SUGAR INDUSTRY NEEDS LOGISTIC HELP FOLLOWING ULUI

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Cyclone Ului has caused extensive damage to the sugar industry but the impact will not be fully understood until harvesting commences in three months time.

But according to the Federal Opposition Spokesman on Northern and Remote Australia, Senator Ian Macdonald the industry will need assistance to maintain productivity and the disease free status of the crop.

Senator Macdonald, who has been inspecting cyclone damage in Proserpine/Whitsundays and the Mackay Districts, said after discussions with sugar industry leaders that the long term viability of one of Australia’s most successful agricultural industries does require some industry infrastructure assistance.

“Whilst some individual farms have suffered considerable damage, by and large the industry has escaped the massive destruction sometimes caused by cyclones,” said Senator Macdonald.

“However, while fallen cane will recover, nature will mean that cane will be bent making it unsuitable for planting. 

“We need to ensure that cane farmers have access to suitable disease resistant plant cane which may be located some considerable distance from individual farms,” he said.

“The cost of transporting good quality disease resistant cane plants is an added and unexpected cost to the industry which should be covered by natural disaster relief assistance.

“Cane farming organisations are currently carefully calculating the cost to the industry in the Mackay/Proserpine Region but my guess is that support in the order of $4-$5million will be required to ensure access to the right plant cane stocks. This could be a proactive measure to ensure the industry maintains its productivity,” said Senator Macdonald.

“I have urged Cane Farming organisations to accurately calculate the cost and get their submissions into Government as quickly as possible.

“George Christensen, the LNP Candidate in Dawson and I will be doing everything we can to support the approach for assistance,” he said.

Senator Macdonald and Mr Christensen have been meeting in the Mackay and Whitsunday areas with people impacted by the cyclone.

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