Growers angry at NSW Senator’s Code attack

Queensland’s sugarcane growers are angry that a New South Wales politician is attacking protections for hard-working Queensland farming families by asking the Senate to disallow the Sugar Industry Code of Conduct.

“We are affronted the Senator David Leyonhjelm would do that from across the border without talking to growers and their representatives,” CANEGROWERS Chairman Paul Schembri said.

“He has NEVER contacted us or sought to understand why this Code is important to CANEGROWERS members.”

The Sugar Industry Code of Conducts sets out a framework for a fair process when commercial contract negotiations between grower representatives and large milling companies fail to reach an agreed outcome.

“Millers have a monopoly when it comes to processing the cane our members grow because transport economics lock them into only supplying their local mill,” Mr Schembri said.

“This Code prevents mills from abusing that monopoly position in negotiations. It keeps the parties on track and negotiating fairly and provides a mechanism to break deadlocks.

“The Code lays the foundation for stability and confidence in the industry. Everyone knows the rules and there is a process to follow.

“The Code future-proofs our industry from the protracted dispute that raged for three years and ended just as this year’s harvest began.

“This attempt to strike it down is an attack on Queensland farmers and an attempt to undermine a valuable Queensland export industry.”