THE LNP opposition has bypassed the potentially time-consuming parliamentary committee process, successfully arguing a urgency motion for its controversial new sugar laws.
The urgency motion was passed with the support of the two Katter members, One Nation’s Steve Dickson (Buderim) and Cairns based independent Rob Pyne. Labor’s 42 members and Labor-turned independent Billy Gordon (Cook) voted against the motion.
The upshot is that the proposed laws that could force sugar milling company Wilmar and marketing company Queensland Sugar Limited (QSL) into an arbitration process will be debated tomorrow evening. Given today’s voting patterns it is likely the legislation will become law.
LNP leader Tim Nicholls introduced the legislation late this morning in a bid to end a long-running dispute between milling company Wilmar and marketing company QSL.
It comes as Labor fights a rearguard action, appointing former Queensland Supreme Court judge Richard Chesterman to mediate in the dispute between Wilmar/QSL dispute.
Mandatory arbitration would be triggered if either side in the dispute signalled that a negotiated outcome was not achievable.
At stake is an On-Supply Agreement (OSA) between Wilmar and QSL that will enable growers to finalise Cane Supply Agreements (CSA) with the miller for the 2017 season. Wilmar is the only one of seven milling companies that has not yet negotiated on-supply agreement with QSL.
”With the cane crush just around the corner, the LNP moved an urgency motion to ensure these laws were debated immediately, but the motion was opposed by all Labor MPs,” Mr Nicholls said.
“Instead of supporting Queensland farmers, every single Labor MP effectively voted to do nothing, to allow this damaging dispute to drag on indefinitely.
“Labor has happily backed multi-nationals over regional Queensland farmers, mill workers and their local communities that have been left in limbo by this dispute.”
However, Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne said the LNP was intent on a shortcut to disaster for Queensland’s $2 billion sugar industry.
“Tim Nicholls is rushing headlong into the unknown by curtailing consideration of his bill to force more regulation on the sector,” Mr Byrne said.
“There will be no committee scrutiny of the bill, no regulatory impact statement, no consultation with those who will be affected. It is one of the most irresponsible actions I have witnessed as an MP.”
Mr Byrne said the LNP was aiming to ensure minimal scrutiny of intended or unintended consequences and deliberately threatened to prevent a commercially negotiated settlement between QSL and Wilmar.
“If Tim Nicholls’ Bill passes on Wednesday night, all bets are off in my opinion,” Mr Byrne said.
“Who knows what mayhem it will unleash on a shell-shocked industry that has been badly damaged by the LNP’s 2015 amendments.
“Those amendments are the root cause of the frustration, anger and distress that has afflicted the industry.
“One thing is absolutely certain, the LNP’s Bill will not resolve the dispute between QSL and Wilmar.”
Mr Nicholls said Labor’s trumped-up marriage counselling service for the warring parties would cost taxpayers thousands of dollars an hour in QC fees.
“Mediation has been offered many times to both parties, and as late as last week has been rejected,” he said.
Farm group CANEGROWERS says it welcomes any move that would bring the warring parties to agreement, supporting the role of arbitration if a mediated settlement could not be achieved.
CANEGROWERS representatives are also meeting with federal MPs in Canberra today to discuss impact of the ongoing Wilmar/QSL dispute on the industry.
The 2017 cane harvest starts in about 14 weeks.