LNP Sugar legislation will place industry in peril warns industry

Published Tuesday, 28 February, 2017 at 02:44 PM

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Economic Development
The Honourable Bill Byrne

Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne says the LNP is 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,” the Minister 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.”

Minister Byrne said the LNP’s tactic was deliberately designed to ensure minimal scrutiny of intended or unintended consequences and deliberately threatened to scupper a commercially negotiated settlement between QSL and Wilmar.

“If Tim Nicholls’ Bill passes on Wednesday night, all bets are off in my opinion.

“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.

“Everyone in the industry knows that forced arbitration will be costly and protracted and will not deliver the certainty for the 2017 crush that growers crave.

“As the Australian Sugar Milling Council CEO Dominic Nolan points out ‘the only thing that the introduction of yet more debilitating legislation to re-regulate the sugar industry will guarantee is further uncertainty for growers, mill employees and regional communities that rely on the Queensland sugar industry.’

“I agree entirely with Mr Nolan’s assessment that further political intervention will kill the appetite for investment by milling companies.”

Minister Byrne said the LNP was rushing the process because it feared the verdict of the Productivity Commission report into their 2015 amendments.

“The Turnbull Government has had the report for three months and its refusal to release it is a serious issue.

“The report is expected to reveal the full extent of damage to the industry. They are running scared of the truth and desperate to force through more amendments while the report is under wraps.”

The Minister said QSL and Wilmar were very close to a negotiated resolution and the Palaszczuk Government had got the parties to agree to mediation by eminent former Queensland Supreme Court judge The Hon Richard Chesterman.

“All parties have agreed to mediation on Thursday.

“It is my opinion that, for purely political purposes, Tim Nicholls is doing everything he can to ensure there is no agreement.

“He is working against the interests of the growers for the chance to grandstand in sugar seats he fears losing at the next election.

“This is political opportunism of the worst kind.”

 

 

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