With fewer than seven days remaining until the adjourned grower vote the former deputy Prime Minister today weighed into the reform debate, saying change was in growers' interests.

Mr Anderson – still a grower and NSW A-class shareholder - said as one of the instrumental architects of the desk he now recognised that the Rudd Government’s actions had totally and permanently altered the game whether growers liked it or not.

"The dual class structure of AWB Limited was appropriate when AWB had a single desk," Mr Anderson said.

"However the new Federal Government has deregulated the industry and removed the old wheat marketing arrangements.

"Without a single desk and the introduction of a competitive marketplace, growers now need genuine choice from domestic exporters and I believe that it is in growers' interests that the AWB can be as competitive as possible.

"In these circumstances, I have come to believe that it is in growers' best interest to vote for reform."

His support was welcomed by AWB which last week adjourned a grower vote until next Wednesday, September 3, after it became clear the result would come down to the wire.

* For a full report on the AWB reform vote see Stock & Land, August 28.