THE NSW Farmers' Association has called for a guarantee of transparency within AWB after bribe allegations were made against the company.
NSWFA grains committee chairman Mark Hoskinson said the farm group was concerned about allegations of financial inducements to support AWB's 2008 restructure.
The allegations were made by former AWB director Xavier Martin to The Weekly Times last week.
Mr Hoskinson said the claims were a genuine concern to the association.
"Transparency in the operations of companies such as AWB is crucial to the farming sector," Mr Hoskinson said.
AWB has strenuously denied NSW farmer Mr Martin's claims that some AWB officers offered him a financial inducement to change his opposition to restructure of the company in 2008.
The company also referred the matter to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission this week when the commission opened its doors after the Christmas-New Year holiday break.
An ASIC spokeswoman said the commission was "not in a position to provide any comment" on the matter.
The Weekly Times approached Mr Martin and three other "dissident" former directors after questions were asked at the recent AWB annual general meeting about $465,000 in retirement benefits paid to other directors, all of whom supported the company restructure.
"I was approached by officers of the company in relation to my position on constitutional change," Mr Martin said.
"It was made clear it would be worth my while financially to change my position."
AWB general manager of corporate affairs Peter McBride told The Weekly Times last week that the company was unaware of the claims made by Mr Martin.
Mr McBride said AWB was "perplexed" as to why Mr Martin waited 18 months to raise the claims.
