Wilmar negotiations welcome
We've had good news late today that Wilmar Sugar will begin negotiations with cane growers which recognise their right to a say over who markets their sugar.I’m pleased to hear that Wilmar is now ready to come to the negotiating table following the changes to legislation passed in State Parliament late last year, and thank goodness the tantrum is over.Wilmar have now written to growers to say that they will comply with the new laws which enable growers to choose who markets their sugar, whether it’s Wilmar or Queensland Sugar Limited.
Foreign millers acting like spoilt brats
FOREIGN-owned millers such as Wilmar and Mitr Phol need to stop throwing temper tantrums and get on with business.Wilmar is saying it will not sign any further agreements for next year’s crop and Mitr Phol has announced that it was cease all new investment across its Australian sugar business.Both foreign millers are reacting to the passing of legislation in State Parliament to ensure growers have choice over who markets their sugar.These foreign-owned millers are behaving like two-year-olds chucking a tantrum because the parliament hasn’t done what they wanted.
State Labor urged to act to save jobs and industry
stalemate over sugar marketing arrangements could be addressed before the end of the year if the State Labor Government steps up to the mark and makes the legislative changes the industry has been calling for since the dispute began.The need for action was on the agenda during a site tour at Queensland Sugar Limited’s Bulk Sugar Terminal in Mackay this morning with Federal Government’s Agriculture & Water Resources Minister Barnaby Joyce, Canegrowers Mackay chairman Kevin Borg and Canegrowers Queensland chairman Paul Schembri.The Queensland Labor Government can deal with this issue once and for all by changing legislation in the Sugar Act to ensure growers get a say over who markets their sugar.