State Labor need to ‘cop it sweet’ on sugar deal
THE sugar industry owes a debt of gratitude to the Liberal National Party, Katter’s Australian Party and independent state MPs who stood up for a grower’s right to a say over who markets their sugar in the Queensland Parliament last night.Though the Palaszczuk Labor Government now intends to seek Federal intervention on a deal which backs growers rather than foreign millers, they have little chance of succeeding.I particularly congratulate the LNP Shadow Minister for Agriculture Deb Frecklington and Katter Australia Party MP Shane Knuth on their considerable efforts to secure this amendment to the Sugar Act which will ensure that growers have a real choice over who markets their sugar.
Singapore FTA clear on anti-competitive behaviour
THE Singapore Free Trade Agreement very clearly makes provision for measures such as a proposed Code of Conduct, or amendments to the state-legislated Sugar Act.I am outlining the relevant sections of the Singapore FTA in response to media claims that Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has urged Queensland Government representatives to vote against proposals by the Liberal National Party and Katter’s Australia Party to make changes to the Queensland Sugar Act.I can confirm that I have personally spoken with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop and received an assurance from her that she has never insinuated or inferred that a proposed sugar marketing code of conduct, nor any changes to the state-legislated Sugar Act, would breach any Free Trade Agreement or World Trade Organisation rules.