MEDIA RELEASE

18 April 2011: Formal dispute lodged on recalcitrant mill by far northern cane growers

Bundaberg Sugar is being called to account this week, after cane growers in the Cairns Region, Tablelands and Innisfail areas supplying Bundaberg Sugar, served formal notice for dispute resolution on the recalcitrant mill owner. Peak growers group, CANEGROWERS, says that taking away income to which cane growers are fully entitled is not on, and they are about to raise all hell to get to a fair outcome.

Joe Marano speaking on behalf of Innisfail cane growers and Charlie Zappala speaking on behalf of cane growers in Babinda says they are surprised that Bundaberg Sugar thought that CANEGROWERS would take this miscarriage of justice lying down.

“If they thought they would get out of this without a fight, they are sadly mistaken’” says Zappala. “CANEGROWERS has a history of keeping the bastards honest,” he reinforced. Marano agrees, saying “This is one of those times that cane growers across far north Queensland are all in - standing shoulder to shoulder – on a matter of principle,” he says. “It’s been a while since we’ve had to do that – but I don’t think anyone has forgotten the force that our unity brings.”

Bundaberg Sugar Limited noted its intentions last week that it will underpay growers to the tune of $3million, following the disastrous 2010 season. This comes at a time when cane growers and their local communities can ill-afford the unfair decrease in income.

“Other Queensland mills faced with a similar situation have come to the party and agreed on payment of an appropriate amount, but that is not the case here,” says Tablelands grower, Maryann Salvetti, speaking on behalf of CANEGROWERS in the north.

“We are calling on Bundaberg Sugar to do the right thing and play fair - after all withholding cane payments is going to hurt growers, jobs and the local communities ability to recover from a disastrous six months, which has bought the worst harvest on record, a category 5 cyclone and a mill closure.

“We understand that Bundaberg Sugar, owned by Belgian-company Fina Sucre, is about to exit stage left up here in the north, but we cannot understand how they would find it acceptable to hamstring our growers with unfair costs on the way out.”

Media Comment:

Charlie Zappala Deputy Chairman CANEGROWERS Cairns Region 0428 509 279

Maryann Salvetti Deputy Chairman CANEGROWERS Tablelands 0409 637 044

Joe Marano Chairman CANEGROWERS Innisfail 0407 160 882

 

 

For more information: Suzi Moore, CANEGROWERS Communications 0427 641 239 or 07 3864 6431