging by the feeling of the growers, the government is going to come onto a huge amount of pressure at some time in the very near future,” Mr Munro said.