MEDIA RELEASE

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

CANEGROWERS Mackay has welcomed a Senate Committee announcement that an inquiry will be
held into concerns over commercial imbalances in sugar marketing.
The inquiry was instigated by the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Reference Committee
(Senate Committee) in Canberra today (Thursday).
Chairman of CANEGROWERS Mackay said this Committee would focus its attention on the imbalance
of sugar industry supply chain issues.
This inquiry will run parallel with the State Governments inquiry announced previously, Mr Borg
said.
CANEGROWERS Mackay has been a strong force lobbying the State and Federal Governments for
action since the announcement was made by Queenslands foreign-owned mills stating their
intention to leave the sugar industrys preferred marketing body, Queensland Sugar Limited, Mr
Borg said.
We highly commend the involvement of Queensland Nationals Senator Barry OSullivan and NSW
Nationals Senator John Williams and we have high praise for them for their genuine concern for
cane growers and the future of sugar marketing in this country.
Mr Borg said Senator OSullivan committed to being kept fully informed on the industrys marketing
issues, and this included a visit to Mackay district and the CANEGROWERS Mackay office earlier this
year.
Our growers also have been a major influence in the direction of this campaign for marketing
fairness adding their own voices to media on the marketing issues that have left the industry reeling.
This issue has left the industry staggering in what can only be described as a nearly unprecedented
upheaval of sugar industry marketing, Mr Borg said.

For further comment regarding this release please contact
CANEGROWERS Mackay Chairman KEVIN BORG 0429 876 441
Alternatively, contact CANEGROWERS Mackay Communications Manager Sonia Ball 0427 178 370