General News
10 September, 2024
A lifeline for the Mossman cane growers
THE beleaguered Mossman Mill has been given a lifeline by the LNP, with leader David Crisafulli announcing last week that, if in elected in October, $12.5 million will be made available to deliver next year’s crop while a longer-term plan can be found to keep the cane industry afloat in the town.
Mr Crisafulli said Labor had made it clear they planned to abandon Mossman’s cane industry “in the hope of finding another untested option”.
Under the funding package, a Crisafulli Government would redirect money allocated by Labor for the shutdown of the cane industry to assist the viability of the mill to improve productivity, transport efficiency or retrofit the mill for future uses.
A guarantee would also be put in place to ensure next year’s crop could be transported to and harvested at Gordonvale, and failing a new investor coming forth this year, would provide certainty for growers to plan and invest in next year’s crop.
A $500,000 funding package would also be allocated to Canegrowers Queensland to lead new industry development, expansion and increase grower profitability and productivity, bolstering the long-term viability of the local industry.
“My team will not give up on the Mossman Mill that underpins this proud community,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“Our team’s historic investment will give growers the certainty they need to fertilise and to plan next year’s harvest. It also gives potential buyers of the Mossman Mill confidence that they will have product to crush come the 2026 season and beyond.
“Labor may want to give up on an industry that has employed thousands of locals over many generations that still has so much to give the local economy in the coming decades, but I won’t.
“We will also partner with Canegrowers Queensland to develop an industry led FNQ Cane Expansion Plan.”
Following the announcement, KAP’s candidate for Cook Duane Amos was quick to criticise the LNP, questioning where the major party was when cane growers and the Mossman community were crying out for help months ago.
“Cane growers and the local community needed support months ago when farmers needed surety before harvesting so they could fertilise and invest in next year’s crop,” he said.
“If the LNP truly cared about Mossman, they would have stepped up then - not at the eleventh hour with strings attached, contingent on winning government.”
But LNP candidate for Cook David Kempton said he had been working behind the scenes for months, holding several meetings with key stakeholders about the mill’s future.
Mr Kempton says he advised the LNP of the importance of the mill to the town and had secured an election commitment to provide support to the mill and the local industry.
“Those who committed their time and resources should be commended,” he said.
Mr Kempton was in Mossman last week with Shadow Minister for Agriculture Tony Perret to provide the detail of the LNP’s investment plan to the community.
“Mossman is a sugar town. Sugar underpins the economy and is in the DNA of its people - people who have worked all their lives in cane,” he said.
“I commend those who kept fighting when many were on the verge of giving up.
“Sugar prices remain strong and we have farmers expert at producing sugar. The challenge is finding a sustainable balance between the volume of cane able to be produced and the cost of processing. “This plan will give the industry space whilst all options are considered.
“There will be no transition to failure under the LNP, and the town’s future will be determined by its people and elected council, not city consultants or department officials.”
