Tonight Bill Byrne and the Palaszczuk Labor Government turned their back on Queensland cane farmers and their families by failing to support the LNP’s laws to end a long-running stalemate over sugar marketing agreements.
LNP Leader Tim Nicholls said Labor’s Agriculture Minister Mr Byrne and his Labor colleagues had the opportunity to give cane growers certainty heading into the 2017 crush but instead chose the path of uncertainty and division.
“Labor’s Agriculture Minister has blocked laws which would have provided much-needed certainty to Queensland canegrowers ahead of the 2017 harvest,” Mr Nicholls said.
“Our laws would have allowed formal arbitration to resolve any future deadlocks in contractual negotiations between sugar millers and sugar marketers - in the same way arbitration is available to resolve deadlocks between canegrowers and sugar milling companies.
“This was the perfect opportunity for Bill Byrne to show some leadership as Minister – but instead he chose more delays and bureaucracy – which is exactly what Queenslanders don’t like about politics.”
LNP Shadow Minister for Agriculture Dale last said Labor had shown their true colours, siding with a foreign-owned multinational instead of backing growers in Burdekin.
“Labor’s done nothing but support multi-nationals ahead of Queensland farmers, mill workers and their local communities, the LNP has been determined to end this damaging row,” Mr Last said.
“They have turned a blind eye while Wilmar holds farmers to ransom and take away grower choice.
“The LNP is the only party prepared to end the stalemate that is affecting the farm businesses and lives of 1500 Queensland canegrowers and their families.”
Member for Hinchinbrook Andrew Cripps said he was bemused by the actions of the Member for Cook, Billy Gordon, who voted with Labor given he supported the LNP’s 2015 amendments.
“Mr Gordon has abandoned the objectives and the spirit of the amendments that he supported in 2015 and has voted to deny cane growers in Wilmar mill areas timely access to a cane supply agreement,” Mr Cripps said.
“However, I was more shocked to see the Member for Cairns, do a complete backflip on these changes in less than 24 hours and after he had made a public declaration to support the LNP’s bill.”
Member for Whitsunday Jason Costigan said Labor’s Member for Mirani has sold out his own constituents in the sugar industry by failing to use his voice in State Parliament to support them.
“I challenged Jim Pearce to cross the floor but instead he towed the party line and backed his Labor comrades from the deep south,” Mr Costigan said.
