Support for state action on sugar

I congratulate the Queensland LNP on taking decisive action to end the impasse over sugar marketing which is crippling the sugar industry in the north.My Federal colleagues and I are very supportive of this action from the State LNP because growers in the Burdekin, Proserpine, Sarina and Ingham need an urgent resolution to this ongoing issue.The State Opposition will move to amend the state Sugar Marketing Act to ensure an arbitration process is established between QSL and Wilmar, if we don’t see a commitment from Wilmar Sugar to reach agreement with Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) in the next 48 hours.This has come about as a result of my intense lobbying for a Sugar Marketing Code of Conduct; the Federal Government urged our state colleagues to make changes to their legislation - the Sugar Industry (Real Choice Marketing) Amendment Bill.This can solve the current impasse.What growers need right now is an immediate resolution, but let’s be clear; this should have been resolved a year ago.My proposed Code of Conduct, released back in July 2015, would not provide an immediate resolution, but would provide the framework to allow growers to go forward with confidence in their future dealings with millers.What’s needed now is a focus on this not only from the LNP but also from Katter’s Australia Party, One Nation and Independents in State Parliament.While I am a bit disappointed that my federal colleagues didn’t go forward with a Code of Conduct immediately, I do understand that a quicker solution to the current impasse lies with the proposed state amendments.I will be keeping a very close eye on the situation, as there are many factors which could derail the State Opposition. If it is derailed, it’s my firm view that this issue will fall back into the federal arena.