"Rumours do not equal grain stocks. As growers, we should know at any time and with a reasonable degree of certainty what quality and quantity of grain exists in Australia, and its location. The present vacuum ensures growers are kept in the dark", Mr Madden said.

"With Australia about to import bulk grains for the first time in more than a decade, and certainly since the end of the single desk, how can we be certain that there is a shortage of grain warranting imports without any mechanism to measure it?"

"The grains industry has been united in its desire to see a stocks reporting regime - now is the time that the re-elected Coalition Government got on with the job of mandating a reporting scheme if the bulk handlers won't otherwise volunteer the information."

Mr Madden also called for the re-elected Government to explain changes to the way grains are imported into Australia.

"NSW Farmers has written to the Federal Government seeking an explanation about changes made to the import protocols for bulk grains. It would appear that changes were made to the protocol late last year and that there was little to no engagement with industry."

"Given it will be growers who will have to cost-share the response to any biosecurity incursion linked to an exotic pest found in imported grain, growers deserve to know how the risk arising from bulk grain imports are being managed, as well as what conditions the government may have placed on imports to maintain Australia's domestic competitive grain growing advantage," Mr Madden said.