Code of conduct necessary to protect future of cane growers

CANE growers and farmers in general are under constant attack for killing the Great Barrier Reef, raising emissions and any other crime that city politicians can heap on us to win favour with their city voters.

We’re facing impossible electricity increases, exorbitant water charges and proposed Reef regulations written by the Brisbane Greens that could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many small family farms.

Bit by bit we’re being pushed towards big corporate farming so that processors and government have fewer people involved in negotiations at the business level and fewer regional numbers on the voting end.

In 2003, Burdekin Canegrowers organised and funded the Sugar 2020 Campaign when Brisbane Canegrowers refused to act.

Our campaign increased a pitiful $ 1.5 million Sugar Industry Rescue Package ( SIRP 2001) up to a $ 444.4 million reform program that helped the industry through the last great price slump.

We’re now seeing history repeated with Burdekin leading the campaign to install a sugar code of conduct into federal legislation to prevent behaviour by the big processors.

Fortunately, the new Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, is a strong supporter of strengthening the banking code of conduct which is an exact parallel of our situation where big powerful companies are taking unfair advantage of their clients.

While it may be a little premature to claim victory since the code review is still in progress, the ACCC has come down heavily in favour of retaining and also strengthening the existing code for the sugar industry.

While the code was primarily constructed using the legal skills of PCGO manager Julie Artiach, the whole campaign was only possible because Burdekin growers took a stand and formed Burdekin District Growers Committee ( BDGC) to present a united voice to government.

It wasn’t easy to manage competitive rivalry between the three com- mittees but each group contributed equal funding without hesitation and were able to achieve consensus on all actions.

Despite widespread district support for BDGC, recent developments have brought into question some issues for me.

PCGO should consider a review of process and grower meetings must be held in the near future to seek direction from the grower base. GEOFF COX,

Burdekin.