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Coalition tensions mount on wheat exports

Federal coalition tensions are mounting as a two-year deal on port access for bulk wheat exports expires in a month.

West Australian Liberals want full deregulation but east coast coalition MPs support retaining regulation on port access to prevent farmers copping huge export fees.

The issue caused a deep divide in 2012.

Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce and Small Business Minister Bruce Billson are proposing different solutions, the West Australian newspaper reports.

Mr Billson supports full deregulation in five years, while Mr Joyce wants regulation to continue until there is greater competition, but is prepared to exempt Western Australia.

Nationals MP Andrew Broad, whose electorate covers the Wimmera wheatbelt in Victoria, is playing down the row.

Mr Broad does not anticipate the issue will arise in the coalition party room meeting this week, but concedes conversations are taking place.

"A robust democracy is made up of a diversity of ideas," he told reporters in Canberra.

"Those ideas are talked through."

About 80 per cent of WA's wheat is exported and it comprises 40 to 50 per cent of all Australian wheat.