LNP Shadow Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Dale Last has welcomed the defeat of NSW Senator David Leyonhjelm’s attempt to disallow the Sugar Industry Code of Conduct.
Mr Last, who represents the cane-growing heartland of Burdekin, said the Code of Conduct was needed to bring fairness to negotiations between growers and sugar milling companies holding regional milling monopolies.
“The defeat of David Leyonhjelm’s cheap stunt in the Federal Senate is good news for Queensland cane farmers, their families and their communities,” Mr Last said.
“The Code of Conduct is the direct result of the LNP working hard with our Federal Coalition colleagues to protect Queensland cane farmers.
“The LNP, with Tim Nicholls leading the way, worked with the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to introduce the Sugar Code of Conduct to stop the nonsense from the foreign-controlled millers.
“I also led a delegation to Canberra to lobby hard for the interests of Queensland canegrowers to be protected and for this Code to pass the Senate – it’s very gratifying to see that’s happened.
“The Federal Coalition and the Queensland LNP will continue to stand up for family farmers against any unjust practices in the milling industry – a sector dominated by foreign-owned, multi-nationals holding overwhelming regional monopoly powers.
“In stark contrast, Labor and the Greens have done their best to sell Queensland farmers and their families down the river by siding with Senator Leyonhjelm.
“None of them understand the industry, or what the Code really does in terms of requiring cane supply contracts to be negotiated in good faith and with all parties - growers and millers and marketers - acting reasonably, fairly and honestly, without intimidation.
“Importantly, the Code also provides a mechanism for arbitration should negotiations break down – something Labor’s union supporters wouldn’t leave home without.”
