ON THIS PAGE

• About CANEGROWERS
• Our Structure
• Our History

 

About CANEGROWERS

CANEGROWERS is the peak representative body for Australian sugarcane growers.  Around 80% of Queensland sugarcane growers are members of the highly successful lobby, representation and services group. Based in Queensland, the State that produces around 95% of Australia’s raw sugar output, the CANEGROWERS National Office represents the interests of cane growers Australia wide.

Government and business leaders recognise CANEGROWERS as the authoritative voice of cane growers. Membership ensures that growers' needs are represented at the highest possible levels of industry and government decision-making. We safeguard growers' interests on all issues likely to affect their business.

The CANEGROWERS organisation exists to:

• Provide strong leadership for cane growers within a viable sugar industry
• Deliver effective representation and valuable services to Queensland cane growers
• Ensure cane grower strength and influence at local, district and state/national/international levels through unity and shared common values.

CANEGROWERS, the Australian Sugar Milling Council, BSES Limited (which conducts research into the sugar industry) and Queensland Sugar Ltd (which markets Queensland’s sugar), are generally recognised as comprising the Queensland Sugar Industry.

Who we are

Our formal name is Queensland Cane Growers Organisation Ltd but everyone knows us as CANEGROWERS. We have been advancing and protecting the interests of cane farming families in Queensland since 1925.

Grower directors (elected by their fellow members) determine organisational policy, which is implemented by staff based in a State office in Brisbane and 15 regional offices.

For many years State Government regulations made it compulsory for all cane growers to belong to CANEGROWERS but since 2000 membership has been voluntary.  Our membership of over 80% is amongst the highest for agricultural organisations in Australia.

What we do

Some of the things we do on behalf of growers:

• Negotiation with Federal, State and Local Governments on industry issues
• Negotiation with government agencies and other industry bodies on significant issues affecting cane growers
• Collective bargaining with mill owners on cane supply, processing and payment issues, allowances and bonuses
• Cane testing and negotiation of cane and sugar quality schemes
• Environmental sustainability and property rights
• Irrigation, drainage and water pricing issues
• Harvesting equity arrangements
• Transport, licensing and fuel issues
• Growers’ financial circumstances including government schemes and major lending institutions
• Industry research and extension matters
• Sugar marketing and trade issues
• Workplace health and safety matters
• Cane firing arrangements and rural fires
• Industrial representation and advice
• Crop protection, rats, canegrubs and other pest issues
• Chemicals and fertilisers usage
• Local government matters including valuations

CANEGROWERS also offers a wide range of services. District offices provide services and advice tailored for local needs. Many also act as the secretariat for bodies involved in local industry and community planning, development and management.

Organisational services include:

• Competitive crop and general insurance
• Fortnightly sugar magazine and email information
• Superannuation and financial services
• Canecard bulk buying service including chemicals, fuel, and irrigation equipment
• Travel and accommodation discounts
• Payroll and wages services
• Legal and technical advice
• Telephone discounts
• Assistance with applications
• Training for farm managers and employees

 

Our Vision

To ensure a secure and profitable future for cane growers

Our Mission

CANEGROWERS provides representation, leadership and services, and promotes unity in the interests of its members.

Our Goals

• Assist in maximising grower efficiency and profitability
• Contribute to long-term industry efficiency
• Enhance organisation effectiveness
• Develop a positive external environment for cane growers
• Recognise and manage diverse grower needs while maintaining organisation unity
• Provide a foundation and structure for future industry development and planning

Our Values

• Accountability to our members
• A focus on issues relevant to our members
• Credibility, integrity and professionalism
• Open and effective communication between growers, organisation units and external publics
• Community consciousness and

 

Our Structure

CANEGROWERS operates as a single organisational entity, representing its members’ interests at area and district level, and in state, national and international forums.

Structurally the organisation comprises autonomous business units at the various levels, which are controlled by elected grower directors.

CANEGROWERS represents growers, directly and indirectly, on every important body involved with the Australian raw sugar industry, ranging from purely local issues to matters of global importance.

Policy, strategic direction and the range of services provided are determined by practising cane grower members who are elected by the membership every three years.

The organisation’s peak body is Queensland Cane Growers Organisation Ltd, based in Brisbane. Each of Queensland’s 22 sugar milling areas supplies a member of the Board.

In cane growing regions, grower-controlled companies operate CANEGROWERS offices from which professional staff provide a range of services and represent the special interests of members locally.

The operations of CANEGROWERS are funded at all levels through annual fees paid by those growers who choose to become members, supplemented by income from various commercial activities. Members determine the amount of the membership fee, which is generally calculated on the basis of an amount per tonne of cane harvested.

Role of the District Offices

Originally formed in 1926 as a statutory body, the Queensland Cane Growers Organisation (QCGO) has been transformed into a new unified organisation providing leadership, representation and services for its members at local, regional, state, national and international levels.

The original CANEGROWERS statutory base of a State peak body, 14 District Executives and 26 Area Committees has been converted into a modern group of independent corporations working together to promote and protect the interests of voluntary cane grower members. 

This transition has been achieved whilst maintaining a strong focus on our principal activity – representing the Queensland sugarcane growers who contribute over $1 billion annually to the State’s economy and underpin the economic stability of many regional and local communities.

The corporate transformation had its origins in a switch to full voluntary membership in 2001. This was followed by establishment of 17 new CANEGROWERS corporations in 2004-05, creating a group of like-minded grower entities that share common ideals and values. 

This new corporate structure provides local autonomy and control of assets. The new corporations are well placed to deliver improved representative outcomes and member services. Local autonomy and direct representation plus input into the peak body are vital elements of an influential, united, statewide organisation that has more than 90% of Queensland cane growers as members and the recognition of government.

Working together

Each company within the CANEGROWERS organisation has an interlinking Constitution with QCGO Ltd that facilitates common membership and direct representation of the local company on the Board of the peak body, Queensland Cane Growers Organisation Ltd. This ensures that QCGO Ltd’s strategic direction and policy deliberations reflect the views of all stakeholders.

Autonomous local corporations determine the scope of operations and services appropriate to their members. At the same time they are able to combine their resources to ensure a powerful voice for growers at state, national and international levels. 

The principal object of corporations, as defined in their Constitutions, is to represent and act for the benefit of all members. Because the organisation has voluntary membership it is important that outcomes achieved by the organisation are for the exclusive benefit of members.

The relevant local corporation owns all local assets. The prime purpose of each CANEGROWERS company is to represent the interests of and service the needs of members. Therefore, assets are applied for the benefit of members exclusively. Each Constitution specifically ensures that assets cannot be distributed back to members; this allows the organisation to maintain its not-for-profit, tax-free status.

About the Board

Cane grower members of the CANEGROWERS organisation elect company directors every three years to determine policy on behalf of all growers, both locally and at peak industry level. The Board of CANEGROWERS comprises 22 grower representatives, one from each sugar milling area in Queensland. This Board meets quarterly, or more frequently if necessary. Between Board meetings, the CANEGROWERS Executive comprising the Chairman and two Vice Chairman, meet with the General Manager to address developing issues.

Elections

Cane grower members of the CANEGROWERS organisation elect company directors to determine policy on behalf of all growers, both locally and at peak industry level.

All directors of the organisation are cane growers. The term of office is three years unless otherwise determined by the relevant corporate Constitution. Directors are paid a meeting fee or an annual allowance as determined by the members of the relevant company.

Our History

The CANEGROWERS organisation has a lengthy history of achievement on behalf of Queensland cane farming families.

The organisation was formally constituted in 1925 and restructured in 1926 although the need for a body to exclusively represent the interests of sugarcane growers was recognised at least 15 years earlier.

The passing of the miller plantation system and the opening of new lands by small farmers along Queensland’s coast was an era of struggle and heartbreak as well as achievement. Discontent among small farmers at their treatment by large mill owners prompted talk of forming a growers-only body to protect their interests.

In 1906 the Townsville Chamber of Commerce convened a meeting of farmers, millers and miller planters that resulted in the formation of the now defunct Australian Sugar Producers Association (ASPA). It soon became apparent that the miller-grower membership would prevent ASPA from siding with growers in disputes with mill owners. Consequently, growers began advocating ‘the urgent need for some representative body which would be able to speak with a voice of authority’ on behalf of growers. Groups of growers began forming representative bodies for small farmers.

In 1909, growers from Cairns, Mackay, Bundaberg, Isis, Maryborough and Northern New South Wales met in Bundaberg for the first conference of the Sugar Cane Growers Union of Australia. Although the fledgling organisation did not flourish, the seeds were sown for a strong organisation to represent cane growers exclusively. That dream became a reality on 14 December 1914 in Mackay when the United Cane Growers Association (UCGA) was formed at a meeting convened by the Pioneer River Farmers Association.

The UCGA expanded rapidly throughout the industry. An office was established in Brisbane in 1918 and the first General Secretary appointed.

In September that year 1918 the UCGA appointed the Producer’s Review (forerunner to Australian Canegrower) as its official journal. Annual Conferences were held from 1916 to 1927 when the organisation was disbanded following establishment in 1926 under Queensland Government legislation of a new growers’ organisation - now known as CANEGROWERS.

The Government moved to establish CANEGROWERS and other similar bodies because of the poor state of Queensland agriculture after World War I.  Although there was great potential for rural expansion, poor organisation of production and marketing was restricting progress. The Government concluded that unified organisation and representation of primary producers was essential to establish prosperous rural industries.

In March 1922, Premier EG Theodore announced a scheme for the complete re-organisation of agriculture to kick-start rural expansion as the engine of State economic and population growth.

A provisional Council of Agriculture was constituted, comprising representatives of government and the dairying, cane growing, fruit growing, wheat and general agricultural industries. In 1925, Local Producers Associations were organised on a commodity basis for the various industries. The Queensland Cane Growers Council (QCGC), District Executives and Mill Suppliers’ Committees were constituted for the sugar industry.

The original legislation was superceded in 1926 by the Primary Producers Organisation and Marketing Act which established the CANEGROWERS Council, District Executives and Mill Suppliers Committees in a form which would last for nearly 75 years. The Act also formed marketing boards for other rural industries.

The first meeting of the Queensland Cane Growers Council was held in The Boys’ School, Mackay, on 21 January 1926, presided over by President of the Council of Agriculture, Hon. W.Forgan Smith. First Annual Conference of the Queensland Cane Growers Association was held in Mackay in March 1927 chaired by George Johnson who served as QCGC Chairman from 1926 to 1946.