Published Friday, 24 November, 2006 at 02:16 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
COMMONWEALTH CONTINUES TO ABANDON GROWERS
Queensland Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin said today he was totally dismayed by the Federal Government’s continuing disregard for the sugar industry’s battle against smut.
“I personally approached Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran last night and there was absolutely no interest in the Commonwealth coming on board,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“I offered the Commonwealth a position on the sugar cane smut working party, which will identify measures to manage the impact of the disease on industry and facilitate recovery.
“They are not interested in a position on the committee or even an observer’s role.
“Given the vast percentage of the sugar industry is centred primarily around a number of Federal Government seats, including Hinkler (Paul Neville, Nationals) and Dawson (De-Anne Kelly, Nationals), I would have thought there would be greater concern in ensuring the future of a major national industry,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“This is a classic case of the National’s claim of being a party that supports rural Australia being nothing more than hollow rhetoric.
“It is a matter of fact that the only Government to have committed both financially and by action to working side-by-side with industry in the battle against sugar cane smut, is the Queensland Government.’’
Media: 32396530
“I personally approached Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran last night and there was absolutely no interest in the Commonwealth coming on board,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“I offered the Commonwealth a position on the sugar cane smut working party, which will identify measures to manage the impact of the disease on industry and facilitate recovery.
“They are not interested in a position on the committee or even an observer’s role.
“Given the vast percentage of the sugar industry is centred primarily around a number of Federal Government seats, including Hinkler (Paul Neville, Nationals) and Dawson (De-Anne Kelly, Nationals), I would have thought there would be greater concern in ensuring the future of a major national industry,’’ Mr Mulherin said.
“This is a classic case of the National’s claim of being a party that supports rural Australia being nothing more than hollow rhetoric.
“It is a matter of fact that the only Government to have committed both financially and by action to working side-by-side with industry in the battle against sugar cane smut, is the Queensland Government.’’
Media: 32396530