Sugar taskforce process begins

FEBRUARY 4, 2015:THE consultation process has begun for the Sugar Marketing Taskforce, and I have met with a number of representatives in the industry in Burdekin and Proserpine this week.When we head back to Parliament I will be chairing meetings of this taskforce, which will look at protecting the economic interests of sugar growers.It will consider the need for a national code of practice for the marketing of sugar, which arose from Wilmar's plan to exit arrangements with Queensland Sugar Limited.On Monday I met with the Kalamia Canegrowers, Ayr Burdekin Canegrowers, and Burdekin District Canegrowers, and on Tuesday I met with Prosperine Canegrowers.Other regional meetings will be held in Mackay, Ingham, Innisfail, Tully, Mareeba, Bundaberg and other sugar areas.It is important to thoroughly consult with the farming community, not just in my own electorate but across the wider sugar industry.The Sugar Marketing Code of Conduct Taskforce includes representaives from sugar growing regions along the Queensland and New South Wales coasts.The taskforce also will look at whether such a code of conduct should be mandatory. However the strongest means of protecting farmers’ interest is to enshrine their economic interests in State legislation.I will also be calling on the new Queensland Premier, whoever that may be, to support the changes to the Sugar Act that were proposed by the Canegrowers organisation, which would address the issue of sugar marketing.