Sugar growers stand firm on choice
THOUGH a small group of sugar cane growers in the Burdekin have exercised their right to sign up with Wilmar mills for the 2017 season this hardly resolves the marketing issue for the vast majority of growers who are fighting for the right to say no to the foreign-owned miller.About 30 independent growers signed interim arrangements for the 2017 season.But this is not a deal which has been accepted by any collective, as both Pioneer Cane Growers and Burdekin District Cane Growers groups remain opposed to Wilmar’s plans to take full control of the marketing of sugar.
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.
Sugar industry issued with marketing ultimatum
SUGAR industry representatives were given an ultimatum on marketing in Canberra today by the Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane.About 40 people from various sectors of the industry attended the meeting at Parliament House this morning organised by the Industry Minister.There was a very robust discussion with questioning and rebuttals, and all points of view were heard.However due to the impasse, the Minister has announced he will appoint an independent mediator to work with the industry on resolving this, and the industry now has 30 to 45 days to achieve that resolution.