Knuth’s sugar bill gives growers choice and certainty for first harvest in years

Shane Knuth introduced the Sugar Industry (Real Choice in Marketing) Amendment Act in 2015 – which became one of only eight private members’ bills in Queensland history to be passed – to protect growers’ rights when multi-national sugar millers exited the industry marketing pool.

And the smaller guys are winning out, with reports this week that long-standing marketer Queensland Sugar Limited has secured the majority of the country’s sugar.

“Queensland has had a victory over the multi-nationals and growers are telling me this has all been made possible because of the grower choice legislation,” Mr Knuth said.

He fought tooth and nail to instate the Bill despite major setbacks from Government colleagues.

“The LNP refused to take it on, the ALP rubbished it, and a parliamentary committee recommended the Bill not be passed,” he said.

“But I lobbied to push it through because I couldn’t allow these international bullies to keep intimidating and robbing our proud Queensland industry of a fair go.”

Earlier this year, Mr Knuth hit back at sugar giant Wilmar for its pathetic attempts to stall contract negotiations, and successfully lobbied for a federal code of conduct to help force Wilmar’s compliance.

“After working extensively with cane industry groups, I was and still am 100 per cent confident the legislation will hold up, but Wilmar has been trying to delay it as long as possible by trying to put growers in compromising positions,” Mr Knuth said.

“The KAP put forward legislation that secured choice in marketing and it’s a disgrace Wilmar used its money and resources to try to muscle out of fair dealings for so long,” he said.

In compiling the Bill, Mr Knuth spent many months talking to growers and industry leaders including Julie Artiach from Pioneer Cane Growers Organisation, Maryann Salvetti and Bronwyn Dwyer from Tablelands Canegrowers, and Stephen Ryan from the Australian Cane Farmers Association.

He also liaised with growers in Tully and facilitated public meetings in Innisfail and Ingham.

Mr Knuth said the Bill took a toll, but he would do it all again.

“Giving the Bill the necessary sacrifices and time it has needed while running such a big electorate has been hard, but I would do it ten times over to give growers the rights they deserve,” Mr Knuth said.