CANEGROWERS members have taken the final step in their triennial election process in confirming Paul Schembri will continue as Chairman of the organisation for a third term.

Paul Schembri from Mackay will be supported by two Vice Chairmen, Plane Creek district grower Kevin Borg and Owen Menkens from the Burdekin district.

The appointments were made at a meeting of the CANEGROWERS Policy Council in Cairns today. The Council is made up of representatives from all of Queensland’s sugarcane regions.

“I am delighted and humbled to have the support of my colleagues to continue as CANEGROWERS Chairman,” Mr Schembri said.

“Across the 13 district companies which make up CANEGROWERS, 86 of my fellow growers have been elected to take on representative roles for the next three years. It will be an honour to work as a team with them.

“We are all very busy running our businesses but have decided to take the time to give back to our industry and to help guide and nurture it for the future. This is a privilege and a challenge.

“I wish all of my fellow Directors well for the next three years as we face the challenges of a low-price environment and encourage continued Australian Government engagement with the World Trade Organisation to combat subsidies that distort the world market.

“We will also continue our work to chart a sustainable future for our farms and the Queensland environment while vigorously opposing the State Government’s big stick approach and attempts to grab private business data.”