QCAR TAKES BOLD STAND TO ADDRESS QUEENSLAND’S SUGARCANE INDUSTRY CRISIS

In response to the growing crisis within Queensland’s sugarcane industry, Queensland Cane, Agricultural and Renewables (QCAR) held a critical Sugarcane Industry Forum yesterday, Wednesday 24 July, to address the urgent challenges facing the sector. The forum aimed to unite stakeholders to tackle severe issues, including milling preparedness, reliability, and cultural challenges.
The event, held at the Burdekin Theatre in Ayr, attracted around 140 participants, highlighting the deep concern and necessity for collaborative solutions. Stephen Ryan, CEO of QCAR, emphasised the importance of the forum.
"The decline in our sugar mills' reliability over the past two decades is alarming,” he said.
“Mills that once operated with remarkable reliability are now frequently experiencing breakdowns and delays. These disruptions impact growers, contractors, and the broader community economically, affecting season lengths, crop quality, ratooning, and overall crop returns."
QCAR Chair Christian Lago stressed the need to address both operational inefficiencies and cultural issues hindering progress. "By uniting stakeholders, we can confront these challenges head-on and develop a comprehensive action plan supported by everyone involved."
Lago noted the broad representation at the forum, with growers travelling from as far as Sarina and Mossman. He expressed disappointment over the absence of the Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC), which had initially agreed to attend.
"The key point of the event was to get all of the industry together, to get everything out in the open, talk about it, and work on solutions. It was disappointing that the ASMC didn't attend as the forum was arranged around their availability."
Poor mill performance dominated the forums discussions, with growers voicing mill reliability as their greatest concern. Lago explained that the crush was around 20 per cent behind due to industrial action followed by wet weather.
"As we get close to the wet season, we need optimal conditions from now till Christmas to ensure we get the crop off. If we don't, we may be facing standover, affecting next year's harvest.
“At the forum, we had the opportunity to hear firsthand from Liam Sharkey, representing the Electrical Trades Union Queensland, about the union's concerns and issues. Notably, the ETU has agreed to commissioner-assisted bargaining, which will commence next week, aiming to bridge the gap and reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
“Additionally, we were inspired by Mark Richards, Director of Commercial from Energy Estate, who shared his vision for Queensland as a green energy superpower. He highlighted the vast potential for harnessing our natural resources, particularly sugarcane, to produce green molecules for both domestic and international markets. This aligns with our goal of diversifying the sugarcane industry and embracing renewable energy opportunities."
Russell Hall, AgForce Cane President, echoed the concerns.
"Our growers are under immense pressure due to the operational issues at the mills. It’s time we bring everyone to the table and develop solutions that ensure the sustainability and profitability of our industry."
Despite the challenges, QCAR remains committed to leading the way towards a brighter future. The forum was a crucial step in unifying all parties together to find sustainable solutions.
"We will evaluate the feedback and ideas from the event to assess what needs to be done in terms of representation moving forward," said Lago.
QCAR has called on everyone impacted by the sugarcane industry to share their perspectives and work collectively towards addressing the current crisis. The forum highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated and comprehensive approach to ensure the future viability of Queensland’s sugarcane industry.

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QCAR Chair, Christian Lago 

L-R_ Stephen Ryan, Christian Lago, Liam Sharkey (ETU), Russell Hall, Matthew Pappin, John Board, Charles Quagliata, Panikos Spyrou and MC Michael Nelson 

L-R_ Stephen Ryan, Christian Lago, Mark Richards (Energy Estate), Russell Hall, Matthew Pappin 

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