CANEGROWERS welcomes inquiry, urges action

Chief Executive Officer Dan Galligan said the inquiry aligns strongly with CANEGROWERS' advocacy at the last state election and its ongoing push for a national feedstock strategy to support a homegrown biofuels industry.

“We’re pleased to see the government recognising the enormous opportunity Queensland has to become a world leader in renewable energy and bio-manufacturing built on sugarcane,” Mr Galligan said.

“This is about growing regional jobs, creating new markets, and setting up the industry for long-term success.”

Mr Galligan said the terms of reference reflect issues CANEGROWERS has been raising for years – particularly the shrinking availability of cane land due to urban expansion and large-scale renewable energy projects.

“The industry is ready. We’ve got the feedstock, the expertise, and pilot projects already operating. What’s needed now is strong investment and a clear path forward,” he said.

CANEGROWERS is urging:

• Growers to be included as partners in the process and in the future bioenergy industry – not just consulted but actively involved.
• The milling sector to step up with large-scale investment in modern, future-ready infrastructure.
• The State and Federal governments to back the industry with serious investment in a sugarcane-based bioeconomy – spanning green electricity, biofuels, sustainable aviation fuel, bioplastics and more.
• Government support for the development of micro-grids that would enable sugar mills to sell power directly to sugarcane growers. 

“This inquiry is the catalyst. But growers need a seat at the table, and momentum must build quickly from here,” Mr Galligan said.

“We’re ready to work with government and millers to turn this opportunity into real outcomes for regional Queensland.

“Let’s not spend nine months re-learning what we already know. Let’s move forward, together – with urgency and purpose.”