NORTH Queensland MP Andrew Cripps says the Palaszczuk Government and Wilmar Sugar are now alone in their opposition to sugar marketing legislation passed by the Queensland parliament in December last year.
The Hinchinbrook MP’s comments follow an announcement this morning that COFCO’s Tully Sugar had signed a cane supply agreement with Tully Canegrowers.
Labor and Wilmar were the last and final parties to accept that the changes to the legislation were not impeding the Queensland sugar industry, Mr Cripps said.
“This leaves Wilmar as the only company unable to reach an agreement with sugar cane growers to supply their mills for the 2017 season, despite all other milling companies in Queensland being able to reach an agreement under the Sugar Industry Act,” Mr Cripps said.
“Clearly, recent statements by Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne ranting and raving about the amendments supposedly damaging the Queensland sugar industry are clearly unfounded and unsubstantiated, because the negotiated outcomes have been achieved.
“Despite Bill Byrne’s petulant and repetitive scaremongering, the amendments to the legislation have delivered the choice in marketing to growers that was desired and now, all but one milling company has been able to secure supply agreements with their growers.”
CLICK HERE to read why Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne wants a Productivity Commission report into sugar marketing released.
Mr Byrne said the Sugar Industry (Real Choice in Marketing) Amendment Act brought into law by the LNP and Katter party had failed.
Mr Cripps said it was time for both Labor and Wilmar Sugar to end their opposition to the current laws.
“Today’s announcement follows an agreement earlier this year between Canegrowers and MSF to supply cane to several mills across Queensland in 2017, including the South Johnstone Mill in the Hinchinbrook electorate and I welcome both of these negotiated outcomes,” Mr Cripps said.
“Wilmar needs to reflect on the fact that all other milling companies in Queensland have been able to negotiate a supply agreement with their growers and ask themselves why their only ally is a recycled Labor agriculture minister who likes the sound of his own rhetoric.
“The Palaszczuk Government’s track record of understanding Queensland’s agriculture sector is abysmal and Labor’s inability to comprehend the need to deliver choice in sugar marketing to growers is another example of just how out-of-touch with the regions they are.”
