Sugar industry heads release election priorities

Sugar industry peaks CANEGROWERS and the Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC) have outlined their election priorities.

Demanding ‘urgent government action,’ the peaks called for greater investment in the sector which employs over 20,000 Queenslanders and contributes $4.4 billion to the economy.

Mossman CANEGROWERS Manager Evelyn Matthews supported the peaks’ priorities but highlighted the need for investment in a diversified local agricultural sector.

“I think both CANEGROWERS and ASMC have put forward many good ideas and priorities that the sugarcane industry as a whole will benefit from,” she said.

“They highlight timely issues and the important relationship that millers and growers have with many regional Queensland economies and communities. The commitment we need from the Queensland Government on a more local scale for our industry, and indeed our Shire, is to stick around for the long-haul and see through the infrastructure repairs and rebuild which will take years not days or months.”

"We need that commitment of collaboration back so that all sectors of our regional economy can start to rebuild and thrive again.

"Mossman farmers just want to be farmers, so what they really need is a Queensland Government that is committed to removing obstacles and unlocking the full potential of agriculture within the Douglas Shire. Whether that is through bioenergy, biofuels, fibre feedstock, finding alternative cropping options or something we haven’t thought of yet, only time, research, innovation and investment will tell.

"Like all primary industries, we will only flourish when confidence is rebuilt and there are strong partnerships between industry stakeholders, government and investors.”

Member for Cook Cynthia Lui acknowledged the vital role the sugar industry plays in Queensland’s communities and economy and outlined her government’s record in supporting the sector, including investment in the Mossman Transition Plan which, if Labor holds government, will provide a pathway towards a more diversified economy for the Mossman areas following the sugar mill’s closure late last year.

“Agriculture is vital to our economy and sugarcane has been the lifeblood of many Queensland communities for decades,” she said.

“The Miles Labor Government is committed to providing the right support for sustainable agriculture industries and that means focusing on energy and water prices, as well as the potential of biofuels. We are the only party with a policy to keep energy prices low through our energy price guarantee and a new public retailer which will significantly help businesses in the regions. Labor is also the only Party with a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) policy.''

Ms Lui said the SAF industry is poised to be worth $3 billion annually by 2030, creating up to 15,600 jobs nationwide by 2050.

"We are determined to see Queensland get its share of these jobs. The Miles Government has provided grants of $1.52m for feasibility studies to develop investment cases for Sustainable Aircraft Fuel proposals. The State Government has also provided $5 million through the Queensland New-Industry Development Strategy (QNIDS) to grow local production capabilities and establish SAF value chains in Queensland,'' she said.

“Our government provided $22 million to Far Northern Milling and related entities between 2019 and 2024. That funding was for capital upgrades and to progress plans for a Bio-Precinct. When the Mill called in administrators late last year, the Premier delivered an additional $12.1 million to assist with farmers’ transport costs for the 2024 crushing season and the Mossman Region Transition Project which will assist the community as the transition away from sugarcane milling occurs. We have committed significantly and will continue to support the Mossman community to grow, change and thrive beyond the challenging time following the Mill closure.”

Greens candidate for Cook Troy Miller said he would, “support affordable electricity and water for all industry to build and grow and work towards funding for research and development in use of biofuels for the future,” if he won the seat in the October election.

LNP candidate for Cook David Kempton was contacted for comment but no response had been received by deadline.

View CANEGROWERS' election priorities here
Download ASMC's election priorities here