BURDEKIN cane growers are the first to sign an interim supply agreement with miller, Wilmar, for the 2017 season.
Global head of sugar for Wilmar, Jean Luc Bohbot, who travelled from Singapore to personally sign some of the 22 agreements at Pioneer Mill, Brandon, this week, said the signings were a milestone for Wilmar and the Queensland sugar industry.
“Today proves three things about the Australian sugar industry,” Mr Bohbot said.
“While we have forward thinking people like these growers in our industry, we will move forward and grow; we do not need legislation to achieve fair and equitable commercial arrangements; and we achieve much more when mills and growers work together.”
The interim agreements allow growers to transfer to alternate commercial arrangements that may result from the continuing industry mediation process or collective bargaining negotiations.
Canegrowers chairman Paul Schembri said the agreement was consistent with the current Sugar Industry Act which provided for individual growers or groups of growers to enter into contractual arrangements with a mill owner.
“More importantly it is consistent with the policy that we have been agitating for – choice in terms of marketing,” Mr Schembri said.
“But I hasten to add despite the fact that 22 growers have singed up the vast majority of growers in the state and particularly in the Wilmar, Cofoc and MSF areas are still strongly opposed to the marketing models being put forward by the break away milling companies from Queensland Sugar Limited namely Wilmar, Cofco and MSF.”
Queensland Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Bill Byrne, welcomed the signing.
“This is proof that commercially agreed outcomes between growers and mills is possible under the existing laws of the land,” Mr Byrne said.
All eyes will be on State Parliament on 1 December when the Katter Australian Party introduce its Sugar Industry Bill which is designed to recognise that growers have legitimate economic interests in the marketing of sugar.
“This will be one of the most important weeks in our industry,” Mr Schembri said.
