LNP leader Tim Nicholls says he will press ahead with plans to make laws that will return arbitration to the sugar industry. However, he says he hopes sugar miller Wilmar and sugar marketer Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) will reach a commercial agreement at or before, a scheduled mediation meeting on Thursday.
Mr Nicholls said the LNP was determined to end to the stalemate between Wilmar and QSL.
He said the stalemate was affecting the farm businesses and lives of 1500 canegrowers and their families.
“The long-running dispute cannot be allowed to continue and that’s why the LNP has taken action to stand up for canegrowers,” Mr Nicholls said.
“The situation is urgent and I urge both parties to reach a commercial agreement at, or before, the mediation meeting on Thursday.
“As I have always said, a commercial resolution is in the best interest of all parties.
“Both Wilmar and QSL need to accept their failure to resolve this matter is doing enormous harm to growers, their families, their communities and ultimately to the state’s third largest agricultural industry.
“If Wilmar and QSL fail to reach agreement they will have to explain to canegrowers why, at the 11th hour, they are not prepared to proceed with a sensible commercial outcome.”
Mr Nicholls said the LNP’s interest had always been to ensure that canegrowers had a genuine choice in sugar marketing.
“Today the LNP will proceed with its legislation – Sugar Industry (Arbitration for Mill Owners and Sugar Marketing Entities) Amendment Bill 2017,” Mr Nicholls said.
“The legislation will provide for formal arbitration to resolve any future deadlocks in contractual negotiations between sugar millers and sugar marketers - in the same way arbitration is available to resolve deadlocks between canegrowers and sugar milling companies.”
